Look for the Lower Rock Creek exit and take the Lower Rock Creek Road through Paradise before reconnecting with Highway 395. The highway proceeds towards and around the west side of 73-square-mile (190km2) Honey Lake while en route to Susanville. There is a short <1 mile hike to get to the postpile and an additional 5 mile roundtrip hike to visit the Rainbow Falls. Your third day starts off with a detour. Summer is a great time if you like hiking and water sports, but weekends and holidays can be crazy busy, so book ahead. It's by no means the fastest route north, but it's one of the prettiestparticularly the stretch from its starting point in the Mojave Desert to the state border with Nevada. The easiest route is to take US-30 west out of Portland to Astoria, over the bridge to Ilwaco, WA and it is a hop, skip, and jump to Long Beach. The Dalton Highway was originally built to service the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, which pumps oil from the north coast to the south of the state. [41], In 2007, Caltrans proposed bypassing the city of Bishop. Just past the base, the road intersects State Route58 (SR58) at Kramer Junction. However, that trip was in September, when all roads were open. This itinerary is a five day road trip from top to bottom. [17] I don't remember the dirt road to Mono Lake being that bad or even that long. Head south toward LA. Take the 101 the route closer to the coast. Which is why this drive is tops on our list of the best scenic drives in CA. You can have lunch in town at The Warming Hut or take a picnic to nearby Twin Lakes. It assumes that you are starting in SF and ending in LA, although you could do it in the reverse order, or as an out-and-back. This pile of basalt columns was created 100,000 years ago when a flow cooled and cracked into multi-sided columns. The story told here, of how thousands of Japanese Americans were seen as a security threat and forcibly moved from the coast to live in the harsh desert environment, is an overlooked and controversial episode in the countrys history. R reflects a realignment in the route since then, M indicates a second realignment, L refers to an overlap due to a correction or change, and T indicates postmiles classified as temporary (.mw-parser-output div.crossreference{padding-left:0}for a full list of prefixes, see California postmile Official postmile definitions). Then it gets monotonous. Just along the road is Lone Pines best place to eat, Seasons, serving up well-cooked, hearty dishes. This was formerly an at-grade intersection; however, SR58 was rerouted onto a new freeway alignment on October 24, 2019. If you need to rent a car, get your best rental car deal by comparingprices with Rentalcars.com. For a relaxed setting, the Toll Road Restaurant has filling fare, as does Panamint Springs Resort. I had some free time and an itch to fire up the van. Get more info in our full guide to Convict lake, which include info on additional hikes, where to camp and how to rent a boat or kayak. Along the 180. Traveling north, US 395 traversed much of the path of modern SR 163 and I-15 to Poway Road, where it routed to the east along much of today's Pomerado Road to Lake Hodges, with various realignments over the years. For a photo travelogue of that region, see http://travelswithbillandnancy.com/eastern_sierras.htm. From Mono Lake its a 30-minute drive to Mammoth Lakes, regional hub, famous ski resort and a great place to spend the night. Clifton Wilkinsontraveled along the 395with support from Visit California. If you have time, detour down Highway 14 to Red Rock Canyon State Park. Even without taking the side trips, I'd like this route just for a more scenic drive. Highway 395 is closed from eight miles north of Sonora Junction to Walker due to snow. Interstate 80 is a major transcontinental corridor connecting California and New York City. Starting on the west side of Highway 395, drivers . Tioga Pass is a mountain pass in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California. The trail was first believed to be used by Jedediah Smith in 1826. You can compare the elevation of land between just about any type of location. Heres how the pass works. The highest point on 395 is Conway Summit, at 8,143 feet above sea level. The Pacific Crest Trail passes through, and it crosses the highway here. Basically, Bodie SHP is open all year long, but in the winter it is only reachable by skis, snowshoes or snowmobiles. [43] The local community opposed the bypass as it has potential to reduce business within the community. That Hwy 30 high point about same as Hwy 18 high point. I'm afraidvery afraid. The fourth summit crossed by US395 in California is Devil's Gate Pass, elevation 7,519 feet (2,292m), which separates the East and West Walker Rivers. In 1969, the portion south of Hesperia was removed and assigned to other routes. The route was promoted for its scenic value by the Southern Pacific Railroad, as a side trip from its rail lines, as far back as 1912. Bodie would be a different story - probably inaccessible in April. [23] While in Nevada, the highway crosses one more pass, Simee Dimeh Summit, before exiting the mountains. This area is particularly nice in the late spring for wildflowers or for leaf peeping in the fall. Whats next for the food scene? You do not want to drive a car on those ashy roads, and in deeper areas they can even be challenging for 4wd. The portion from Reno to Hallelujah Junction is used as a connection between the Union Pacific's two main lines in northern California/Nevada, the Overland Route (First Transcontinental Railroad) and the Feather River Route. Rock Creek Road is the highest paved road for public use in California. The road connects Lone Pine to Whitney Portal (the Whitney Portal Store is at the Portal, and the store is open in the summer). If you dont live in California and are flying into Reno, check out this airport guide, which includes information rental cars and which carriers fly into Reno. Dana Meadows contains several small lakes. McKinley (Denali), AK: 20,237: Alaska Elevation Map: Rock Creek Road, Inyo County, Inyo National Forest, Elevation 10,239 feet. When that photo opens great fishing, off the highway to the right past those trees . ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-29824053', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Portland to Long Beach, WA. Much of those surfaces is loose, sandy soil made of pumice ash. The valley, named for one of explorer John C. Fremont's guides, was primarily home to the Timbisha and Paiute peoples before European settlement. Not counting the Tioga Pass, the highest elevation on this itinerary is Mammoth Lakes (7,881). [25] Though SR70 does not directly serve any major cities, the highway is noted as an all-weather crossing of the Sierras. Mono Lake is worth visiting for its crazy limestone tufa towers, which stagger upright out of the lake like crusty white zombies. Mt Whitney is the lower 48's highest peak and is a prime destination for hikers, climbers and mountaineers around the world. Fall is nice because the summer crowds have died down, but the Forest Service trails and campgrounds are still open. JenAzz sez: I don't remember the dirt road to Mono Lake being that bad or even that long. Actually, there are a couple viewpoints, one of them right off the 395 in town.. 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? Or if you are short on time, but still want to see Death Valley, get a very early start and use this 1-day itinerary. Both have gobsmackingly beautiful mountain scenery with forest, windy roads and scenic pullouts. 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. (This article contains affiliate links. Could I get you opinion on driving times? Highway 395 actually runs from Californias border with Oregon all the way down to Victorville. The Tioga Pass is still closed. 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. Whitney is the Interagency Visitor Center on Highway 395, just south of the town of Lone Pine on the east side of the Sierra. If you like this kind of spare desert landscape in the southeastern Sierras, youll love Death Valley. Lonely Planet contributors do not accept freebies in exchange for positive coverage. And then there are the ghost towns, living towns, ski resorts, tufa formations, film locations and more. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 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. The main highway is suitable for any type of vehicle. The elevation on this trip varies wildly, which is also why timing is so dependent upon the season. 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. 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. I appreciate your feedback. Bishop serves as a gateway for the recreation areas of the Sierra Nevada, including Mammoth Mountain. Article first published in October 2015, and last updated in January 2021. http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/elevations.php. Check Cal Trans for snowy road conditions, watch out for fast moving semis, and stay in the slow lane, especially if you are in an RV. There are also quite a few frontage roads that you can use. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. This article was first published October 2015 and updated January 2021. . The pass is subject to winter closure due to high snowfall, normally from around the end of October until the end of May the following year, though these dates are subject to considerable variation. At Lake Hodges the highway crossed a now-replaced bridge to Escondido. Its highest point is located at Sherman Hill Summit in Wyoming between Laramie and Cheyenne at an elevation of . For more information, start with our mega guide for Death Valley that includes practical planning tips, routing suggestions, accommodations and top things to do. Alternatively, you can tack on some road trip time in Yosemite. When the road to it is open, you can drive there, but last 3 miles of it are dirt road. LOL. Id like to plan accordingly.). For eating options, book in advance for Cafe Fiorebecause itssuperb Italian food is no secret. Hwy 395 is one of the most beautiful routes in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Your trip is in April, so some roads will still be closed and you won't be able to get to every place they went to. US395 traverses the entire length of the Owens Valley, entering the valley near the former site of the Owens Lake. Topographic Map of California, USA. Once in Bridgeport, head over to Travertine Hot Springs. Is there a website like that? 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. [14], The scenery changes dramatically past Bishop as the highway reaches the end of the valley and with a single ascent, gains over 3,000 feet (910m) in elevation. This means that if you choose to purchase, Ill make a small commission.). Im looking at US-395 as an alternative to get from Death Valley back to San Francisco. [3], US395 scales the Sierra Nevada on a ridge between the canyons of the Owens River and Rock Creek. 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. Take a self-guided tour with the map fromthe small museum, peering into homes eerily still filled with their last owners belongings. The route clips into Nevada, serving the cities Carson City and Reno, before returning to California. The last junction in California is with SR299, former U.S. Route 299, in Alturas. In the spring/fall, you shouldnt have a problem. [26] SR70 was at one time numbered U.S. Route 40 Alternate, using US395 from this junction south to Reno to connect with the mainline US40 (now I-80). A ridge between the canyons of the Lake like crusty white zombies,... Lone Pines best place to eat, Seasons, serving up well-cooked, hearty dishes Warming... Caltrans proposed bypassing the City of Bishop and more lunch in town at the Warming or. 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