California Road Trip Treasures from L.A. to Yosemite

by Susan Benton

The long journey from Los Angeles to Yosemite National Park in California is one not fully appreciated by many travelers who zoom past on their way to fishing, hiking and camping destinations located all along the Owens Valley.

Heading due north on Route 395 Photo credit Jeff Russell

In warmer weather months, take time to discover the hidden gems along the historic drive that stretches from Los Angeles, past Highway 14 and provides easy access to the Eastern entrance of Yosemite via Highway 395.

After escaping L.A. city limits and traveling northeast on Highway 14, after about an hour and a half (depending on traffic) you’ll reach the town of Mojave. Soon, familiar concrete surroundings give rise to a vast expanse of plain, pure high desert where Joshua trees and hearty fauna, such as coyote, rattlesnakes and roadrunner.

The drive between Mojave and the next area of interest — Red Rock Canyon State Park — is one long, narrow stretch of road. Located where the El Paso Mountain Range converges with the Sierra Nevada range, you’ll find a dramatic shift in the landscape, as the rocks assume a crimson hue, striated with pinks and whites. A path between the two ranges was once used as a trade route by Native Americans. Petroglyphs from the Kawaiisu Indians, who used to call this area home, still remain in the remote canyons to this day. Camping, horseback riding and hiking are possible in this area.

Shortly after Red Rock Canyon, you’ll veer north on historic Highway 395. This stretch of road passes through small towns reminiscent of the Wild West, including the town of Lone Pine, where you may choose to venture east and explore Death Valley National Park - an area known for its extremely hot temperatures as well as the lowest elevation in the Western Hemisphere.

To the west: Sequoia National Park, where Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous U.S. at 14,495 feet, stands alongside other grand peaks in the Eastern Sierra Nevada range. It is possible to climb the mountain but you must request a permit months in advance and only a handful are awarded each year.
 
Continue north to Bishop, refuel and grab some breakfast or lunch at Eric Schat’s Dutch Bakery. Choose from their wide assortment of made-from-scratch cookies, pies, cakes and breads.

Just outside of town, marvel and raw majesty of Mount Tom. Measuring 13,652 feet, this prominent peak ranks a respectable #37 of all of California’s highest mountains. Drive another 40 miles due north to the town of Mammoth Lakes.

In the winter, visitors enjoy world-class skiing on the upwards of 11,000 foot-high mountain, for which the town is named. In the summer, plan to spend a couple of days exploring the many hiking trails, lakes and mountains of the back country. Here you can bike, rappel, swim, fish, kayak and camp to your heart’s content. As one recurring visitor put it, “I could visit Mammoth a hundred times and never do the same thing twice.”

The author and her husband explore the hot springs outside Mammoth Lakes

There are several natural hot springs, including the easily accessed Hot Creek as well as many other “hidden” isolated pools. In the summer, take the quick bus ride to Devil’s Postpile National Monument and continue the approximately 1.5 mile (each way) hike to Rainbow Falls, so named for the appearance of a rainbow in the mist that occurs midday. Stop for a picnic lunch and splash around in the cool, gentle water below before hiking back for the day.

For a wonderful respite, travel just outside of the main town and reserve a cabin or lodge room at the Tamarack Lodge & Resort. The Lakefront Restaurant inside the lodge is excellent, as fresh fish and produce are served daily.
 
Just north of Mammoth Lakes, June Lake is tucked away from the bustling 395 thoroughfare. Follow the signs for the short drive west to discover alpine lakes suitable for swimming. In the winter, enjoy the less-crowded-than-Mammoth-Mountain ski scene.

Back on the main road, continue north toward the final stop of your journey. Mono Lake — believed to be one of the oldest lakes in the country — it is an important nesting area for nearly 2 million migratory birds. Stop into the visitor center to get more information about this area that lies just outside of the entrance of one of our country’s greatest national treasures: Yosemite National Park.

If You Go…
Red Rock Canyon State Park Visitor Center
Cantil, CA 93519
Phone: (661) 320-4001

Mt. Whitney Ranger District
PO Box 8
Lone Pine, CA 93545
Phone: (760) 876-6200

Mammoth Mountain
1 Minaret Road
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
Phone: 1-800-MAMMOTH

Tamarack Lodge and Resort
Lakefront Restaurant
Twin Lakes Road, Lake Mary Rd. (off Rte. 203)
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
Phone: (760) 934-2442

Mono Lake - Lee Vining Office and Information Center
Corner of Hwy. 395 & 3rd Street
P.O. Box 29
Lee Vining, CA 93541
Phone: (760) 647-6595

Lee Vining Chamber of Commerce Information
Phone: (760) 647-6629

Yosemite National Park
PO Box 577
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
Phone: (209) 372-0200