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    Alabama Hills Recreation Area

    4.8 (112 reviews)

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    Movie Road
    Jen J.

    Love driving through the Alabama Hills in Lone Pine. Roads are easy and don't require 4x4. There are campsites throughout the loop and seem pretty quiet/private. Get there early in the morning during summer as it gets quite warm. Climb the rocks, take the pics, have fun! And don't forget to take a pic with the beautiful painted lady, Nightmare Rock. She's a stunner. The hills offset by Mt Whitney is ridiculously stunning. Say hi to the rocks for me and tell them I'll see them soon

    Lyn V.

    Amazing drive! It is a must be area, be careful using google maps as it will definitely take you through some dirt roads. I used Apple Maps and it gave us a smoother route

    Mt. Whitney seen through the loop
    Dena G.

    Do you love old Westerns, like I do? Ever see 1939's Gunga Din, 1957's The Tall T, and 1962's How the West Was Won? If you have, you'll recognize this area, where those and many other Westerns were shot. Alabama Hills Recreation Center is a great place to hike and camp and take photographs. You'll pass by Movie Road on the way. You'll see stunning rock formations. You'll see snowcapped mountains and a view of Mt. Whitney. You'll feel like you're a million miles away from everywhere. The Eastern Sierra is an amazing part of California. This is a place that makes an impact on the spirit.

    Linda S.

    I've been wanting to check out Alabama Hills for the longest, and I finally did. Many movies were filmed here and I can see why. It's just beautiful, not crowded and it was perfect time of the year. Check in with the visitor's center to see a list of what was filmed here.

    Maddy M.

    Happy Earth Day everyone!! Today I wanted to show my favorite camping spot some love. Alabama Hills is such a special place! I love dispersed camping and Alabama Hills really makes you feel like you are on planet mars with all the beautiful rock formations. You can also usually see snow capped mountains on the horizon! Hello Mt. Whitney! While there aren't many official trails in the recreation area (minus the one to Mobius Arch), you can create your own adventure! I am not a legit rock climber by any means, but I love to climb on the boulders and hike between them. You are sure to find a private camping spot nestled behind some rocks. There are no reservations here, but we've never had a problem finding a spot. There is not much shade, no bathrooms and no water available so you've got to come prepared! Though for newer campers who need bathrooms or if you've run out of wood, Lone Pine is about a 10 minute drive away. Great for group camping and doggos! Highly recommend visiting Alabama Hills Cafe on your way home! Get out and Explore! Happy day, mother Earth! TIP: Before you go, check the weather. Wind can be brutal!

    In the Alabama Hills!
    Shayla B.

    The site of hundreds of popular movies, music videos, and TV commercials! The Alabama Hills are strikingly gorgeous and so much fun to explore. It's crazy to think that over 400 movies have been filmed here. Mostly Westerns given its' rugged terrain, but many other famous movies have been filmed here as well including Godzilla, Iron Man, Gladiator, Django Unchained, Star Trek Generations, and Transformers (and that's just to name a few!). The most popular activity in the Alabama Hills to partake in is the scenic drive down Movie Road. On this drive, you'll pass by tons of famous movie sites to which you can identify by map and further explore. But just a fair warning; Movie Road is completely dirt and best if driven through with a 4x4. Don't have one?! That's okay! There's still plenty of other parts of the recreation that you can explore. In fact, you can still drive down parts of Movie Road in a smaller vehicle, you just need to drive extra slow and proceed with caution. The views of the stunning rock formations and eroded hills are just so amazing. It's like looking at a different painting everywhere you turn. I just wanted to frame everything and take it home with me. Mount Whitney as the backdrop was like the icing on the cake. And coming during the winter time will ensure that you'll be able to see those beautiful snow capped mountain tops. People camp here but there aren't very many amenities. You literally have to pack in and pack out everything, including water. This goes for your scenic drives too. Bring a water, snacks, and maybe even a lunch because there isn't much around the area for a few miles. There's also a few hiking and mountain biking trails. The short trail to Mobius Arch is a fun place to stop and explore during your drive through Movie Road. I really enjoyed stretching my legs out on this gorgeous hiking trail. Many other natural arches can also be found throughout the park. SO many picture taking opportunities here too! Whether you're a professional photographer or just looking for that perfect pic for Insta; there's truly something for everyone here. Maps and information are available at the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center located a few miles before the entrance. If you're taking a trip to the Sierras, make some time to explore the Alabama Hills too. There's so much to see here.

    Larry K.

