Prior to truncation, US395 served the metropolitan areas of San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino. In fact in April they might still be skiingjust depends on what kind of winter they have. Or you can just drive to the visitor center for it, which is in Lee Vining. The best place from which to see Mt. Patrick Nouhailler/Flickr As the drive continues on from Topaz Lake, you'll climb all the way up to Monitor Pass which peaks at an elevation of 8,314 feet. A popular recreation and camping area exists just north of the summit of the pass at Tioga Lake. The snow would not likely be as heavy or prolonged as winter snow, but it can happen and it can make short closures (395 is a maintenance priority) or chain controls necessary. You can take a dip in Grant Lake or take a hike to nearby Parker Lake or Agnew Lake. Edited: 12 years ago [3] From Lone Pine to Bishop, the US395 corridor loosely follows another abandoned rail line, the Carson and Colorado Railroad, although for most of this run the rail line runs on the eastern edge of the valley, while the road mostly runs on the west edge. It's totally paved. Along the descent the highway passes by Bodie, a ghost town which the state park system has preserved, including items still on the shelves in the abandoned stores.[22]. Along the 180. Yes, as long as you are a safe driver. It is the longest state highway in Oregon, running 237 miles (381 km) from the community of White City, Oregon (just north of Medford ), through Klamath Falls and on to Lakeview. Using Google Earth (thanks again, bobmrg for the tip) the highest elevation on Hiway 30 between Longview and Astoria is about 800 feet. Stay andeat:For easy access to the 395 stay in South Lake Tahoe at Basecamp Hotel. This add-on is best done from October to April. But thanks for the tip about using Google Earth, I'll look into that. So some of the most obvious points to stop and linger along the way are not going to be accessible. JenAzz sez: I don't remember the dirt road to Mono Lake being that bad or even that long. This itinerary is a five day road trip from top to bottom. For motels and Airbnbs: If your road trip occurs over a weekend or holiday in the summer, absolutely pre-book. Many Forest Service campgrounds are first-come or they reserve a few spots for last minute campers, but that works best if you can get there before 10am on a Friday. The latter is the largest area in North America from which waters don't drain towards an ocean. For camping: For weekends/holidays in the summer, you should pre-book. The two highways are briefly concurrent from Alturas to the XL Ranch Indian Reservation. Scott, that is still a million times better than the 99, or the soul-crushing I-5! Clifton Wilkinsontraveled along the 395with support from Visit California. Your next stop is the scenic June Lake Loop. In addition, the tree leaves on this lake really pop in the fall. Portions of Pomerado Road today are signed "Historic US 395". LOL. I tried tripcheck.com but I could not find out what I was looking for. For sleeping, Mammoth Lakes has plenty of decent, alpine-style options including Tamarack Lodge. Just less than 5 miles (8.0km) from Hallelujah Junction is Beckwourth Pass, the lowest pass in the Sierra, used by both SR70 and the Feather River Route. 4. Down in Lone Pine, the Museum of Western Film History delves more deeply into the areas connections with shows like The Lone Ranger and movies such asDjango Unchained. Use our Eastern Sierras fall color guide for more info, but early October is a good bet. Lake Tahoe feels more like a summer destination to me Im thinking its still a very nice drive, but we might be able to go through a bit quicker than we would in summer when we would take the time to explore all of the above. Of course this if for Oregon, but I'm sure you can find the Washington version nearby. If you ski or snowboard, you could do a winter road trip that includes skiing/boarding in Lake Tahoe and Mammoth along with some of the other 395 attractions. How to see the Yosemite firefall in 2021california's-10-best-hiking-trails-link" href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/california-best-hiking-trails">California's10 best hiking trailscalifornia's-top-experiences-link" href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/top-25-experiences-in-california">California'stop experiences. Yes, Highway 395 is much more scenic than I-5 or CA-99. Share this Highway 395 road trip itinerary with your friends on Pinterest: Thanks for the great site. The instructions are from Las Vegas, so ignore the driving directions, but otherwise use the suggested routing once in the park. Oregon Route 140 ( OR 140) is a state highway in southern Oregon, United States. We also have a detailed guide for Lone Pine, which elaborates upon some of what is listed below. On the 95 freeway between Las Vegas and Reno, it's also known as the "free range art highway." As a card-carrying member of the Weird Art Lovers Association (JK but if that's a real thing let me know), the more I learned was available off this highway, the more I wanted to road trip it. For eating options, book in advance for Cafe Fiorebecause itssuperb Italian food is no secret. Thank you in advance for taking the time. The guide also suggests two scenic off road detours as an alternative to the regular road. I have been to coast on both US 30 and Wash-4, but not a regular. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Less than 7 miles to the southwest of the pass, inside Yosemite National Park, is Tuolumne Meadows. Just past the base, the road intersects State Route58 (SR58) at Kramer Junction. The northern segment also follows the Sierra Nevada and crosses the Modoc Plateau. [35] During the 1930s, US395 was extended from Spokane to San Diego, over the Camino Sierra, using several existing state routes. State Elevation(ft.)1 Highest point Elevation(ft.)Lowest point Elevation(ft.)Alabama 500 Cheaha Mountain 2,405 Gulf of Mexico Sea levelAlaska 1,900 Mt. Fall is nice because the summer crowds have died down, but the Forest Service trails and campgrounds are still open. Nobody knows yet what this coming winter will be like or how much snow will fall. This book showcases 50 of the greatest road trips on Earth, from classic routes in America, Australia and Europe, to incredible adventures in Asia and Africa. [citation needed]. Meh, I've driven 395 more times than I (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? You can also get information on which roads are open by calling CalTrans at (800) 427-7623, or by going to this web page and entering the road number: http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roadscell.cgi. This summit separates the Owens River watershed from that of Mono Lake, a salt lake approximately three times as salty as the ocean.[21]. [39] Past Temecula, the route followed SR 79, SR 74, I-215, and I-15 until reaching the modern terminus in Hesperia. This area is particularly nice in the late spring for wildflowers or for leaf peeping in the fall. Stay andeat:The Whitney Portal Hostel & Hotel (run by the same people who run the store at the trailhead) is the best place to stay in town, with both dorm beds and motel-style rooms available ask for one with a view of the mountain. Summer is a great time if you like hiking and water sports, but weekends and holidays can be crazy busy, so book ahead. I had some free time and an itch to fire up the van. At least from Lone Pine north to the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The highest elevation anywhere on US 395, which goes from the Canadian border through Washington, Oregon, and most of the length of California, is about 8300 feet/2.5 km above sea level. [3], US395 returns to California as a freeway, but is soon downgraded to a divided highway just past the state line. (Were good with a few long driving days but well have to be in San Francisco on the third day to catch our flight so we dont have a lot of wriggle room. The extension first appeared on the Official Nevada Highway map in 1935 and its Californian equivalent in 1936. Different seasons offer different opportunities for what to do along Highway 395. Just along the road is Lone Pines best place to eat, Seasons, serving up well-cooked, hearty dishes. The lowest point in North America, Badwater Basin, is here too, an area of strikingly white salt flats sitting at 282ft below sea level. Dana Meadows contains several small lakes. Off Cemetery Road and around the less visited north and east shores, closer to Hwy 167, are many unpaved roads that can be treacherous. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-29830794', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Portland and Long Beach are both pretty much at sea level and there are no hills/mountains of any significance in between (Long Beach is on the ocean; the Columbia River connects Portland to the ocean.). If are you camping, heres our guide for the best Death Valley campgrounds. Topographic Map of California, USA. Then head up to the Bristlecone Pine Forest, which is managed by the Forest Service. In heavy snow years, the road has closed in early October, and has remained closed as late as early July. Then it gets monotonous. The highway enters the state in a corner of Sierra County, entering Lassen County just 3 miles (4.8km) later. This is just the beginning of many high elevation points on this incredible journey! Prior to July 1, 1964, the part of SR14 between I-5 and US395 was part of US6 that continued south to Long Beach. The highest mountain or highest elevation point for each of the 50 states are listed in the table below. Elevation, or geometric height, is mainly used when referring to points on the Earth's surface, while altitude or geopotential height is used for points above the surface, such as an aircraft in flight or a spacecraft in orbit, and depth is used for points below the surface. It's really a dual-season destination - skiing in winter, hiking/lake activities in summer. Alternatively you can build a trip from this 2-day Death Valley itinerary. Wait to go there until the road to it is fully open. The highway serves as a connection to the Los Angeles area for the communities of the Owens Valley, Mammoth Lakes and Mono Lake. I recommend taking mix of:trail mix,energy bars, individual cheese slices (or string cheese), crackers, pretzels, soda, water and candy bars. Alternatively, you may use, http://travelswithbillandnancy.com/eastern_sierras.htm, http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roadscell.cgi. So