The Alabama Hills in Lone Pine, CA: Know Before You Go

The Alabama Hills is a truly otherworldly recreation area located in Lone Pine, CA. This area is full of rock formations and eroded hills, ideal for climbing, scrambling, and exploring. It is the gateway to Mt. Whitney and features a stunning backdrop of of Eastern Sierra mountain range. The unique landscape of the Alabama Hills has made it the backdrop for countless cowboy movies and Hollywood films—hence the name of the main road running through this rocky terrain, Movie Road.

Mobius Arch in the Alabama Hills — Posing under Mobius Arch

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The first time I visited the Alabama Hills, I was en route to Whitney Portal where I would sleep at the trailhead and prepare to attempt to summit the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. I stopped to stretch my legs and explore after driving three and a half hours from my home in Los Angeles. I was amazed by the stunning landscape, with rock piles and low hills in the foreground contrasted against massive granite 14ers in the background. After my first time exploring the area, I would come back over a dozen times to bring friends, hike, camp, and explore, whether I was heading to Mt. Whitney, making a stop on the way home from Death Valley National Park, or camping for the night to break up a road trip to Mammoth!

Snow Covered Mt. Whitney in the Alabama Hills — Snow covered Mt. Whitney in the background

Exploring the Alabama Hills

The Alabama Hills is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), whose mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands, ensuring they remain available for recreation and enjoyment for years to come.

Visitors to the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area enjoy the stunning scenery of massive piles of rounded rocks and eroded hills at the base of the grandiose Sierra Nevada and Inyo Mountains. These geologic features were formed 100 million years ago. It truly feels like you’re on another planet here!

Stop at the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center

The Eastern Sierra Visitor Center provides information about so much of the stunning nature found in this area of California, from the lowest point in North America at Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park (about 2 hours driving from the Visitor Center) to the Alabama Hills and Mt. Whitney (the tallest peak in the lower 48 states). This Visitor Center is a great place to stop for campground information, education, weather conditions, and more.

The Museum of Western Film History in Lone Pine, CA.

A Century of Film History

Over 400 movies have been filmed in the Alabama Hills since 1920! Hollywood filmmakers saw the value in shooting scenes with the rocky and mountainous backdrops. Modern films like Django Unchained, Star Trek Generations, and Iron Man were filmed here, alongside classic westerns starring legends like Gene Autry and John Wayne.

Make a stop at The Museum of Western Film History in Lone Pine to learn more about a century worth of Hollywood pictures shot in this scenic area! If you’re excited to visit the site of so much Hollywood history, grab a map at the museum to help guide your search for famous spots captured on film.

Woman Standing in the Alabama Hills with the Eastern Sierra Mountain Range in the background — Golden hour in the Alabama Hills with the Eastern Sierra in the background

Best Time of Year to Visit the Alabama Hills

The Alabama Hills is a beautiful destination to visit almost year-round. Be sure to check weather conditions before visiting..

Winter: Winter in the Alabama Hills is quite mild, with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing during the day. Overnight temperatures drop below freezing, so if you are tent camping, consider a sleeping bag suited for colder temperatures.
Spring: Spring is my favorite time of year to visit the Alabama Hills because the winter snow is still present on the Eastern Sierra, offering an incredible opportunity to photograph the warm hues of the rock formations juxtaposed with the cool tones of the snow-covered granite mountains. The area starts to see temperatures in the 60s during the day, but the spring can also bring about some wild weather like tornadoes and flash floods.
Summer: Temperatures are very hot during the summer and can reach over 100ºF in late summer. Avoid exploring the Alabama Hills during the hottest parts of the day in summer. Temperatures are more comfortable throughout the night, making it the perfect place to do some cowboy camping and stargazing.
Fall: Fall is a great time of year to visit the Alabama Hills due to more mild temperatures and chilly but comfortable temperatures at night. Extreme weather can start as early as November or December, so always check conditions before you go!

Driving to the Alabama Hills

As of 2023, construction has closed part of Whitney Portal Road, so drivers must use a detour to access Movie Road. While it adds about 20 minutes to your drive, it is actually an incredibly stunning detour. Even when Whitney Portal Road fully opens again, I will probably continue to use this alternate route because of how scenic it is! Be sure to drive slow, as parts of this road are narrow and winding.

Be sure to stop at the Camping Information sign. A BLM Ranger might be present to help direct you to available campsites or answer any questions you have about the recreation area.

Hiking in the Alabama Hills

The Alabama Hills offers a few short hikes that are easy to do in a single day!

