Location: Lone Pine
Top Things to do in Lone Pine
10 Things to Do in Lone Pine That You Shouldn't Miss
Lone Pine is a census designated place (CDP) in Inyo County, California, United States. Lone Pine is located 16 miles (26 km) south-southeast of Independence, at an elevation of 3727 feet (1136 m). The population was 2,035 at the 2010 census, up from 1,655 at the 2000 census. The town is located in the Owens Valley, near the Alabama Hills. From possible choices of urban, rural, and frontier, the Census Bureau identifies this area as "frontier". The local hospital, Southern Inyo Hospital, offers standby emergency services. On March 26, 1872, the very large Lone Pine earthquake destroyed most of the town and killed 27 of its 250 to 300 residents.
Restaurants in Lone Pine
1. Alabama Hills
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 606 reviews
Located near Lone Pine, these hills form the gateway to Mount Whitney, and are a favorite location for movies and television.
Reviewed By delfhedde - Morgan Hill, California
Stooped by on a trip to Whitney Portal an were really surprised on how great this place is. Absolutely amazing landscape. No crowds (in mid march). the hiking paths are easily accessible and there is plenty of place to park. We took our motorcycles to the Mobius Loop parking space and hikd to the loop. Great opportunity for pictures of Mount Whitney. Riding the bikes on the unpaved, but well graded roads was fun.
2. Manzanar National Historic Site
Overall Ratings
5 based on 392 reviews
Manzanar NHS tells the stories of 120,000 Japanese Americans excluded from the West Coast and confined during WWII. Manzanar was the first of ten camps and held 11,070 people, 2/3 of them American citizens. Today, visitors explore the site by walking or driving to see foundations, trees, rock gardens, and stone alignments. Extensive exhibits feature historic photos, film footage and audio programs, a scale model, a children’s exhibit, and special programs. Open daily. Free admission.
Reviewed By Ernest K - Los Angeles, California
Americans vs Americans. During WWII, citizens of Japanese ancestry were targeted as potential enemies. They were forcibly moved to camps like this one in California's Owens Valley. Children pledged allegiance to the US flag in school, and they played basketball outside. But they weren't really treated as Americans. Tolerance has certainly increased in America over the years, but there is much more work to be done. Our leaders should never forget what happened here.
3. Mount Whitney Trail
Overall Ratings
5 based on 82 reviews
Scenic hiking trail on Mt. Whitney.
Reviewed By heckfy - Pleasanton, California
Since Mt Whitney happens to be the highest mountain in the continental 48 states, it becomes an obvious bucket list target. Good news, it's very doable. First you need to play a lottery (the chances are pretty good). Once you get there, the trail is clean and well maintained. It's a really long day hike, but you don't need any special equipment.
4. Museum of Western Film History
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 402 reviews
The Museum of Western Film History (previously the Lone Pine Film History Museum) is America’s leading institution of Western Film history that pays tribute to the men and women ofthe silver screen, who interpret the lives of the American Cowboy; the legendary iconic heroes and heroines of America’s West. Founded in 2006 the museum, located in Lone Pine, California collects, preserves and exhibits a broad and diverse collection of western film memorabilia associated with the American western film genre.Film programs, artifact preservation and exhibits, including interpretive projects and displays, provide narrative support for the movies, actors, directors, producers and most importantly, the landscapes that served as a canvas for their stories. The Museum’s exhibits and archival documents are the core of educational programs created to stimulate dialogue in the enduring legacy of our American West. Visitors from around the world have sought out the museum to gain better understanding of Western film and the historical relevance, fact and fiction, that has permeated American and worldwide cultures. The Museum collection, one of the largest and most significant in the United States, is complimented by a publishing arm that supports the Museum’s mission with complementary works. In addition the Museum supports the annual, Lone Pine Western Film Festival on Columbus Day weekend. The Festival features three days of screenings, panels, western authors, entertainment and Alabama Hills tours that feature guided movie site locations tours of movie sites where Hollywood’s biggest western stars performed and of the landscape that has been the venue to over 700 films and 1000 television commercials. The Museum inhabits a unique niche of western history and culture. Although there are many museums featuring documentation on films and historic screen figures, The Museum of Western Film History is the only museum devoted to chronicling western film history and its impact on American culture. The museum is working to incorporate a broad range of technological resources to bring educational and research access to its exhibits and archives through Internet access that reaches out to new and younger technological oriented generations. MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Museum of Western Film History is to collect, preserve, protect, archive and exhibit a variety of original materials containing information of permanent historical value relating to the history and heritage of the American Western Film for the preservation, education and enrichment of the public. The Museum actively pursues collections of personal papers, business and organizational records, as well as memorabilia that reflect and document aspects of Western film history and popular culture for successive generations to discover.
Reviewed By bc1966 - McKinney, Texas
Stopped off in this well put together and interesting museum after hiking the Alabama Hills. Short documentary was well done too.