    Beautiful during the day but fantastic at night especially for Milky Way photography.

    Steven U.

    Beautiful California! Alabama Hills is a great place to go camping. The deeper you go into BLM the more rough the terrain. Plenty of camp sites and views.

    Amazing Rock Formations
    Rebecca G.

    Alabama Hills is public land, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, so it has free dispersed camping. There's no facilities, but if you're able to bring everything with you, then this is a fantastic place to camp. You can nestle in and set up camp right between two boulders! It's very cool! There's ample places to camp as well, but heads up, it does get very busy. Although we arrived after dark, we were still were able to find a spot; however, because not only are many spots are taken, but it's hard to see the roads and available spots in the pitch black. Do yourself a favor and arrive before nightfall. This is Dark Sky Country here, so the skywatching is amazing. I'd love to be set up here for a meteor shower. If you don't have time to camp, it's worth driving through at the very least to take in the scenery. Drive Movie Flat Road and look for Lone Ranger Canyon (you can put it in your GPS -- there is some signal in this area!). If it looks familiar, it's because this area is where they've filmed a lot of movies & TV shows including Lone Ranger, Bonanza and Iron Man. You can do some fun hikes here like the short hike to Mobius Arch or if you're into rock climbing, this is a great place to scale some crags! Don't miss Miss Alabama as you enter -- a cool painted rock face! The scenery is unreal here. The rock formations are very cool.

    Marissa C.

    4.5 Stars I wouldn't come out of your way to visit this place. Our Mammoth trip failed and we ended up finding this place. Pretty random and lots of open dessert space. We saw some cars camping out here but there is for sure no water source, so if you do camp, plan to bring lots of water. There are small turn outs where you can venture out onto short trails and look at random rock formations. No shade at all here. There are also random movie facts scattered about if you're into learning the history of films shot here.

    Irina V.

    Did you know that this is a hot spot for shooting movie scenes, TV episodes, and commercials?  Here you will be surrounded by different rock formations and snow covered jagged mountain peaks will standout in the background. It is a natural playground for all. We explored movie road.  This is a beloved camping area by many. Camping is free but that means there is no water, bathrooms, or trash bins available. You will have to pack your trash out. You need to get a permit if you want to enjoy a camp fire here.  Alabama Hills Recreation Area is close enough to stores, gas stations, and restaurants. It is right outside of Lone Pine.

    Marcus C.

    Just another beautiful place California has under its belt. 4x4 or AWD is recommended but i saw plenty of 2-wheel drive vehicles when i went so it is possible. Also if you aren't good with navigation without technology make sure to remember your way out because there's not much to help guide you around the area of you are not familiar. All that aside this is a beautiful place to camp, explore, photograph and just sit and relax. Will definitely be back to explore some more.

    Tina M.

    Alabama Hills is such a beautiful place and if you haven't been here or if you're planning to come here, I wouldn't even think twice. Pack your bags cause this place is fantastic! We were able to capture some of the most breathtaking sunrise and sunset pictures. TBH I really wish I took my engagement photos here because the way the sun hits the tops of the mountains early in the morning, goodness you just have to see it for yourself. Must have on your bucket list if this place is not already on it. How was the drive: We came here the weekend after Thanksgiving! If you're driving from the bay area to Alabama hills, it'll take you about 6 hours. We left at 8:30am and arrived at 3pm. We did make two stops to gas and grab something to eat at Jack in the Box. Where to stay: You can camp at Alabama Hills. We saw a few tents as well as a few RVs. I would highly recommend to bring a lot of blankets because it gets really really cold, like freezing temperatures. We opted to stay at a hotel because there aren't any bathrooms onsite. Also, keep in mind, what you bring in, you have to bring back with you like your trash, food, etc. What kind of car did you drive: Highly recommend driving a 4-wheel drive. It's really bumpy and if you do decide to drive your car, you will feel every single bump on the dirt road all the way to the top. We drove our 4-Runner and our friends drove their Sequoia. Places to check out: Definitely drive to the top to get some nice sunrise pictures. Also, check out the arch. It's a small hike. And on your way out, you'll see the Alabama Hills sign and this rock with a face. Are dogs allowed: We took our french bulldog and it wasn't that bad. So if you're thinking about taking your dog, go ahead, just buy them a sweater because it's really cold in the morning. They will be cold lol. What to wear: Dress warm. It's really cold in the morning. I wore leggings, fuzzy socks, and a teddy bear jacket. I would also wear hiking shoes and not running shoes. A little slippery on the rocks. More helpful tips: Get gas before you head to Alabama Hills. There's a lot of places you can drive to but in case you take a wrong road, at least you won't run out of gas.

