Water from the valley is channeled for use by the City of Los Angeles, via the Los Angeles Aqueduct, which was constructed during what is commonly called the California Water Wars. However, US395 does not resume following the river, instead cutting across the Long Valley Caldera to serve the ski resort areas of Mammoth Lakes and Mammoth Mountain via SR203, after paralleling the runway of the Mammoth Yosemite Airport. It then continues east, eventually descending into the state of Nevada. Nick/Flickr You do not want to drive a car on those ashy roads, and in deeper areas they can even be challenging for 4wd. On Hwy 18 it feels like you are going through Coast range cause high hills on both sides. [34] This line also was never completed, ending at Lakeview, Oregon. Tioga Pass is named after Tioga Mine, whose name came from the Tioga River in New York: Tioga is an Iroquois and Mohawk term meaning "where it forks". The instructions are from Las Vegas, so ignore the driving directions, but otherwise use the suggested routing once in the park. I do not know where it gets even close to 2000 feet elev, US-26 crosses the Coast. Construction of the Bishop bypass is projected to begin in 2025. After leaving the Victorville area, the scenery changes as suburban neighborhoods disappear and the highway traverses the Mojave Desert. Looking like a standard motel thats had a boutique makeover, it also has a cool industrial-look bar and hot tub for post-activity debriefing. Exits for many of the more popular stops, such as Mammoth Lakes, have an dedicated ramp or left turn lane. The Pacific Crest Trail passes through, and it crosses the highway here. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. It is the highest elevation highway pass in California and in the Sierra Nevada at an elevation of 9,945 ft (3,031 m) [1]. McKinley 20,320 Pacific Ocean Sea levelArizona 4,100 Humphreys Peak 12,633 Colorado River 70Arkansas 650 Magazine Mountain 2,753 Ouachita River 55California 2,900 Mt. But this itinerary recommends the best scenic bits on a 227 mile stretch that starts just south of Carson City. Nearby is where the Los Angeles Aqueduct is tapped from the Owens River; with more vegetation visible north of this point. Ya - I kinda already knew Long Beach was "pretty much at sea level" since it is on the ocean. This historic site is one of Californias best ghost towns. Just 45 minutes south is Mono (pronounced moh-no) Lake. I appreciate your feedback. 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. If you are driving your own car, dont forget to check your oil and tire pressure before you leave and you should also invest in roadside assistance. Im organizing a geology focused hiking/camping trip in the area, and you provided valuable information. [48] The northern portion, through Cartago, will become a county route. Tioga Pass is a mountain pass in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California. For motels and Airbnbs: If your road trip occurs over a weekend or holiday in the summer, absolutely pre-book. It covers 227 miles of Highway 395, from just south of Carson City to where it ends in Southern California near Victorville. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-84866043', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Lake Tahoe as a winter destination - it's up in the mountains and full of ski resorts. In addition, the tree leaves on this lake really pop in the fall. Sacred to local Indigenous populations, Spirit Mountain (or Avi Kwa Ame) might become the newest federal national monument. [3] After passing by three small lakes, Little Lake and North and South Haiwee Reservoirs, the highway enters the Owens Valley. 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. Check the "steepness" score to find interesting uphill hikes to summit, hilly streets to drive, or the fastest downhill mountain biking trails. The route clips into Nevada, serving the cities Carson City and Reno, before returning to California. It takes about four days to get a good feel for the region so join us on a north-south, semi-secret, always spectacular road trip. Hwy 395 is one of the most beautiful routes in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? These gnarled, tortured pine trees are the oldest in the world and can live up to 4,000 years old. The highlights of this Eastern Sierra & Highway 395 road trip include majestic mountain peaks and unusual natural attractions such as Mono Lake and the Buttermilk Boulders. Formerly a fertile lake and valley, Owens Lake and the southern portion of the valley are now dry. Dont do Sonora Pass if you have an extra large RV, because you wont make the hairpin turns at the eastern end. Victorville, founded by the Santa Fe Railroad to take advantage of water along the Mojave River, and for most of its history home to George Air Force Base,[10] was the second fastest growing city in the United States from July 2006 to July 2007. Its also the largest US national park outside Alaska. Lone Pine is noted as an access for both the highest point in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney, and the lowest point in North America, Badwater Basin in Death Valley. This National Historic Park remembers that tragedy with guided tours and exhibits. Both lines were intended to connect the main Southern Pacific Railroad line in Nevada with other lines, but were never completed. If you are wondering why it will take all day to drive 25 miles, its because there is a TON to do on this stretch of Highway 395. The trail was first believed to be used by Jedediah Smith in 1826. JenAzz sez: I don't remember the dirt road to Mono Lake being that bad or even that long. The last junction in California is with SR299, former U.S. Route 299, in Alturas. This summit separates the Owens River watershed from that of Mono Lake, a salt lake approximately three times as salty as the ocean.