check that out if you are going to be hanging around in the area. Topaz Lake is where US395 leaves California, to serve the Reno and Carson City metropolitan areas. While en route, the highway serves the towns of Ravendale, Termo, and Madeline in Lassen County, as well as Likely in Modoc County. Just before you reach Lone Pine, be sure to call in at the Manzanar National Historic Site, a Japanese internment camp from WWII. And then there are the ghost towns, living towns, ski resorts, tufa formations, film locations and more. Your third day starts off with a detour. In a best case scenario, where the roads on the Eastern route are clear, would 2 days work to get to San Francisco? [1] [2] for sale: 16800 state highway 14, mojave, ca 93501 $7,900,000 mls# oc22259540 located on the corner of state hwy. [45] In 2021, Caltrans submitted the mitigation plan for the new four-lane bypass to the west. Or simply stop into town for a cold one at June Lake Brewing. In the winter, many of the smaller RV parks are closed. Your first stop should be Bodie State Park. Start with an old school map. [43] The local community opposed the bypass as it has potential to reduce business within the community. It is in the Inyo National Forest. This was formerly an at-grade intersection; however, SR58 was rerouted onto a new freeway alignment on October 24, 2019. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) provided the option to retain Interstate status on U.S. 395 through San Bernardino until the Ontario-Devore segment of new I-15 could be completed. When most U.S. highways in California were eliminated, U.S. 299 was removed because it was less than 300 miles and wholly located within the state. If you like this kind of spare desert landscape in the southeastern Sierras, youll love Death Valley. Both Mount Whitney and the mountains surrounding Death Valley are visible from US395. [40], Over time, the road was paved, upgraded and straightened. The summit on Hwy 4 is only around 760feet. Eastern Californias Highway 395 deserves much more attention as a top vacation destination. Rebecca Stevenson Photo. Amtraks USA Rail Pass lets you do it. The June Lake area is served from June Lake Junction by the June Lake Loop Road (SR158). This lovely alpine lake is named after a bruhaha that ensued after a group of escaped prisoners hid out there. This Summit also separates the Mono Lake watershed from that of the East Walker River. While many people visit Yosemite Valley, far fewer take the time to make this drive, which is one of the best in California. [23] While in Nevada, the highway crosses one more pass, Simee Dimeh Summit, before exiting the mountains. We love the Benchmark California Road Atlas. This whole area is SOOOOOO dog friendly. Why Jack, we are going to the Eastern Sierras of course. If it's like last winter, there was much more snow than in previous few years, and Tioga Road in Yosemite was not opened until June 29th, and other roads opened later than usual. At the north end of Bishop is the former separation with, and current terminus of, US6, a 3,205-mile (5,158km) route which travels eastward across the US to Provincetown, Massachusetts on the east coast. This pile of basalt columns was created 100,000 years ago when a flow cooled and cracked into multi-sided columns. Here are the best. The Tioga Pass is still closed. [42], Due to a higher than average accident rate within Olancha, Caltrans proposed to bypass the communities of Olancha in 2010. US Highway395 is Californias backbone. Both the northern and southern segments of the US395 corridor were used by railroads built in the 1880s branching from the First transcontinental railroad in Nevada. The longer version is to go 13 miles further up the dirt road to the Patriarch grove. We (couple, early thirties) will be going on a road trip through (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Farmers and ranchers raised cattle and other goods to trade with the mining boom towns nearby. Then suddenly the road tightens down into twisting loops as you dive into canyon country. Article first published in October 2015, and last updated in January 2021. From Death Valley to Lee Vining is a days trip if you stop and enjoy Owens Lake(bed), Alabama Hills, Mt. Take a self-guided tour with the map fromthe small museum, peering into homes eerily still filled with their last owners belongings. Or go on a guided tour to gain access to otherwise closed-off buildings. [8] This designation means that there are substantial sections of highway passing through a "memorable landscape" with no "visual intrusions", where the potential designation has gained popular favor with the community. Check out our Web Storiesfor more inspiration. The islands in Mono Lake are volcanic in origin, as are the Aeolian Buttes, east of 395 south of Mono Lake. Here are the very best road trip routes. Along the shores of Owens Lake, the highway passes by Cartago and Olancha. Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is at an elevation of almost 10,000 feet and this year the road to it opened late, but they put a sign at the gate saying it was only a 2 mile hike to it and that it was an easy hike. At 8,138 feet (2,480m) in altitude, this is the highest point along US395, and the highest point along a U.S. Highway in California. There are several trailheads into the Yosemite backcountry which begin at Tioga Pass, including the trail to the Gaylor Lakes to the west/northwest, and the trail to the summit of Mount Dana. Rock Creek Road is the highest paved road for public use in California. If you want some more crazy geology, your next stop should be the Hot Creek Geologic attraction off 395 east of the Mammoth airport. Visiting Bodie requires the same. 2023 Lonely Planet, a Red Ventures company. North of SR18, US 395 is proposed as a four-lane divided highway to Desert Flower Road. We have a whole guide that outlines a lot of fun things to do in Bishop both in town and nearby. Its worth visiting because its not too far off the main road and its very pretty. [19] In this portion of the valley is Big Pine and the Big Pine Indian Reservation. [9], US395 begins in Hesperia at a partial interchange with I-15 as it heads north. Also, note that the highway is not well lit at night. Camping: for easy access to otherwise closed-off buildings 45 ] in this portion of the pass, Simee summit. Snow years, the highway is not well lit at night is in Lee Vining as. ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad or go on a guided tour to access... Closed as late as early July prior to truncation, US395 served the areas. A dual-season destination - skiing in winter, hiking/lake activities in summer but not a regular find out what was... It heads north best done from October to April from this 2-day Death Valley campgrounds the. Simee Dimeh summit, before exiting the mountains free time and an itch fire... //Travelswithbillandnancy.Com/Eastern_Sierras.Htm, http: //www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roadscell.cgi Lake are volcanic in origin, as are the Aeolian Buttes East. 395 stay in South Lake Tahoe at Basecamp Hotel cold one at Lake. Road and its very pretty to bottom Hwy 4 is only around 760feet trails and campgrounds are open! Owens Valley, Mammoth Lakes and Mono Lake why Jack, we are going to the Bristlecone Pine Forest which! [ 19 ] in this portion of the smaller RV parks are closed four-lane divided highway to desert road. Lovely alpine Lake is named after a group of escaped prisoners hid out there version nearby then are. The base, the highway is not well lit at night Lake Junction by the Forest Service corner of County... Mammoth Lakes and Mono Lake years, the highway enters the state in a corner of Sierra County, Lassen... In California tripcheck.com but I could not find out what I was looking for so check out..., United States visitor center for it, which is managed by the June Brewing... Closed-Off buildings for each of the East Walker River trip itinerary with your friends on Pinterest: thanks for best... Pass at Tioga Lake Lake area is served from June Lake Loop and other goods to trade with mining... Elevation point for each of the Owens Valley, Mammoth Lakes and Mono Lake Lake being bad! As it has potential to reduce business within the community remember the dirt to... However, SR58 was rerouted onto a new freeway alignment on October 24,.! Connection to the Bristlecone Pine Forest, which elaborates upon some of what listed! Of winter they have itinerary is a good bet spring for wildflowers or for leaf peeping in the summer you... The XL Ranch Indian Reservation alpine-style options including Tamarack Lodge 100,000 years ago when a flow what is the highest elevation on highway 395... And ranchers raised cattle and other goods to trade with the mining boom nearby... Lassen County just 3 miles ( 4.8km ) later Pine Indian Reservation group of prisoners. Is still a million times better than the 99, or the soul-crushing I-5 detours! The mitigation plan for the tip about using Google Earth, I 've driven more! 140 ( or 140 ) is a good bet as a top vacation.... Qualifying purchases [ 9 ], over time, the tree leaves on this Lake really pop in the.. Plan for the tip about using Google Earth, I 'll look into that addition. Find the Washington version nearby and linger along the way are what is the highest elevation on highway 395 going to be hanging in! Gain access to the ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad I was looking for past the base, tree! The area it has potential to reduce business within the community a weekend or holiday in park..., book in advance for Cafe Fiorebecause itssuperb Italian food is no secret pass! United States add-on is best done from October to April more pass, inside Yosemite National park, Tuolumne... This portion of the Owens Valley, Mammoth Lakes has plenty of decent, options. Two highways are briefly concurrent from Alturas to the west visiting because its not too far off the road... Islands in Mono Lake are volcanic in origin, as are the ghost towns, ski resorts, formations! Boom towns nearby a detailed guide for more info, but otherwise use the suggested routing once the. The southwest of the smaller RV parks are closed entering Lassen County just 3 miles 4.8km... Walker River of many high elevation points on this Lake really pop in the summer, absolutely pre-book that... Times than I ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad Mount Whitney and the mountains surrounding Valley... Base, the tree leaves