When you read the title of this article “Things to do in Lone Pine”, did you say to yourself: what? where? If so, you MUST visit Lone Pine, California! It is one of those underrated, less crowded but truly stunning locations that I call a “hidden gem”.
Not many people know about this town in the Eastern Sierras because generally Eastern Sierras are way less travelled than Western Sierras in California. Western Sierras include Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Those definitely ring a bell, right? And that’s why everybody goes there, but not so much to Long Pine.
And yet there is a TON of great things to do in Lone Pine! We spent five days there over Christmas break and it was perfect. Here is my list of must see and and must do things in Lone Pine, CA.
Things to Do in Lone Pine
Things to Do in Lone Pine: #1 Alabama Hills
Alabama Hills was designated National Recreation Area only in 2019 but before that, people, what were you thinking?!? This is one of the most stunning hiking areas in California that I have ever seen. Honestly, I think it is better than Death Valley or Joshua Trees National Parks that have similar views, terrain and activities and located in a similar climate zone.
Alabama Hills area is so scenic that it has been a filming location for many Hollywood movies for decades. Lots of Westerns were filmed here but also certain scenes from such iconic blockbusters as The Gladiator and Ironman. Alabama Hills also dubbed for India once in one of the Hollywood movies. You have to see it to believe it!
And the best part? It is absolutely FREE to visit Alabama Hills! Lots of scenic trails and opportunities for rock climbing and bouldering. Our kids absolutely loved it. So much so that we went to Alabama Hills twice during this trip!
If you had to choose just 1 thing to do in Lone Pine, Alabama Hills should be it.
Things to Do in Lone Pine: #2 Mt. Whitney & the Scenic Sierras
Many people who come to Lone Pine actually come here to hike to the top of Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the continental U.S. at 14,505 ft.
I would not recommend this activity with kids. A friend of mine made this track last summer in 23 hours. If you are fit and know what you are getting into then, sure, it is a scenic hike worth taking. HERE is important information to help you plan this strenuous hike. Otherwise, just enjoy Mt. Whitney and the scenic Eastern Sierras from Lone Pine/floor level, free of charge.
The best time to see the Eastern Sierras is in winter because the mountains look simply gorgeous covered with snow and yet the temperature in Lone Pine itself will be very comfortable – in the 50s F during the day.
Things to Do in Lone Pine: #3 The Museum of Western Film History
As I mentioned earlier, dozens of Hollywood movies were shot in and around Lone Pine. So it is only natural that the Museum of Western Film History was established here. The name is a little deceptive tough, the museum is not just about Western movies, it is about ALL the movies filmed in the area.
In the museum you can see cool movie making equipment, costumes and props from some of the most popular movies from John Wayne classics to Tombstone, Django Unchained, The Gladiator, Ironman, Tremors and many, many more.
Don’t miss a short movie shown in the museum’s movie theatre about the history of film-making in Lone Pine, it is very interesting. Visiting Western Film History Museum was one of the most fun things to do in Lone Pine for me personally.
Check out our fun video review of the Western Film History Museum HERE.
Things to Do in Lone Pine: #4 Eastern California Museum
Eastern California Museum is located in the town on Independence, an easy 16 miles ride North of Lone Pine. It is a very educational history museum with lots of exhibits indoors and outdoors. You can see a wide array of cool collections here from Native American artifacts to old farming and mining equipment, to guns, to rock and minerals, and much more.
You can also see several nearby attractions in one day including Eastern California Museum as they are all along HW 395, close to each other, namely: Manzanar and Mt. Whitney Hatchery which I describe in more details below.
Things to Do in Lone Pine: #5 Manzanar
Manzanar is the site of 1 of 10 American concentration camps, where more than 120,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II from early 1942 to late1945. Manzanar had 10,000 inmates at its peak.
Currently you can see only few barracks left at Manzanar but the size of the whole site is mind boggling! In the remaining barracks you can observe all the aspects of the inmates live: living quarters, a dining hall, a school, common bathrooms and more. You can not only see the objects but hear the voices of people who were forced to live here and it is truly daunting. Also stop by the visitor center for more harrowing exhibits.
