Outdoor
fun attracts visitors to
Lone Pine, Calif.
by Catherine Felty, Outpost staff
My husband, Steve, and I first stumbled on Lone Pine, Calif., while on our honeymoon in 1986. After fighting August vacationers for a Yosemite campsite, we decided to head south on U.S. Highway 395 into the Owens Valley.
Our expectations were pretty low; we were only looking for a campground that wasn't filled to capacity. But halfway through the Owens Valley in southeastern California, we discovered a peaceful region of unique natural beauty.
Maybe it was the fact that we were on our honeymoon, but we fell in love with the place and have returned to many times since, most recently on Labor Day.
Lone Pine, a town of about 2,000 people, is a five-hour drive from Reno down U.S. Highway 395 as it heads into Southern California. In fact, the town offers those headed to Los Angeles, three hours south, a perfect spot for a quick meal or an afternoon swim. Unfortunately, most pass through town without a second glance.
But smart visitors who stop will find places to hike, camp and fish. It's the perfect little town to while away a long weekend or an entire vacation. And more people are wising up, according to Lone Pine officials.
Honeymooners Steve
and Catherine Felty soak up rays at Diaz Lake.
Photographer unknown.
"Over the last five years, visitation is up," said Donna
Bonnesin of the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce. She said
international visitors also have increased about 80 percent
during the last few years.
Because Lone Pine is on the main highway between two popular tourist attractions &endash; Death Valley National Monument and Mammoth Lake &endash;Lone Pine is a popular place for tourists to take a break, Bonnesin said.
Winter brings fewer visitors to the Owens Valley, although many Los Angeles skiers stop off in Lone Pine on their way to Mammoth Lake to swoosh down the slopes.
But hearty souls find plenty of opportunities at Lone Pine, even in the coldest months.
Reno resident Teresa Crawford, who has spent many years climbing, hiking and running in the Eastern Sierra, has discovered that the area has good hiking options for every season.
"Just stay lower when it's cold and snowy up high," she said. "There's excellent road cycling on the country roads and mountain biking for every skill level."
The Alabama Hills provide wintertime fun at lower
elevations. Photo by Catherine Felty
But if Lone Pine is a little cold for wintertime comfort, try Death Valley, about 100 miles east. At 282 feet below sea level, Death Valley is the lowest point in the United States and offers a toasty option for winter camping. To reach Death Valley, turn left on State Highway 136 about two miles south of Lone Pine, then just drive for 100 miles.
For those who stick out the winter but want to keep in touch with friends and family, Lone Pine is not as remote as you'd think. In November, the chamber installed a Web television in its office. Bonnesin said visitors are welcome to check their e-mail on the system. The offices at 126 S. Main St. are two doors north of the stop light in the Old Lone Pine Hotel. Out front of the office, a small, shady courtyard doubles as a concert stage in warmer months.
Visitors to visit Lone Pine during the cooler, off-season months may encounter a film production company in the area. Bonnesin said Lone Pine encourages the production companies to shoot during the off-season, so you may catch a glimpse of a Toyota truck or a movie star.
Lone Pine has been a favorite among Hollywood directors for its varied environment offering sagebrush deserts, rolling rock hills and tall mountain peaks. Productions shot locally include "Star Trek" movies and television episodes, the "Lone Ranger" television series and many John Wayne movies.
As you hike around the mountains enjoying all that peace and quiet, keep your eye out for a location scout tramping along right behind you.
"You never know when they'll be here," Bonnesin said.
Posted Nov. 11, 1998
Copyright 1998 Nevada Outpost