This area is also incredible for night photography. During the summer, it can be unbearably hot and winter nights can get well below freezing. Dispersed camping. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. Being from the crowded and congested East Coast, we had no idea what dispersed camping was until we made our way our way out west. Before we get into the details, let us break down the top highlights and lowlights of our experiences camping in the Alabama Hills. We woke up early and drove the few miles up to Whitney Portal. It is important to note that the rules for dispersed camping in the Alabama Hills are changing. Whitney, camping in the Alabama Hills is the perfect spot pre and post-hike. Being located in Southern California, certain times of the year are more restrictive with fire rules than others. We love these collapsible 5-gallon containers (We chatted about them earlier too) to store extra water during your camping trip. A third available campground in the area is the Portuguese Joe Campground, located 2.4 miles east of the Alabama Hills area via Whitney Portal Road. Stay awhile and receive the best photo tips for your next journey to the PNW. While seeing the Alabama Hills is an experience in and of itself, heres some other options to explore while youre in the area: The Alabama Hills are at the foot of the gorgeous Sierra Nevadas, so it should come as no surprise that theres some killer hiking options around. Design by, Western films and movie makers have come here for many years to shoot some of the most iconic scenes in history. Visiting the Alabama Hills is a day trip in itself. Tuttle Creek is $5 per night and is first-come-first-serve, while Portagee Joe takes reservations ahead of time. When we were there, wind was howling all around us and that isnt rare there. At the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce you can grab a map of Movie Set locations and take a hike or drive through the filming locations on Movie Road. There are both electric and non-electric campsites and its closed in winter. You can make it with sedan. Alabama Hills Recreation Area Camping: Campendium has 103 reviews of 9 Campgrounds in Alabama Hills Recreation Area. Trending TikTok boat jumping challenge kills at least 4 in Alabama We have written about a few of our favorite activities in the area in the articles below: The best time to go camping in the Alabama Hills is in the spring and fall. Alabama Hills National Scenic Area On the National Recreation area you can bring your own horse or join one of the many riding tours in Lone Pine. Can I have a fire while camping in the Alabama Hills? Besides your food, dont forget to pack water and lots of it. Drive about 5 miles to the Alabama Hills. If youre at all interested in backpacking (see my post about what you need as a beginner backpacker here), it probably makes more sense to get an inflatable sleeping pad like this Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Mat Sleeping Pad, rather than a foam or air mattress (recommended above for car camping). If you cant make it to a porta potty for number two, make sure you use either a wag bag, portable toilet, or some other means to pack out your business! Once you get into the Alabama Hills, all roads are dirt. The Alabama Hills are located in Inyo County in south-central California between Sequoia National Park to the west and Death Valley National Park to the east. Lone Pine is especially popular for RV camping. Book a cheap hotel in Lone Pine here. The first 2.5 miles of the hike followed long and steep switchbacks. For more information, see our privacy policy. The cook set fits nicely into this 18 ounce stainless steel cup with folding handles, which is helpful for holding a bit more volume (like when we make soup) than the smaller cups that come with the Stanley set. No reservations are accepted ahead of time, reservations are accepted through Reserve America, https://www.parkedinparadise.com/alabama-hills/. Alabama Hills is located east of the Sierra Mountains in Southern California. The resulting management plan included stakeholders from the Alabama Hills Stewardship Group, Lone Pine Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Inyo County, and the Lone Pine community, according to a press release. Its surrounded by many well-known national parks, including Death Valley, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite. Whitney is the tallest peak in the contiguous United States at 14,505 feet (4,421 meters) and is a bucket list hike for any avid hiker. Mt. Below weve included the distance from the Alabama Hills to some popular locations below for reference (all times approximate): Although the focus of this article will be how to camp for free in the Alabama Hills Recreation Area, there are some nearby campgrounds that have more utilities but come at a cost. You can make a reservation for Portuguese Joe Campground here. Camping here costs just $8 a day (or, if youre lucky, can even be free!). Why are we sharing about it then? to receive new posts straight to your inbox, enter your email below. Booking a Hotel in Lone Pine. Remember that youll be using it for drinking, cooking, and cleaning, so carry more than you think you will need! Whitney Behind it. Whitney, the highest peak in the continental United States, offering unparalleled views of the mountain and surrounding peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Description. The