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    1 year ago

    Take your time and enjoy the drive and trails. Visit the museum too! We had a great time

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    Really spectacular rocks and geological fwatures. Used in many films. Great place to just find yourself and explore.

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    4 years ago

    Easily accessible. amazing terrain. Easy hikes. Totally worth it. Lots of photograph worthy spots. Explore for minutes or hours.

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    Alabama Hills Recreation Area Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Alabama Hills Recreation Area

    Does the drive require all terrain vehicle?

    No. You can make it with sedan. Road is paved.

    While camping where are the restrooms?

    There are no bathrooms, water faucets, full shaded areas or table areas, & trash cans. Camping is free. Sites in general are not next to each other but far apart.… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Alabama Hills Recreation Area

    . The short trail to Mobius Arch is a fun place to stop and explore during your drive through Movie Road

    Mentioned in 12 reviews

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    Diaz Lake Recreation Area - Amazing sky view at sunset

    Diaz Lake Recreation Area

    3.9(34 reviews)
    4.6 mi

    We hiked the Alabama Hills but didn't bring mountain bikes so we were looking for somewhere to bike…read morewith our folding street bikes. An evening ride was beautiful with the eastern hills lit by golden light reflected on the calm lake. Be sure to use mosquito repellent or cover yourself cause they are swarming in mid-October. Staying overnight costs $8 but day use is free.

    For Father's Day, my brother-in-law and his husband reserved 3 spots for us and his husband's…read morecousin. My kids and I love tent camping and dry camping, but my wife is an RV girl (class A if you must know). This was her first tent experience so we wanted to make it memorable. Funny how things work out: careful what you wish for... I'll get to that later... The site we got was amazing. Level, flat with direct access to the lake. We had a tree next to us and a hose bib. Across the way was a fish cleaning sink that we used to wash dishes. The fire pit had a swing away grill which was nice. There were Porta-potties close by, but we brought our own portable toilet and privacy pop up shelter. The view was amazing. The sun set over the lake, and the mountains (the Eastern edge of the Sierra Nevadas) basked in hues of purple, deep red and blue. We called it the Disney mountains because it looked so amazing it must be fake. The night sky was simply awesome. My 8 year-old, who loves astronomy and science, couldn't stop looking up. Shame on me for not bringing our telescope or remembering I had binoculars in the truck. If you wanted to be amazed by the beauty of a star filled sky, just look up. The days brought high temps in the low to mid 90's, so we brought a portable generator and AC, I know, but it was my wife's first tent camping trip and we didn't want to make it her last. Early evening brought some gusts and our first night was windy. The tent held up well, but my wife and kids were cold. We didn't bring sleeping bags, only blankets, and had a large 4 room, 12 man tent, so staying warm was an issue. Luckily, I brought our Mr. Heater Buddy propane heater, so we stayed warm until the propane ran out. We explored the next day looking for a propane fill up station in nearby Lone Pine. The quaint town reminded my boys of Radiator Springs from Disney's "Cars." As is typical for small towns that rely on tourism, the propane was majorly expensive, but we had no choice. The town, though, was nice to explore. Early morning hours brought an almost glassy lake with no waves. Wait until late morning and you got the wake waves from the motor boats, wake boarders and jet skis. Wait until the late afternoon and you got wind and waves. We used a blow up canoe and oars, so the afternoon wind and waves were impossible for us to get through. The winds on our last night really picked up in the afternoon. A 60 mph gust or stronger blew through our site and ripped apart our tent, destroyed our Coleman canopy and blew our raft, life jackets, oars and other supplies at least 30 yards away. With our tent destroyed, we had to pack up everything in the wind. We threw away both our canopy and our tent. I'm spite of our surprise excitement of the wind gust and destroyed camp gear, it was an experience we'd never forget. A memorable one, for sure, that ended up landing me with a new tent for my birthday and shade canopy, something that I wished for for a long time. Careful what you wish for, eh?

