This part of California is located along US
395 in the south eastern part of the state. Los Angeles is about 200
miles from Lone Pine and San Diego is about 330 miles. Driving time from
Los Angeles is between 3 and 4 hours depending on how fast you like to
drive. From the Bay Area to Lone Pine driving time is about 7 to 8 hours
depending on the season. San Francisco is about 400 miles from Lone Pine
during the summer months and about 440 miles during the winter. This is
because Highway 120 is closed over Tioga Pass during the winter months
and you have to take the great Interstate 80 to Reno before heading down
US 395. Tioga Pass is a good road during the summer months when the
weather is cooperating. It is a bit narrow in places but is a
surprisingly good road for being at such a high elevation. However,
watch those brakes coming down the eastern part of Tioga pass. This part
of the road drops quite quickly compared to the climb from the western
part of the Sierras.
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Interstate 395 is a great road and you can make some good time on it. It
is a divided road in places with two lanes per side. If you are driving
from the Los Angeles basin, note that the 395 hits the 15 just north of
San Bernardino.
Mt. Whitney high country as seen from the Whitney trail |
If you are driving from an area bounded by Paso Robles in the north, and
Santa Barbara in the south you most likely will pass through
Bakersfield. Highway 178 cuts over from Bakersfield through the Kern
River Canyon, past Lake Isabella and over Walker pass before coming out
on Highway 14 just a few miles south of Interstate 395. (Highway 14 is a
good route into the northern Los Angeles area) Highway 178 is a very
good road except for the narrow curved portions just outside of
Bakersfield in the Kern River Canyon. The road is quite narrow in this
area, although there are pull outs on almost every turn. Lake Isabella
is human made and very very blue on a clear day. Walker Pass is one of
the lowest passes in the Sierra Nevada. At a touch over 5000 feet you
barely feel like you are climbing in elevation. The pass area supports a
nice community of Joshua trees. Also on the western side of Walker Pass
you will see an area that supports Digger Pines and Joshua trees growing
together. This is the only place in California where this occurs.
The Whitney Portal Road is clearly labeled in Lone Pine.
It is located on the west side of the 395 and winds its way through the
Alabama Hills to the base of the tall Sierra's where in a series of two
very long switchbacks takes you into the forested slopes and to the
Whitney Trailhead. It will take about 20-25 minutes from Lone Pine to
the Whitney Trailhead. |