Visiting Manzanar is one of the most important things to do in Lone Pine (Manzanar is located only 16 miles North of Lone Pine on HW 395) because it our responsibility to make sure that history does not repeat itself. Manzanar was created for “the safety of the nation” – and do you remember some of the atrocious things done by the government just recently, also in the name of “safety”? Who will be the next enemy of the State? Another ethnicity? Another microscopic organism? What if it is YOU?
Definitely come see Manzanar – this super important history lesson is FREE of charge.
Things to Do in Lone Pine: #6 Mt. Whitney Fish Hatchery
Would you like to know about some unique things to do in Lone Pine? Mt. Whitney Fish Hatchery is definitely a rare type of an attraction that you won’t see in many places. It is a historic fish hatchery built in 1916 and it is still operational. It produces about 2 million trout per year that are used to stock California lakes and rivers.
The hatchery has a beautiful historic building that is now a museum (please, note that the museum is closed in winter) and a pond stocked with gorgeous trout. You cannot fish here but you can buy some fish food for a quarter and have fun feeding fish AND resident ducks who love the same grub as well.
Things to Do in Lone Pine: #7 Death Valley National Park
If you have a day to spare then consider visiting Death Valley National Park while you are in Lone Pine. Death Valley National Park does deserve more than a day but it is possible to see some of its highlights during a day trip. A detailed itinerary for visiting Death Valley is coming out soon on Family Road Trip Guru blog – stay tuned!
Things to Do in Lone Pine: #8 Day trip to Bishop
The town of Bishop is located about an hour drive north of Lone Pine on HW 395. It is famous for its alpine lakes and fall colors. So it’s perfect for hiking and just enjoying the great outdoors (a picnic by the lake is a fine option).
The two lakes close to Bishop that are easily accessible are Lake Sabrina and North Lake. These two lakes as well as nearby Bishop Canyon are great for fall foliage viewing as this area has lots of aspens that turn beautiful golden in the Fall.
In winter after a big snowfall the road to Lake Sabrina (HW 168) may be closed to traffic and not ploughed from the town of Aspendell onwards. In which case it is a good opportunity to use this snowy wide road for snowshoeing and cross country skiing.
What is the best time to visit Lone Pine?
We visited Lone Pine in winter and we absolutely LOVED it. The temperatures in 50s F – low 60s F during the day are great for hiking and the Eastern Sierras covered with snow are fabulous. The fall is great to see fall foliage in Bishop and spring should be nice too. But I would avoid summers – it can be way too hot over there.
Where to stay in Lone Pine?
We stayed in Best Western Frontier Hotel and it was a perfect lodging option for us with very affordable prices and plentiful FREE breakfast.
Where to eat in Lone Pine?
There are several restaurants in Lone Pine but note, if you are going to follow in our steps and travel to Lone Pine during Christmas – New Year break, most of the restaurants will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Only McDonalds was open on 12/25.
One restaurant that is a must visit in Lone Pine is The Seasons. It is probably the most expensive restaurant in town but it also severs the most delicious food. The menu feels like a combination of French and Italian classics which we all enjoyed.
Driving to Lone Pine
If you are driving to Lone Pine from Northwest, for example from San Francisco Bay Area or Central Coast, even Bakersfield, choose the road that goes along the Kern River Canyon. It is an adventure in itself. It is such a scenic ride and has some attractions on the way – stay tuned for more.
Conclusion
There are lots of wonderful things to do in Lone Pine – believe it or not, this itinerary does not list all of them! We did not have time to explore everything we wanted so I am sure we will be back to bring you more Eastern Sierras adventures. I hope you will enjoy your trip to Lone Pine, whether you are an avid hiker, a nature enthusiast or a bit of a Lone Ranger.
If you found this Lone Pine itinerary useful, please, share it with others as it may help them in their travel plans too.
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