The three stops from our co-pilot reel, in the order you would drive them down the back side of the Sierra Nevada. Facts and visitor notes come from official sources (linked under each stop). The photos are ours. Mileage and drive time are a routing estimate without traffic or stops. Check current road and hours before you go.
01Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
Our photo.
Verified facts
The Forest Service says some of the bristlecone pines here are nearly 5,000 years old and still living. Source: fs.usda.gov ↗
Schulman Grove, home of the visitor center, sits at about 10,000 feet. Source: fs.usda.gov ↗
Visitor notes (official sources)
The bristlecones can generally be visited from mid May to mid November, depending on weather. Source: fs.usda.gov ↗
The Forest Service warns RVs and large vehicles that a section of Highway 168 up to the grove is single lane with very limited visibility. Source: fs.usda.gov ↗
There is no camping, overnight parking or campfires inside the forest boundary. Source: fs.usda.gov ↗
There are no services beyond Big Pine, so fill up on gas and bring water. Source: fs.usda.gov ↗
Manzanar was one of ten camps where the US government incarcerated Japanese immigrants and Japanese American citizens during World War II. Source: nps.gov ↗
The Park Service says more than 11,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated at Manzanar. Source: nps.gov ↗
Congress established Manzanar as a National Historic Site in 1992. Source: nps.gov ↗