5. Eastern Sierra InterAgency Visitor Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 136 reviews
Reviewed By mini - Fremont, California
There used to be a nice visitor kiosk that pointed out the few attractions in the Lone Pine area.. The unstaffed kiosk used to be enough to show people the highlights of Lone Pine and point out where Mt. Whitney was.
Now we have to pay lots of tax payer money for an overbuilt visitor center.
Now there is a huge visitor center; paid ranger staff; and a few limited exhibits. The nicest was the big topological map. There is also a restroom. A flag is in front.
They do issue permits to climb Mt. Whitney. This used to be done by the local ranger office, which did a good job.
The water fountain was dysfunctional - it had a sign on it that said "Spigot Out of Order"
Not sure how long the sign has been hanging there....
Sometimes its sad to see how our tax payer money is wasted.
6. Reward Mine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By Glenn Y - Los Angeles, California
This place located south of Independence,Ca across from the Manzanar Historical Monument. To find it you will need some patience and SUV, preferable 4WD because of driving uphill on gravel road. There is no sighs how to get there. GPS location will take you to the remains of the equipment but this is not the entrance which is on other side of the hill. Once inside the mine you can park your car and do some exploration on foot. I DO RECOMMEND to do it with some one else , not alone.
7. Lone Pine Creek
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 28 reviews
Small, comfortable campground site located past the rock formations in the Alabama Hills.
Reviewed By Chuck8700 - Riverside, California
Surprising source of water in the desert. There are several small to medium waterfalls along the stream. I saw people fishing, but I didn't see any fish. Had some fairly good Fall colors.
8. Owens River
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9 reviews
Reviewed By ChinaLake1
At the beginning of the twentieth century, one man in Los Angeles had the foresight to see that the City of Angels could never become the giant it is today without water. He discovered the isolated Owens Valley and the Owens River. He quietly bought out struggling homesteaders and gained control of the Owens and its tributary creeks. Los Angeles DWP (Dept. of Water and Power) built an aqueduct to carry off virtually all of the water (between Independence and Big Pine is where the water is diverted) and sent it on its merry way to the swimming pools and gardens of LA. Locals didn't like it, and fought back. This is a David and Goliath story for the 21st century. Owens Valley activists after decades, won a court battle and the City of LA had to return some of the water to the old river bed and to Owens Lake-- which was once large enough and deep enough for steamships to navigate carrying Cerro Gordo silver to Cartago for the port of Los Angeles. The river is coming to life again. It always had water, but it was a trickle. Now it seems on its way back to being a real waterway. Drive south or north on a dirt road and look for pullouts. There's much wildlife and it's wonderfully quiet and relaxing just a few miles from hectic 395. Just remember, no cause is hopeless. Fight on! Way to go, Owens Valley faithful!
9. Horseshoe Meadow Trail
Overall Ratings
5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By Paul S - Costa Mesa, California
My boys and I did our annual Labor Day (2017) "Guys Weekend" before school started in earnest and made this one of our stops. My nephew mentioned this location as a prime hiking, photography, and fishing area so we decided to take the drive up and visit.
This is a beautiful location. Quiet, peaceful, with stunning views on the drive.
Here's some logistical items for your trip up:
1. The drive. Make this part of the trip. The road up to the meadows does switchbacks for a number of miles up the eastern face of the mountains of the Inyo National Forest. You'll climb steadily and quickly. There are plenty of turn outs to get photos and I would highly recommend you stop and do so. At one point, almost to the top of the pass, there's a large turn out where we found a bunch of hang gliders and para-gliders setting up and launching. It was pretty neat to see. At any rate, don't rush. Take your time and get photos. You'll be able to see almost to Olancha in the south to past Lone Pine in the north. It's a really impressive view of the Owens Valley.
2. Camera. Enough said.
3. Elevation. This is a very rapid elevation change. Be advised. If you're not used to the change, it'll make you dizzy. We took things pretty easily when we got to the meadows and opted just to have lunch after some minor exploring. My boys and I were feeling the effects.
4. Water. High elevation, in this case around 10,000 feet will dehydrate you even though it is relatively cool. Take a lot of water and drink a lot of water.
5. Services. There are none. Bring everything with you and make sure to top off your vehicle's gas tank before leaving. The drive up will just kill your gas mileage.
Overall, this is an easy drive up, with spectacular views and a rewarding end. Make sure to include the trip up and back as part of the adventure! I saved some of the video of the drive up from my DailyRoads Voyager app to show my wife. She was impressed.
10. California Historical Landmark 507
Overall Ratings
4 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By clamdiger2 - Norco, California
This is a very informational information about something most people did not even realize. There is a mass grave were 16 people were buried. No names just family of or referred as the Irish, Native americans and Mexican. 52 of 59 of the homes were destroyed in a 7.4-9 earthquake of 1872. This is just a quick 5 min stop time to stretch your legs. We stopped because we have drove past in over the years and wanted to find out what was there.
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