6 Best Things to Do in Alabama Hills, CA

Alabama Hills was one of the epic stops that we made on our road trip through the U.S 395. In fact, we enjoyed it so much that we came back multiple times ever since. This tumble of ancient giant granite boulders is like a trip into fantasy land. The timeless forces of wind and ice have sculpted the massive stone monoliths into a wonderland full of unique rock formations and natural arches. Besides its gorgeous landscape, Alabama Hills is also a famous location where numerous Western movies were filmed. And the best thing is, it is free to visit! So, we compiled a shortlist of some of the best things you can do here in Alabama Hills.

We love Alabama Hills, we hope you do too. Therefore, please help us protect and keep this area clean and free for generations to come. This means take out ALL your trash, DO NOT deface any rocks, and leave things where they are.

STATS:

Where:

Alabama Hills Recreation Area –
Coordinates: 36°35’43.94″N 118° 6’31.52”W

Hours:

Alabama Hills is open 24/7.

Fee:

Believe it or not, Alabama Hills is free to visit!

Restroom:

There are no restrooms here anywhere.

Ideal Weather:

It can get pretty hot here in the summer. Spring and fall are probably the best seasons to visit. Winter can be very cold.

Estimated Completion Time:

We recommend spending at least 3 or 4 hours here, if not longer, especially if you love photography. This place is beautiful!

Dog-friendly:

Yes. However, please make sure to watch out for snakes and scorpions. Also, please make sure to clean up after your pups!

Additional, Important Info:

There are no facilities, water, or food in Alabama Hills. Bring water and food if you’re planning to stay here for a bit. The good thing is this place is only about 5 minutes drive from the town of Lone Pine. Unless you’re camping, Lone Pine would be your best option for sleeping accommodation, food, and other amenities.

Another quick note, even though Alabama Hills is right next to Lone Pine, it is a big place at whopping 30,000 acres. And there is NO cell reception here. Therefore, make sure to have a full tank of gas before going in. You don’t want to get stuck here. Also, in some of these places, you might need 4WDs or high clearance vehicles to get there.

If you plan on exploring by car, all the roads in Alabama Hills are washboard roads. The few main roads there, even though bumpy, they are mostly flat. However, most of the smaller roads will require at least high clearance vehicles.

Weather:

VIDEO:

HISTORY OF ALABAMA HILLS:

Alabama Hills are a range of hills and rock formations near the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada in the Owens Valley, Just west of Lone Pine in Inyo County, California. This place got its name from Southern miners, who sympathetic to the Confederates. In 1863, these miners discovered gold in these hills, therefore, they named their mining claims after CSS Alabama, a Confederate warship deployed during the American Civil War. Later on, the name stuck and now, the entire area is known as The Alabama Hills.

Despite the extreme difference of appearance between the rounded, weathered boulders of Alabama Hills and the crisp, jagged edges of the towering Sierra mountain ranges, they are actually the same age. Both Alabama Hills and the Sierras were shaped by the same cataclysmic 100 million years ago. They are also formed from the same granitic and metamorphic rocks. The reasons both places look so different due to the amount of weather each place receive

Alabama Hills receives much stronger wind, more snow, and intense rainfall. These timeless forces are crucial tools that help create the landscape of what Alabama Hills is now.

BEST THINGS TO DO:

1. Arch Hunting and Hiking

One of our favorite things to do here is to go arch hunting. There are at least over 200 arches here, if you really want to look. Hiking and rock scrambling would be part of your process of finding these arches. Although there are only a few established hiking trails in Alabama Hills, you can also explore so much more around here. One of the established trails here is the Mobius Arch trail. This trail will take you to 3 different arches. We also put together a list of some of our favorite arches to get you started.

2. Exploring Movie Locations

If you are a movie buff, you’ll love this place. Alabama Hills has a long history, including many credits in major Hollywood productions. There are over 400 movies that were filmed here. It ranges from your classic westerns such as Boots and Saddles (1937), The Lone Ranger (1938), Valley of Fire (1951) to more modern films such as Star Trek V- The Final Frontier (1989), Tremors (1990), G.I. Jane (1997), Gladiator (2000), Gone in 60 Seconds (2000). Some of the most recent and famous ones are Django Unchained (2012) and Iron Man (2007).

If you fancy yourself as a silver screen aficionado, you can always take part in the Lone Pine Film Festival that takes place every October. The festival features speakers, actors, and bus tours that showcase many of the wonderful movies that were filmed in Alabama Hills. While you won’t find huge remaining pieces of sets still in existence, you might find a wall or a tiny bit of evidence that a movie was made in certain places.

You can always stop by the Lone Pine Film History Museum if you want to learn more about what movies were filmed here and to check out the exhibits.

