Alabama Hills National Scenic Area

At the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center you can view Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the “lower 48 states” and plan a trip to Badwater Basin in "Death Valley, the lowest place in North America. While you’re here, explore our interpretative displays, book store and native plant garden.

Staffed by a combination of U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association employees, we provide visitor information for wilderness, campground, highway and weather conditions for the Eastern Sierra.

The Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association (ESIA) bookstore has a comprehensive selection of books and maps of the region. Revenue from sales of these items helps support interpretative programs.

Address

US-395 and CA-136, Lone Pine, CA 93545

Hours

Hours vary, dependent upon staffing. For up to date information please visit the Visitor Center webpage on the U.S. Forest Service website.

Closed: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

Directions

Located two miles south of Lone Pine, CA 93545, at the junction of U.S. 395 and State Route 136. No overnight parking.

• Don’t recreate alone. Leave an activity plan with friends, family, or a ranger that details where you will be and when you expect to return.
• Have a communication plan. Cell phone signals might not always be available.
• Carry/ drink as much water as possible. At least one gallon per person per day is recommended.
• Protection from the sun. Dress in layers, wear a hat, sunglasses, protective clothing, and sturdy footwear.  Bring warm layers and a waterproof shell on longer hikes - the weather can change quickly.
• Know the trail.  Carry a map and pay attention to the terrain so you can find your way back.
• Beware dangerous plants and animals.
• Keep children near you and stay on the trail.
• In an Emergency:  Inyo County Sheriff (760) 878-0383
• Nearest hospital: Southern Inyo Hospital (760) 876-5501, 501 E Locust Street, Lone Pine, CA

• Pack out all trash. There are no trash services.  In the high desert environment, even natural items like orange peels take years to decompose.
• Travel on existing roads and trails. Vegetation in this climate can take decades to recover when crushed by off road driving or parking.
• Camp in campgrounds. Using campgrounds reduces the number of vehicles, so that the great views are not blocked.
• Use the restroom in town or at nearby campgrounds. If that isn't an option, pack out your solid human waste suing a portable waste system (RV toilet, wag bag, portable toilet, etc.)
• Have a great time. The Alabama Hills are a great place to explore natural wonders and experience your public lands.

• Tour film sites. Explore the locations of over 400 movies that have been filmed here.
• Take pictures. The Alabama Hills scenery has been an inspiration for photographers for decades.
• Have an adventure. Hike, fish, rock climb, explore natural arches, mountain bike, ride horses, view the wildflowers, or find your own adventure

• The indigenous people of this valley still reside in this place where their ancestors have lived for thousands of years. They ask that you respect and care for this land. Do not disturb or destroy anything that you may find.

Beginning in 1920, Hollywood filmmakers began to take an interest in the Alabama Hills for its natural scenery. Since then, over 400 movies have been filmed here.

Movie stars such as Tom Mix, Hopalong Cassidy, Gene Autry, and the Lone Ranger, shot it out with outlaws. Classics such as Gunga Din, Yellow Sky, and How the West Was Won were filmed along Movie Road. The 1990 Sci-Fi classic Tremors was filmed almost entirely on location in the Alabama Hills.

During 1993, portions of Maverick were filmed here. More recently, Star Trek Generations, Gladiator, Iron Man, and Django Unchained were filmed in the Alabama Hills. Find a copy of the Movie Road Touring Brochure at the Museum of Western Film History in Lone Pine.

Each October, the community of Lone Pine hosts the Lone Pine Film Festival. This festival features speakers, actors and bus tours that showcase movies filmed in the Alabama Hills. The area continues to attract film crews, benefiting the local economy