    Photos
    Diaz Lake Recreation Area - Evening hijinks

    Evening hijinks

    Diaz Lake Recreation Area - Our camp set up

    Our camp set up

    Diaz Lake Recreation Area - Paved portion of the lake loop

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    Paved portion of the lake loop

    Crystal Cave - Second inside room

    Crystal Cave

    4.3(84 reviews)
    39.7 mi

    We visited Crystal Cave on Monday, June 8, 2026, and had a fantastic experience. Our guide, AJ, was…read morefabulous--knowledgeable, engaging, and made the tour both fun and informative. The walk down to the cave is about a half-mile and fairly steep, but it's absolutely worth it. The beautiful waterfall along the trail was an unexpected highlight and made the hike even more enjoyable. Crystal Cave itself is amazing and well worth the visit. The formations are incredible, and the tour provides fascinating insight into the cave's history and geology. The ticket price is very reasonable, and knowing that the proceeds help support conservation and educational programs makes it even better. I highly recommend Crystal Cave to anyone visiting the area! Maybe you'll be lucky snd AJ will be your guide too!

    Crystal Cave was closed for 4 years for renovations and reopened last season. We made reservations…read morefor this year as soon as they opened the roster. My boyfriend is very interested in exploring different caves & caverns and I thought this would be a fun weekend getaway for us. There is a long trail down to the mouth of the cave, the decent is not too bad, but it is quite a trek back up. The trail is about half a mile to the cave opening and half a mile back up. When you check in for your tour (tickets are not sold at the cave and must be purchased in advance) they go over some safety information and tour information. The staff has you cleanse the soles of your shoes prior to heading down to the cave to help prevent white nose syndrome to the bats that inhabit the cave. On the trail down there are many beautiful sights including waterfalls. I would recommend stopping at the sights on the way back up when breaks from the steep trail will be needed. The trail back up is not the most difficult we have endured, but it is up there on the list due to the steepness of the path. There is a large area at the mouth of the cave for the tour group to gather with the guide who is waiting at the gate for you. No items besides cameras and plastic water bottles are permitted within the cave and must be left outside the gate during your 50 minute cave tour. There is a large gate that the guide will unlock and you will walk through to enter the cave. The gate is a huge spiderweb with a large spider in the center, it was really wicked. Crystal Cave has crystal clear water running through it, you could see the marble that is natural there that the water has washed out over the years, as well as many stalagmites & stalactites, cave bacon, cave popcorn and many other interesting formations that have taken hundreds of thousands of years to form. Among the many caverns & caves we have toured this one was very different with the marble and flowing water within. Shirley was our tour guide, and though she was new she was so passionate and knowledgeable about the cave!

    Photos
    Crystal Cave - This one looks like the abominable snowman!

    This one looks like the abominable snowman!

    Crystal Cave
    Crystal Cave

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    Manzanar National Historic Site - Healthcare at Manzanar explained

    Manzanar National Historic Site

    4.9(222 reviews)
    8.8 mi

    I came out here on a field trip with a class I'm taking this summer. It's 95 degrees, windy and…read morearid. Even as a visitor, I find these conditions to be uncomfortable, so I could not imagine being forced to live out here in subhuman conditions for an indefinite period of time. However, that is what over 120,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese Nationals living in the USA were forced to do during WWII - and 10,000 men, women, children and babies were forced to do just that at Manzanar. The Visitors Center is only open on Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday - so we were not able to see it, but we were able to eat our lunches in the Mess Hall. I also explored the barracks, and saw the rest of this historic site by bus and on foot. Don't miss seeing Merritt Park, the Children's Village area, and the Issei Obelisk. This site is a powerful reminder that History repeats itself, and visiting Manzanar is an extremely moving and meaningful experience for everyone. Peace.

    I have driven past the turnoff for Manzanar over a dozen times. I have known about it since I was…read morein middle school but never went. My sister and I have been taking my nephew to significant sites of WW11 over the years starting with Pearl Harbor and Auschwitz. Being part Japanese, we felt this was an important stop. The grounds are very well maintained. The educational aspect of it is great. The rangers have taken great care to show an accurate representation of what "camp" life was like. The recreated rooms, shacks and monuments have been meticulously built. The rangers were great about sharing knowledge. The book store has some great books that are not available on Amazon. The parking is a breeze. The entrance is free. When entrance is free to somewhere like this I like to support by donating or buying items that help support the cause. I bought my nephew and I each a book and a couple other little things. I also really like that they participate in the Junior Ranger Program. It was a great way for not just my nephew but myself to learn too. It was a great family activity. I highly recommend visiting. It can be a little emotionally draining but it is an important part of American History that we cannot forget.

    Photos
    Manzanar National Historic Site - Origami cranes

    Origami cranes

    Manzanar National Historic Site - Manzanar

    Manzanar

    Manzanar National Historic Site - Manzanar military entrance

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    Manzanar military entrance

    Alabama Hills Recreation Area - parks - Updated June 2026

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