Road Tripping California’s Eastern Sierra
Looking for an outdoor getaway in Northern California with hiking trails, scenic views, and local brews?
At every curve on the Eastern Sierra’s U.S. 395, wonders appear through your windshield. With the saw-toothed Sierra peaks on one side and the arid Great Basin on the other, this highway is just right for a camping, hiking, and beer-sipping road trip. This itinerary will take you south to north.
MAMMOTH LAKES
California’s largest ski resort morphs into a hiker’s playground in the summer months. Take the kids on the easy trail to Mammoth Consolidated Gold Mine and Heart Lake for a history lesson and a swim, or hike to the top of 10,797-foot (3,291-m) Duck Pass for an aerobic ascent to glacier-carved lakes and a lofty view. Pitch a tent at Coldwater Campground and you can walk to these trailheads and visit two breweries in a 10-minute drive: Mammoth Brewery and Distant Brewing.
JUNE LAKE
Spend the night at June Lake Campground so you can swim, kayak, or SUP right from your site and walk to June Lake Brewing Company for dinner and a beer. Just a few miles away, the easy hike to Parker Lake will delight photographers, anglers, and hikers with swimming on their minds.
LEE VINING
A hike in Lundy Canyon offers colorful metamorphic peaks, shimmering aspen groves, and a spectacular waterfall-and-wildflower show in early summer. A few miles away, the Virginia Lakes Trail leads to a high-drama mountain pass at 11,130 feet (3,392 m). Camp at Trumbull Lake Campground 12 miles (19.3 km) north of town for easy access to hikes and fishing lakes, plus an option to drive to Tioga Pass to hike on Yosemite’s glorious eastern side.
BRIDGEPORT
There’s no better place to catch the Eastern Sierra’s fall-color show than on the Barney Lake (Robinson Creek) Trail in Hoover Wilderness. Just a few miles south, a wealth of wildflowers and cobalt-blue lakes are tucked in below Green Creek canyon’s 11,000- foot (3,353-m) peaks. Camp at Lower Twin Lake, a five-minute drive to the Barney Lake Trailhead. Head into town for liquid refreshment at Big Meadow Brewery.
Start planning your adventure
Pack a lunch, lace up your boots, and head out to discover the rugged coastline, towering redwoods and best hiking trails in NorCal with Moon Northern California Hiking.
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