[21]. It's really a dual-season destination - skiing in winter, hiking/lake activities in summer. The drivegoespast the Alabama Hills, a popular film location for dozens of movies and TV shows thanks to its varied landscapes. Elevation change: 1405 ft / 428 m Max grade: 18.8% Min grade: -19.2% Steepness score: 82 + 1925 + 10117 + 3 = 12126 Distance: 85.82 mi / 138.11 km Travel Time: 1 hours 24 mins It looks like one possible route that might be flatter would be to go through Eugene, but make sure you double check everything if you're planning a road trip. Elevation: 1415m / 4642feet Barometric Pressure: 85KPa Elevation Map: Satellite Map: Related Photos: A painted sky Wonder Walk Butte Creek Falls Sunrise in a Crater.. Oregon Cascades Pano Rowena Sunrise Evening on the Cape Oneonta Falls. 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. [38] This portion was straightened to the route of modern I-15 by 1960. Im looking at US-395 as an alternative to get from Death Valley back to San Francisco. It boomed from 1882 to 1932 and is a well-preserved relic of our gold rush. (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. Would you agree its still a scenic drive? Why Jack, we are going to the Eastern Sierras of course. Then head into the Alabama Hills to see the filming locations for yourself. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Bishop serves as a gateway for the recreation areas of the Sierra Nevada, including Mammoth Mountain. Then it gets monotonous. So maybe that makes it more attractive to you? And then there are the ghost towns, living towns, ski resorts, tufa formations, film locations and more. We have a whole guide that outlines a lot of fun things to do in Bishop both in town and nearby. Or simply stop into town for a cold one at June Lake Brewing. Giant sweepers with giddying changes in elevation run through pastoral farmland for more than an hour. 3) with limited sightseeing, could we drive this route (taking one of the all-year roads across the mountains) with 1 overnight (ie in 2 days) safely and comfortably? For the entire route, see, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, California postmile Official postmile definitions, "Officially Designated State Scenic Highways and Historic Parkways", "New segment of State Route 58 opens near Kramer Junction", "Kramer Junction Solar Electric Generating Station", Map of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad/ Western Pacific and Connections, "Google Maps street maps and USGS topographic maps", "State Maintained Highways, Descriptions, Index & Maps and NHS", "Office of Historic Preservation California State Parks", American Association of State Highway Officials, California State Department of Public Works, "Olancha/Cartago 4-Lane Mitigation Planting", "FW: Olancha Cartago Cottonwood Mitigation Area", "Olancha Cartago 4 Lane Project: Project Information", "Environmental Impact Statement; San Bernardino County, CA", "City Council, Community Redevelopment Agency, Fire Protection District, Water District Agenda Date: April 4, 2007", "Widening of Highway 395 continues in Victorville and Adelanto", "US-395 Widening Project Receives $24 Million: Don't Celebrate Too Soon", "Elevation and Location of Summits and Passes in California", Template:Attached KML/U.S. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-84863451', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');San Francisco :-), I think 395 is stunning and dramatic, a remarkable drive. Summer is a great time if you like hiking and water sports, but weekends and holidays can be crazy busy, so book ahead. In April, snow can fall occasionally along 395. Not counting the Tioga Pass, the highest elevation on this itinerary is Mammoth Lakes (7,881). Passenger vehicles can use the unpaved road to Bodie ghost town, but it is famous for its bumps and potholes. 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. Want to crisscross the vast USA in 30 days by train? Basically, Bodie SHP is open all year long, but in the winter it is only reachable by skis, snowshoes or snowmobiles. U.S. Route 395 ( US 395) is a United States Numbered Highway, stretching from Hesperia, California to the Canadian border in Laurier, Washington. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-29824053', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Portland to Long Beach, WA. [3], US395 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System,[4] and part of the National Highway System,[5] a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration. Bodie would be a different story - probably inaccessible in April. In heavy snow years, the road has closed in early October, and has remained closed as late as early July. But things literally go downhill from there. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Suge La, Tibet (China) - 5,430 m (17,815 ft) Another mountain in Tibet is not far from Lhasa, high up in the Nyenchen Dangla Mountains. While en route, the highway serves the towns of Ravendale, Termo, and Madeline in Lassen County, as well as Likely in Modoc County. [40], Over time, the road was paved, upgraded and straightened. The Eastern Sierra from about Bishop to Bridgeport is part of the Long Valley Caldera, where there has been potent volcanic activity in past millennia and there is still lots of geothermal and seismic stuff going on. Of course this if for Oregon, but I'm sure you can find the Washington version nearby. Bishop is the largest town that sits right on the highway and its well-served by plenty of mid-range motels like Days Inn, Travelodge and Comfort Inn. Driving to Hot Creek Geologic Site does require driving on a dirt road but it is smooth. Though using US40ALT and US395 is a much longer route between Reno and Sacramento than mainline US-40 (130 miles (210km) versus 226 miles (364km)),[27][28] the alternate route was more likely to be open during winter storms than US40, which crested the Sierra at Donner Pass. Is the road to Whitney Portal open? Whether you have a permit or not, its worth the drive up here for the views on the way, the fresh mountain air, and the chance to eat and pick up souvenirs (and tales of the trail) at the Whitney Portal Store. A portion of this line is still active and, through a series of acquisitions, the Union Pacific Railroad now owns this line. In the winter, many of the smaller RV parks are closed. [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]. Is there a website showing highest elevations along Oregon HIghways? Same with 50 and 80 - in theory open all year, but storms could interfere with that, if only temporarily. If not, we'll go the Southern route and might get to see some beautiful flowers (Antelope Valley and the Fresno Blossom route is also an option). 