Gene Autry Rock - features in Django Unchained

Gene Autry Rock - features in "Boots And Saddles"

Lone Ranger Ambush Canyon - features in Hopalong Cassidy

3. Off-Roading

Alabama Hills is super neat to explore on an off-road vehicle. There are miles of dirt roads that will take you through the massive boulders and above the hills. Not only it is super fun and exciting, you always get to immerse yourself in the middle of this breathtaking landscape. It is also a fun way to go arch hunting. Please make sure to stay on the main roads. Do not make your own roads.

4. Mountain Biking

Biking is another good way to explore Alabama Hills. This place offers some unique landscapes and bike trails. One of the main trails is the 17 miles Alabama Hiills trail that will take you around the area, from the top to the bottom. One thing to note, the trails here can get very sandy so it can be a bit challenging. Similar to off roading, please stay on established trails and roads and DO NOT make your own.

5. Photography

As photographers, we LOVE this place. It is a dream comes true for landscape photographers and a perfect backdrop if you want to get your portrait game on. The landscape also changes throughout the day and seasons. It always looks different somehow every time we visited. If you’re camping here, night photography is a must! You’ll get to see the milky way here on the darker nights.

6. Camping

There is nothing like camping here in Alabama Hills. You’ll get the gorgeous view of Mt. Whitney in the morning light and the unique backdrop of the giant boulders against your campsite. And guess what, camping here is free since this place is owned by the Bureau of Land Management, aka BLM land.

If you’re planning to camp here, there are no designated camp spots. However, there are many visible spots previously used by other people. You can tell usually by the fire rings or tire tracks that were left. If you can, stay at a previously made campsite to help keep the area intact. If you plan to make a fire, please use the previous fire rings if they are available.

The most important thing is to practice LEAVE NO TRACE principles. Pack out EVERYTHING you pack in. Take ALL your trash with you and leave the area as pristine as you find it. Please help keep the area clean and beautiful for the next generations. If you tips on dispersed camping, you can check out our blog here.

Bonus things to do:

If you’re in the area, don’t forget to take that drive up to Whitney Portal Road. It is beautiful up there. Another activity that we love to do is Geocache. Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity, in which you use GPS or your phone, as well as other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called “geocaches” or “caches”, at specific locations marked by coordinates all over the world. It’s like a treasure hunt, but you don’t actually find treasures. In fact, Dustin and I played geocache on our first date. There are a lot of these caches all over Alabama Hills. You can get more info here.

Alabama Hills is a super awesome spot to stop by on the U.S. 395. Another cool spot on the way is Fossil Falls. If you love public art, check out Olancha Sculptures.

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RECOMMEND GEAR:

These are the gear that we personally use and find them helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.

The majority of these links are through our affiliate links so if you buy something, it is at no extra cost for you but it helps us support the site. That being said, don’t buy something just to support us, buy something if you think it will enhance your travels and adventures.

• Hiking shoes
If you’re going arch hunting or rock scrambling, we recommend wearing hiking shoes. Vy’s shoes are Merrell Women’s Moab 2 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot. Dustin’s shoes are TARGHEE III WATERPROOF.

• Sunscreen
Alabama Hills can get VERY warm. Bring sunscreen! We use eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen, All Good Organic Sunscreen Butter – Zinc Oxide – Coral Reef Safe, and All Good Sport Sunscreen Lotion – Coral Reef Safe (3 oz)(2-Pack) or Stream2Sea SPF 30 Reef Safe Sport Tinted Sunscreen.

• Water
There are no water here. It can get very warm. Bring lots of water. Especially if you go in the afternoon. Vy uses the Camelback L.U.X.E. Dustin uses the Clik Small pack (sadly Clik is no longer around). Patagonia Women’s Nine Trails Pack 18L is also a great backpack for a shorter hike like this.

• Snacks/Lunches
Depends on how long you want to explore this area, snacks and lunches are a must.

• Good GPS
Alabama Hills has no cell service here. That’s why you need a good GPS device. Some of the arches here are hard to find without the GPS coordinates. We use Garmin inReach Explorer+, Handheld Satellite Communicator with TOPO Maps and GPS Navigation.

• Jacket
Depends on the season, it might get a bit chilly. We love our packable Patagonia Puff Jackets! It can keep you warm, yet pack up super light. You can get Vy’s version here, and Dustin’s version here. If you want some lighter, we love the packable Patagonia Women’s Houdini® Jacket and Patagonia Men’s Houdini® Jacket

• Full tank of gas
The closest gas station is in Lone Pine. It is close but not that close, especially if you’re planning to explore Alabama Hills. There is no cell reception here either so it’s not good to run out of gas. Make sure to fill your gas tank before heading in.