Mobius Arch Loop Trail: The most popular hike in Alabama Hills is the Mobius Arch Trail, a short 0.6 mile loop that features a natural arch rock that perfectly frames Mt. Whitney in the background. With only 42 feet of elevation gain, it’s an easy hike that anyone of all ages can complete.
Shark Fin Loop Trail: Another popular hike is the Shark Fin Loop Trail, a 1.7 mile loop trail with 250 feet of elevation gain leading to a rock that looks like–you guessed it–a shark fin! Suitable for hikers of all skill levels, it is also a great destination for climbers.
Upper Alabama Hills Trail to Cyclops Skull Arch: If you have the time to explore more, this trail is a 10.4 mile hike with over 1200 feet of elevation gain. It is great not only for hiking, but mountain biking and running as well. It is an out-and-back trail, so you can turn around at any point.

Shark Fin Rock in the Alabama Hills — Shark Fin Rock is on a 1.7 mile loop trail in the Alabama Hills.

Rock Climbing in the Alabama Hills

The Alabama Hills is a great place for bouldering and rock scrambles. Check out Mountain Project to find more information about routes, and don’t forget to bring your crash pad to the hills! Outside of the campsites, there are many Day Use Only areas throughout the recreation area that are great for climbing.

Camping in the Alabama Hills

Waking up to watch the alpenglow hit the peak of Mt. Whitney from the rocky fields is one of my favorite parts of camping in the Alabama Hills. Camping here can take a bit of planning and good timing.

How to Camp in the Alabama Hills

Camping in the Alabama Hills requires a free permit. A permit does not guarantee a campsite, as all sites are first come first serve. You can obtain a permit online, at the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center in Lone Pine, or a BLM Park Ranger within the Alabama Hills. A ranger can help you find an available campsite or direct you to other overnight options.

It is important to note that the Alabama Hills is a dispersed camping area. There are few to no amenities. Some things to consider when camping here:

There is no water available. You must bring your own drinking water.
There are a few porta potties located throughout the area, and some are a drive away from your campsite. You must not 💩 anywhere but these porta potties. Consider picking up a WAG Bag from the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center if you are a middle-of-the-night 💩-er and need something in an emergency!
Weekends and holidays are very busy. Have a backup plan in case you arrive late and the campsites are all claimed.
Very limited cell phone service.
There is no trash. Please pack out all trash and follow Leave No Trace principles!
You can stay for up to 7 days in a month or 14 days in a calendar year.

Where to Camp

Alabama Hills Dispersed Camping on BLM Land: Be sure to download a map of campsite locations before entering the park. Camping is free and first come first serve.
Tuttle Creek Campground: This campground is $10 per site per night and is available on a first come first serve basis . No reservations required. It offers 83 RV and tent sites, accommodating a maximum RV length of 30 feet. Tuttle Creek is located south of the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area.
Lone Pine Campground: This campground is located further up Whitney Portal Road past the Alabama Hills and requires a reservation made through Recreation.gov. One night costs $34-42 for an individual. site. You can stay up to 14 days at this campground. To visit on a weekend, guests must reserve at least two nights (Friday and Saturday nights must be booked together). A minimum of three nights is required for holidays.
Portuguese Joe Campground: This campground is located off of Tuttle Creek Road outside of Lone Pine. Reservations are made through Reserve America and it is open year round for $14 per night. Amenities include water spigots, vault toilets, picnic tables and fire rings. Some campsites are along a stream.
Whitney Portal Campground: Continue driving up Whitney Portal Road and quickly gain elevation until you find this serene campground tucked in the thick pine forest at 8000 feet. Make reservations on recreation.gov for $34 per night for a tent site. The site provides vault toilets, drinking water, and bear-proof storage lockers, where all food and scented items must be stored overnight.

What to Bring to Camp

There are no amenities–not even a picnic table or fire pit, so consider bringing a few extra items.

Small camping table: Since there are no picnic tables at each campsite, bringing your own table is a necessity.
Camping chairs: We love our two person camp couch, or these single person folding chairs.
Portable Fire Pit: Fires may not always be permitted in this area. Check current conditions and restrictions at the Visitor Center or consult a BLM ranger. When fires are allowed, a portable fire pit is a valuable addition to your camping supplies!
Wag bags: We’ve been told by BLM rangers that going #2 💩 on these lands is prohibited. If you can’t drive over to one of the few porta potties, bring WAG bags and add them to your hygiene supplies to pack out your poo!
Binoculars: Get a closer look of Mt. Whitney with a set of binoculars!
Camp sink: Since there are no sinks to wash dishes, bring your own camp sink. If possible, bring a large empty jug to dump grey water so you can follow Leave No Trace principles.
Water jug: You’ll need to bring your own water. Fill a large water jug so you’re set for a few days!

I hope you enjoy your time in the Alabama Hills! It is truly a magical place, and offers one of the best backdrops for a sunrise or sunset in California.