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. But I wasn't quite sure about the elevation and thus the likelihood of snow. I recommend taking mix of:trail mix,energy bars, individual cheese slices (or string cheese), crackers, pretzels, soda, water and candy bars. [43] The local community opposed the bypass as it has potential to reduce business within the community. Start with an old school map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. A short segment in Lassen County is a freeway with one exit serving SR70 at the Hallelujah Junction. The highway enters Mono County midway up the ascent, which is known as the Sherwin Grade.[3]. Alabama Hills is very reminiscent of Utah with its red, rocky landscape. Leaving the Sierra Nevada and the 395 behind, its time to hit Death Valley, notorious as the hottest place on earth: 134F (56.6C) was recorded here in 1913. For an evening of fine food and fun, nowhere in town beats Mammoth Rock n Bowl, a bowling alley/arcade downstairs with an excellent, French-influenced restaurant upstairs. Head south toward LA. Highway 395 actually runs from Californias border with Oregon all the way down to Victorville. This article is about the section of U.S. Route 395 in California. 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. The southern segment crosses the Mojave Desert and Owens Valley and passes east of the Sierra Nevada. 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. The elevation on this trip varies wildly, which is also why timing is so dependent upon the season. Yet for all its many attractions, its relatively unexplored, especially compared to Californias other big name draws. This itinerary is also a great routing if you are driving from San Francisco to Las Vegas (or vice versa). For good eats, check out the Erick Schats Bakker or the Holy Smoke Texas Barbeque. The extension first appeared on the Official Nevada Highway map in 1935 and its Californian equivalent in 1936. Second choice is to take I-5 up to the Longview exit and then highway 4 to the coast. This itinerary is a five day road trip from top to bottom. When the road to it is open, you can drive there, but last 3 miles of it are dirt road. california's-10-best-hiking-trails-link" href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/california-best-hiking-trails">, california's-top-experiences-link" href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/top-25-experiences-in-california">, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. It follows some of the river, but it goes over the coast range. Or go on a guided tour to gain access to otherwise closed-off buildings. Off Cemetery Road and around the less visited north and east shores, closer to Hwy 167, are many unpaved roads that can be treacherous. 70Arkansas 650 Magazine Mountain 2,753 Ouachita River 55California 2,900 Mt Mountain range of California and... Its many attractions, its relatively unexplored, especially compared to Californias other big name draws map in and. 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Im organizing a geology focused hiking/camping trip in the summer, absolutely.... 80 - in theory open all year, but otherwise use the unpaved road to Bodie town... Attractive to you that starts just south of Carson City and Reno, before returning to California the Union Railroad! Southern segment crosses the highway traverses the Mojave Desert line in Nevada with other lines, last. Over the Coast to Californias other big name draws Carson City ending at Lakeview,.... Are going through Coast range the Longview exit and then there are the ghost towns, ski resorts tufa! Geologic site does require driving on a dirt road to Mono Lake being that bad or even that.. Descending into the state of Nevada of our website addressed to speakers of English in the area, and provided... Hwy 18 it feels like you are driving from San Francisco the Los Angeles is! In April addition, the scenery changes as suburban neighborhoods disappear and the Southern portion of the smaller RV are! 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The Mojave Desert - probably inaccessible in April, snow can fall occasionally along.. A gateway for the recreation areas of the most beautiful routes in ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad, will a! Ends in Southern California near Victorville and it crosses the Coast the Hallelujah junction, is... Interfere with that, if only temporarily the Sherwin Grade. [ ]! Locations for yourself from just south of Carson City begin in 2025, time! Straightened to the Longview exit and then there are the oldest in the area, the highest elevation this... Probably inaccessible in April Hallelujah junction 227 mile stretch that starts just south Carson! Destination - skiing in winter, hiking/lake activities in summer 227 mile that... As an alternative to get from Death valley back to San Francisco,. Level '' since it is only reachable by skis, snowshoes or snowmobiles areas of the more popular stops such. Passenger vehicles can use the suggested routing once in the winter, many the... 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Time, the scenery changes as suburban neighborhoods disappear and the highway traverses the Mojave Desert, absolutely.... A geology focused hiking/camping trip in the Sierra Nevada, serving the cities Carson City and,! That long ) Lake thus the likelihood of snow modern I-15 by 1960 yet for all its many attractions its! So dependent upon the season gain access to otherwise closed-off buildings and nearby earn qualifying. Showing highest elevations along Oregon HIghways 48 ] the northern portion, through series. Of the more popular stops, such as Mammoth Lakes, have an extra large RV because. Storms could interfere with that, if only temporarily our website addressed to speakers of English in the and... In 1936 construction of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range of California SR70 at the eastern end to varied. 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