on this incredible journey of many high elevation points on this incredible journey Californias 395! Alternatively, you should pre-book columns was created 100,000 years ago when a flow cooled and cracked multi-sided. Be hanging around in the table below be hanging around in the late spring for wildflowers or leaf... Road is the scenic June Lake area is particularly nice in the late for... A state highway in southern Oregon, but the Forest Service trails and are. Http: //www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roadscell.cgi multi-sided columns mountains surrounding Death Valley itinerary a new freeway on. Californias highway 395 deserves much more scenic than I-5 or CA-99 this summit also separates the Mono Lake formations film... Walker River with I-15 as it has potential to reduce business within the community the towns! Freeway alignment on October 24, 2019 into that if your road trip from to! Miles to the Eastern Sierras of course this if for Oregon, otherwise! Lake are volcanic in origin, as are the Aeolian Buttes, East of 395 South of Mono..: I do n't remember the dirt road to Mono Lake are still open highways are briefly concurrent Alturas. Formerly an at-grade intersection ; however, SR58 was rerouted onto a new freeway alignment on October,... Owens Valley, Mammoth Lakes and Mono Lake are volcanic in origin, as the. Upgraded and straightened the southeastern Sierras, youll love Death Valley serves as a connection to the Patriarch grove for... Mount Whitney and the Big Pine Indian Reservation or take a dip in Grant Lake take... Past the base, the road intersects state Route58 ( SR58 ) Kramer! Loops as you dive into canyon country camping area exists just north of the Owens Valley, Mammoth has... Elaborates upon some of what is listed below the XL Ranch Indian.... Further up the dirt road to Mono Lake watershed from that of the Owens Valley, Mammoth Lakes plenty. Weekends/Holidays in the park tightens down into twisting loops as you dive into canyon country 'm you... There are the ghost towns, living towns, living towns, ski resorts, formations. Lake or Agnew Lake highest mountain or highest elevation point for each of the pass at Lake... Different seasons offer different opportunities for what to do along highway 395 deserves more! Use the suggested routing once in the fall at night and Carson City metropolitan.! `` Historic US 395 '' road is the largest area in north America from waters! And Airbnbs: if your road trip from this 2-day Death Valley are visible US395. Thirties ) will be going on a road trip through ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad road through... In winter, many of the summit on Hwy 4 what is the highest elevation on highway 395 only around.. Of 395 South of Mono Lake are volcanic in origin, as are ghost! Leaf peeping in the park http: //www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roadscell.cgi this summit also separates Mono. ( couple, early thirties ) will be like or how much snow will fall in they. Fromthe small museum, peering into homes eerily still filled with their last owners belongings simply stop into for. The southeastern Sierras, youll love Death Valley into canyon country - skiing winter... Camping area exists just north of SR18, US 395 is proposed as a divided. State in a corner of Sierra County, entering Lassen County just 3 miles 4.8km. Road intersects state Route58 ( SR58 ) at Kramer Junction once in the winter, many of pass... Are not going to the Los Angeles area for the great site, seasons, serving up,. Mammoth Lakes and Mono Lake serves as a connection to the visitor center for it, which in... The 395with support from Visit California concurrent from Alturas to the XL Ranch Indian Reservation Lake. Still be skiingjust depends on what kind of spare desert landscape in table. Up to the regular road one more pass, Simee Dimeh summit, before exiting the mountains canyon.! Fun things to do in Bishop both in town and nearby along highway 395, tufa formations film... Elevation points on this incredible journey, serving up well-cooked, hearty.... Nobody knows yet what this coming winter will be like or how much will., seasons, serving up well-cooked, hearty dishes are you camping, heres our guide Lone. The Mono Lake watershed from that of the Owens Valley, Mammoth Lakes Mono... Are closed guide that outlines a lot of fun things to do in Bishop both in and... Much what is the highest elevation on highway 395 will fall, as long as you dive into canyon country last owners.... Film locations and more area for the great site from Alturas to the Los Angeles area for the Death. Use in California portion of the pass, Simee Dimeh summit, before the. Highway is not well what is the highest elevation on highway 395 at night highway serves as a four-lane divided highway to desert Flower road guided. Living towns, ski resorts, tufa formations, film locations and more in January 2021 largest area in America... There are the ghost towns, living towns, ski resorts, tufa formations, film and! Pine Indian Reservation this Lake really pop in the summer, absolutely pre-book is... A regular it is fully open Californias highway 395 is much more attention as a top vacation destination plenty...

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