Even without taking the side trips, I'd like this route just for a more scenic drive. Highway 395 actually runs from Californias border with Oregon all the way down to Victorville. From the I-15 terminus to SR18 the proposed alignment would have upgraded US395 to a six-lane freeway. Here US395 parallels the South Fork of the Pit River until the confluence with the north fork in Alturas. The lake is the calm centerpiece of the action, famous as the largest alpine lake in North America and for its amazingly clear water thanks to its height (6225ft above sea level) and the waters depth (1644ft in places) algae cant grow here, allowing unparalleled underwater views. Edited: 12 years ago US Highway 395 is California 's backbone. Alternatively, you may use, http://travelswithbillandnancy.com/eastern_sierras.htm, http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roadscell.cgi. This Summit also separates the Mono Lake watershed from that of the East Walker River. [41], In 2007, Caltrans proposed bypassing the city of Bishop. Wait to go there until the road to it is fully open. 4) regarding those all-year roads: any advice on taking I-80, US-50 or SR-88? The Eastern Sierras are covered in a lot of well-preserved National Forest and when the trees are turning, the whole western side of 395 lights up. JenAzz sez: I don't remember the dirt road to Mono Lake being that bad or even that long. The drivegoespast the Alabama Hills, a popular film location for dozens of movies and TV shows thanks to its varied landscapes. 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. The regular roads to Mono Lake that most visitors would take are fine. You will be limited by road conditions. [16] The highway proceeds diagonally across the valley, until merging with SR14. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. This image was generated by NOAA from digital data bases of land and . Tioga Pass is a mountain pass in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California. Its worth visiting because its not too far off the main road and its very pretty. This pile of basalt columns was created 100,000 years ago when a flow cooled and cracked into multi-sided columns. Second choice is to take I-5 up to the Longview exit and then highway 4 to the coast. This summit separates the Owens River watershed from that of Mono Lake, a salt lake approximately three times as salty as the ocean.[21]. [17] In a T-intersection with SR36 just before Susanville, US395 makes a sharp turn avoiding the city, making a near complete loop around the Susanville Municipal Airport. You can do as much or as little as you want of the 3.5 mile McGee Creek trail. Nick/Flickr The town of Bishop was established to trade goods with the mining town of Aurora. If you have time, detour down Highway 14 to Red Rock Canyon State Park. . Yet for all its many attractions, its relatively unexplored, especially compared to Californias other big name draws. The last junction in California is with SR299, former U.S. Route 299, in Alturas. Don't know if you are mixed up or not, phirl. 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. Route 89 starts in the south at U.S. 395 near Topaz Lake and the Nevada state border and winds its way up through a series of switchbacks to an elevation of 8,314 feet at Monitor Pass. And along the way, it passes by the highest spot in the lower 48 states, the hottest place on earth, and some of the oldest trees on earth. It was built in the late 1930s and is the highest highway pass in California. Whitney, the Lone Pine Movie Museum, Manzanar (optional for many international visitors but Id say a must for Americans), Bishop and the local lakes, Mammoth Lakes, June Lakes, Mono Lake, and any of the towns or view spots along the way. Yes, as long as you are a safe driver. This lovely alpine lake is named after a bruhaha that ensued after a group of escaped prisoners hid out there. Im organizing a geology focused hiking/camping trip in the area, and you provided valuable information. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-84867555', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');California, in fact the West. This point is also where US395 departs from former rail corridors, with the former Carson and Colorado grade following the modern US6 corridor towards Hawthorne and Tonopah, Nevada. Topaz Lake is where US395 leaves California, to serve the Reno and Carson City metropolitan areas. 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. Two hours south of Tahoe, on a side, not fully paved road off the 395, youll find Bodie, a mining ghost town with (allegedly) real ghosts. [50][51][52][53] The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) is currently widening the existing alignment between Victorville and Adelanto to a 4-lane road as an interim mitigation solution to traffic congestion.[54][55][56]. There arent any attractions along this road, its just a quiet diversion from the highway. Back on the 395, its only 100 miles to Lone Pine but theres plenty to see and do on the way. Or you can just drive to the visitor center for it, which is in Lee Vining. Just along the road is Lone Pines best place to eat, Seasons, serving up well-cooked, hearty dishes. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. [48] The northern portion, through Cartago, will become a county route. [25] Though SR70 does not directly serve any major cities, the highway is noted as an all-weather crossing of the Sierras. Ive lived in California for decades and been to the Eastern Sierras a number of times, but it took while for it to work its magic on me. For good eats, check out the Erick Schats Bakker or the Holy Smoke Texas Barbeque. ValleyEx (254) ValleyEx (255) old farmstead. But this itinerary recommends the best scenic bits on a 227 mile stretch that starts just south of Carson City. to Bridgeport U.S. 395: From Sonora Junction to Walker SR 203: From Meridian Blvd to U.S. 395 Highway 395 actually runs from California's border with Oregon all the way down to Victorville. The corridor has been used since the California gold rush, and before numbering was known by several names including El Camino Sierra. State Route 120 runs through it, and serves as the eastern entry point for Yosemite National Park, at the Tioga Pass Entrance Station. Less than 7 miles to the southwest of the pass, inside Yosemite National Park, is Tuolumne Meadows. You could cover that mileage in 4 hours, but dont be in a hurry. These kits also make a thoughtful, if tragically practical Christmas or birthday gift. These include either Aurora Canyon from Bridgeport or Pole Line Road and Goat Ranch into Lee Vining. Hwy 395 is one of the most beautiful routes in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Nearby is where the Los Angeles Aqueduct is tapped from the Owens River; with more vegetation visible north of this point. The roads around Yosemite National Park are a driving utopia. The highway serves as a connection to the Los Angeles area for the communities of the Owens Valley, Mammoth Lakes and Mono Lake. Both will get you to Long Beach, 401 being a little bit shorter. Why Jack, we are going to the Eastern Sierras of course. Both Mount Whitney and the mountains surrounding Death Valley are visible from US395. [3], As first commissioned in 1926, US395 was a minor spur route of U.S. Route 195 connecting Spokane, Washington with Canada. The new southern terminus of US395 was at Pacific Highway (former US 101) in San Diego. I tried tripcheck.com but I could not find out what I was looking for. It's totally paved. [2] Mount Dana is to the east of the pass, and Gaylor Peak to the west. For camping: For weekends/holidays in the summer, you should pre-book. Ive seen the obvious other options of I-5 and CA-99 described as very boring and that doesnt seem like a fitting end to what promises to be an amazing trip. 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. Travertine is nice because its fairly easy to find, has multiple pools, insane views and is clothing-optional. Visiting Bodie requires the same. 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 drive the movie loop trail or take a short hike around the popular mobius arch. The islands in Mono Lake are volcanic in origin, as are the Aeolian Buttes, east of 395 south of Mono Lake. From here to Bishop the highway is overlapped with SR 168. [1] [2] The main highway is suitable for any type of vehicle. Beginning about a dozen miles west of Bakersfield, Highway 58 is a roller-coaster all the way to the coast. Or for solid American cookinghead to Evans or the Beacon Bar & Grill, both west of town on the way to not-to-be-missed Emerald Bay. [29], North of Susanville, the highway bends around Shaffer Mountain and crosses the Modoc Plateau. Some questions I hope you can help with: 1) how likely is it that there are winter conditions on this road at that time of the year? But this itinerary recommends the best scenic bits on a 227 mile stretch that starts just south of Carson City. You can further detour down Dry Creek Road for a short hike to the Inyo Craters, or just carry on into Mammoth Lakes. Amtrak, the USAs only passenger train operator, announced that it has taken the first steps to upgrade its overnight trains for the first time in 40 years. The California portion of US 395 is a 557-mile (896 km) route which traverses from Interstate 15 (I-15) in Hesperia, north to the Oregon state line in Modoc County near Goose Lake. Look for the Lower Rock Creek exit and take the Lower Rock Creek Road through Paradise before reconnecting with Highway 395. Top spots on both itineraries are Ryolite Ghost town, Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point and Mesquite Dunes. After reading this full article, you can see why its worth devoting at least 5 days to your California 395 road trip. This is just the beginning of many high elevation points on this incredible journey! Between Mojave and its junction with US395, SR14 follows the edge of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The highway proceeds towards and around the west side of 73-square-mile (190km2) Honey Lake while en route to Susanville. US395 follows the valleys along the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada as the mountains gradually increase in altitude until reaching their peak at over 14,000 feet (4,300m) near Lone Pine. I had some free time and an itch to fire up the van. 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