night photography opportunities here are epic! This isnt any different than most places and the idea is to reuse sites so as not to disturb the surrounding landscape. A permit will be necessary to utilize those spots, but the system will be a gentler sort of permit than many campers might be familiar with. For a pillow, if youre driving from home, Id just recommend bringing along your own pillow or, if youre flying here or need something a bit smaller, you could bring along a camping pillow, like the Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight pillow. We spend any free time we can get hiking, camping, backpacking, and exploring new places! Your Guide to an Epic Alabama Hills Camping Trip Regardless if youre driving in a rental car or your own, youll reach the Alabama Hills via U.S. Route 395. Make sure your tent is really well-staked down before you leave your campsite to go out exploring- the gusts of wind here could easily blow away a shoddily-staked down tent! from city center 4 out of 17. The best time to take photos in the hills is of course, during the golden hour. The ultimate 1-day Alabama Hills itinerary: 11 best hikes & arches Were Berty and Emily Mandagie, husband and wife travelers, photographers, and journalists! Additionally, if you need decent cell coverage for working remotely or your nightly Netflix habit, this campground is likely your best bet (the service isnt great here, but workable!). Alabama Hills Recreation Area is a great place to spend the night for free if you are in the area to enjoy rock climbing and bouldering, day hiking in the the high desert among the unique and endless rock features, or if you are passing through on your way to the hike Mount Whitney or other destinations in the Eastern Sierra Nevada. Alabama Hills California is located on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) territory leaving it open to the public for free hiking, climbing, mountain biking, 4-wheeling and camping across the area. Hi there! If youre looking for something with more amenities, the campgrounds nearby have bathrooms and in some cases electricity. If I had one thing to recommend with respect to packing clothes is to be sure to bring layers as mentioned above, the Alabama Hills can get pretty toasty during the day but literally drop below freezing at night. Best Trails in Alabama Hills Recreation Area We cant state enough the importance of sustainable camping, especially in such a fragile place as Alabama Hills. However, we visited in the winter and we enjoyed the peace and quiet in the park, but we were also there during a wind advisory. Weve compiled a complete list of our go-to road trip camping gear to help you pack for your camping trip, including a downloadable excel checklist here: Planning a road trip through southern California? It offers 83 RV or tent sites, has 10 pull-through trailer spaces, and can accommodate RVs up to 30 feet in length. Guide To Alabama Hills, California (Camping, Hiking, etc) The BLM asks that people primitive camping in the Alabama Hills drive at least 1.5-miles down Movie Road before setting up camp. The Alabama Hills have the best view of Mount Whitney, but the paved Whitney Portal Road gives you the best view of Lone Pine and the Owens Valley below. So what are you waiting for? The Ultimate Alabama Hills, California Guide - Be My Travel Muse Alabama Hills has GREAT star viewing. The campground fee is $8 per night and no reservations are required. But remember that youll be boondocking- so before you roll up to the Alabama Hills, fill your fresh water and propane tanks, dump your gray and black tanks, and make sure you have a method to power your RV, like a generator or solar panel setup. John D. Dingell, Jr Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019, Alabama Hills National Scenic Area website. Dispersed Car Camping in the Alabama Hills: Where to Camp and What to Movie Flat Road, Lone Pine, CA 93545. Big boulders make the Alabama hills a popular destination for off-roading. Cost | freeTotal time | 1 night/2 daysEpic-ness rating | 6.5Road conditions | moderate (washboard dirt road, but typically passable with 2WD)Difficulty | easyCrowd Level | medium. If you plan on having a fire, you will need a campfire permit. You probably wont be going to the Alabama Hills only to camp, so what else is there to do here? The ideal situation would be to do your business in the nearby town of Lone Pine before embarking out to find your Alabama Hills campsite. CAMP WILD DHAUJ (Faridabad, Haryana) If youre up for something a bit more strenuous, the most epic hike in the area, of course, is climbing Mount Whitney, which requires snagging a highly coveted permit year round. Often, you will see fire restrictions in place during the summer months, June through September. The permits will be free, but you need to apply in order to acknowledge that you will abide by their rules and regulations. For now, Lisius stresses checking the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area website regularly for updates, especially before planning and executing a trip to the area. Finding More Campgrounds Nearby With The Dyrt. Alabama Hills camping can get pretty hot during those sunny Southern California days, but the temperatures can drop quickly come nighttime. (open in maps). Part 3 and probably the last part! Many of the most popular trails bring you to serene alpine lakes, gorgeous mountain views, and solitude! Your email address will not be published. There are no roads leading directly from the west side so you either have to come from the North, South, or through Death Valley in the East. I noticed they have 50+ dispersed camping sites.just curious, this time of year and if on a Thursday, is it difficult to find a dispersed site? Portagee Joe is the smallest campground in the area with just 20 sites. Closed: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Now that you know how to find the ideal Alabama Hills campsite, what should you be packing for your trip? From downtown L.A.'s chaotic nightlife to Lake Tahoe's serene calm, California has something for everyone. With so much to do, the Alabama Hills is the perfect spot to spend a weekend exploring! But here is a quick run-down of the new rules: All in all, it is hard to say how much of an impact these new regulations will have on the dispersed camping in Alabama Hills. Its on land owned by the Bureau of Land Management, labeled as a recreation area. The Dyrt is the largest campground finding tool on the market! You should also bring along a sleeping bag and pillow, as recommended in the car camping section above. Whitneythe tallest peak in the lower 48looms to the east. Dont miss an adventure! There may be a handful of free camping spots you can find to the east of Movie Road, but I definitely wouldnt count on it. The permit might be available on the Alabama Hills website or on a partner website, but according to Lisius it will certainly be available in person for those who dont have access to the internet. Discover Camping in Alabama Two Outliers may contain affiliate links we only recommend products we personally use and love. You will see why this area has captured the hearts of many movie makers in the past, Everything You Need to Know About Death Valley. Temperatures will fluctuate but should generally be temperate. Eventually, dispersed camping in Alabama Hills will be limited to the areas circled in purple on the map below. If youre in the backpacking camp, Justin and I get a ton of use out of this Stanley cook set, which comes with two thick plastic cups that we use for coffee or wine and a lidded pot that cooks up to 24 ounces of water (usually the perfect amount to make meals for two people). Campendium is an Amazon associate site and earns from qualifying purchases. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Alabama Hills Recreation Area has 5 stars. This area is absolutely made for road trips, so I hope the Alabama Hills are but a stop along the way! Camping is free at Alabama Hills with the only real restriction being that campers not trample or step on any brush. This way, all of our gear is contained to the vehicle, the walls of the car protect us from the elements, and packing up is quick and painless. Alabama Hills camping comes with a dry, desert-like environment, so come prepared with plenty of water. The Alabama hills are a series of rock formations scattered across the east side of central California. However, when we were there throughout the spring of 2021, it definitely felt busy and I dont think some additional rules to keep the area clean and beautiful are unwarranted! (open in maps), Follow US-95 N. Take NV-374 S to CA-190 W. Continue through Death Valley National Park to CA-136 W. Turn right onto US-395 N. Take a left on Whitney Portal Rd. Do you love camping in unique landscapes with epic views of majestic mountains? The number to call for fire bans in Alabama Hills is:(760) 876-6200. There are plenty of spots, most with epic views and, because of the large rocks throughout the area, some privacy. This guide will help you enjoy the Alabama Hills in terms of when to visit, camping, and photography: Photography The Alabama Hills location as a gateway to Mt. An abundance of fishing and hiking opportunities can be found both in and around Lone Pine. Pets are allowed throughout the entirety of the area. This trail is 0.6 mi long with an elevation gain of 42 ft. From van life to RV living, my goal is to help you live a more adventurous life.READ MY STORY. Your email address will not be published. The distance between these would be more difficult to get to on foot. They are implementing a permit system in 2022. camping southern california Post Summary: The Best Places To Go Camping at Alabama Hills, California Looking for free camping along your Southern California road trip? Free camping in the Alabama Hills is dispersed camping. Grab your camera for perfect views of Mt. The Tuttle Creek Campground is an official campground in the Alabama Hills that holds over 80 RV and . Its closed in the winter and reservations are accepted through Reserve America. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure. The Alabama Hills are a range of hills and rock formations near the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada in the Owens Valley, west of Lone Pine in Inyo County, . Camping is free. Where is the best place to hike in Alabama Hills Recreation Area? When you see a good spot, snag it! We have camped at both and can recommend them, but we always preferred the free boondocking sites. And best of all? Required fields are marked *, Hi, I'm Kate! The hills are 3 hours from Los Angeles and are situated off of US Route 395. Youll find the most tent camping sites at Tuttle Creek Campground. All rights reserved. Amity Campground is a waterfront facility on the western shore of West Point Lake, which spans parts of Alabama and Georgia. Alabama Hills Camping: Everything You Need to Know Infinite camping sites. Our mission is to share the travel tips & tricks we learn along the way with our 1.5 million annual readers providing advice to make travel more accessible for everyone. At 8,000 feet, the crisp air felt like the middle of winter. As the saying goes, pack it in, pack it out! Unlike the other national parks where you have plenty of well-marked trails, Alabama Hills has a few structured trails, leaving most of the valleys unmarked. Even better, do you love camping in unique landscapes with epic views of majestic mountains for FREE? Be My Travel Muse. These camping tips should give you a basic idea of the camping gear you may need, and were diving deeper into these details right now. You bet! There are lots of options to camp in Southern California, especially along this Highway 395 road trip route. You can find dispersed camping sites in the park to stay at for free. This is an adventure travelers playground with limited restrictions and spectacular scenery. Hi Kate, I enjoyed reading your article at https://www.parkedinparadise.com/alabama-hills/. The winter can also be a lovely time to visit- the Sierra Nevadas will be covered with snow and daytime temperatures are pleasant (usually ranging in the 50s and 60s). You can go hiking in the surrounding mountains, rock climbing on the many established routes in the Alabama Hills, capture epic photographs of the areas natural beauty, hunt for unique arches, and enjoy the rich cinematic history. However, this also means you wont have many of the luxuries found at typical campgrounds, such as access to running water, bathrooms, or electricity. It was built by Raja Nahar Singh's ancestor Raja Rao Balram who got his throne in 1739. If youre lucky, you might have a fire pit. Well, because its a public space, one that we dont have ownership over, and that our actions can have lasting consequences. Read our suggestions below, keeping in mind that we aim to leave as little impact as possible on the surrounding landscape! The Alabama Hills offer free camping (up to 14-days). The Alabama Hills are located conveniently close to Highway 395, a popular thoroughfare in the eastern part of California. In this post, were sharing how to camp for free in Alabama Hills, and what to expect in this unique place in Southern California. (Spoiler: It isnt for everyone but it is for this type of hiker.) You can check the status of fire regulations for the Alabama Hills on the BLM website for the Bishop Field Office here. Lone Pine, Inyo National Forest - Recreation.gov This is a dry camping site with no showers and vault toilets. Want to try something different? Alabama Hills Camping: A How-To These are extremely easy to pack up during a California road trip from place to place. Call ahead and make sure there are no fire bans in place. Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework, Best Hikes in Valley of Fire State Park , View leavenotracyblogs profile on Pinterest, Click here for turn by turn directions to Tuttle Creek Campground. She has traveled through 48 US states and writes about van life, camping and RV living. At the time of writing, the BLM is not sure when the system will go into place. For more information about Alabama Hills camping visit the BLM's website. Additional changes to camping availability in Alabama Hills will crop up as the BLM continues enacting the management plan. According to the BLM, the Alabama Hills Management Plan includes a strong adaptive management component and employs an implementation strategy that allows for monitoring results and adjusting accordingly based on desired outcomes. Lisius acknowledges the new plan is a shift for regular users of the Alabama Hills. Were Sarah and Matt, two nomads road tripping across the United States with our cat, Fitzgerald, making a new place our home month to month while working full time and adventuring as much as possible. This blog lives to inspire outdoor adventure, inspired by our home in the rainy Pacific Northwest. How to Plan an Epic Alabama Hills Camping Trip - Two Outliers Whitney, one of the main trails begins just 10 miles west of the hills. Adventure Tourism | Explore Haryana - Haryana Tourism Corporation Alabama River Lakes. Famously known for being a popular location for old-school western movies, Alabama Hills is actually much more than that! If youre lucky enough to snag a spot here, please be sure to follow the Leave No Trace principles while youre visiting, especially: Okay, so besides all the lets be nice to the Earth stuff, any other tips to keep in mind? In the following section, well help you plan the logistics of your Alabama Hills camping trip, from when to go and what to pack to what to do while youre there. Another option to spend the night is camping in the Alabama Hills. Dispersed camping is generally allowed on BLM land (except when specified otherwise), but for maximum stewardship of resources and minimized impact in the Alabama Hills, the BLM recommends camping at BLM-managed Tuttle Creek Campground, the Inyo National Forest-managed Lone Pine Campground, and the Inyo County-managed Portuguese Joe Campground. Trail rides can take you past the rocky hills into the forested trails and creeks to the west. Hiking The Mobius Arch Loop And Camping At Alabama Hills

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