California is famous for its gorgeous sunsets and warm beaches. The Pacific Coastal Highway (CA-1) is one of the most iconic road trips in the US. But hey, California has so much more to offer than its beautiful beaches. About 200 miles east of the coastline, you’ll find an amazing mountain range that shows a different side of the state, revealing its rich and diverse natural beauty. Here, you’ll discover majestic snow-capped mountains, crystal-clear alpine lakes, rejuvenating natural hot springs, and the towering presence of the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. As the winter season came to an end, I packed my bags, took some time off, and set off on a road trip to experience the amazing locations Highway 395 had to offer. My adventure started from the east of Yosemite and stretched all the way to almost the northern tip of the Death Valley.

June Lake Loop

The first stop was the breathtaking June Lake Loop (CA-158), a picturesque and winding road meandering through majestic mountains and pristine lakes. Near this area lies the stunning turquoise Parker Lake, enveloped by the towering Mount Wood, Parker Peak, and Mount Lewis, all reaching over 12000 feet. The hike to the lake was only about 3.8 miles round trip, making it the easiest hike of this trip.

Just before my trip, I came across an amazing picture of an abandoned house with the Sierra’s eastern escarpment in the background. I was thrilled to recreate it! After some research, I found out that the location was somewhere near the June Lake Loop, so I began searching everywhere. It took some time, but fortunately, that morning the light was incredible with a beautiful pink sky, and I was able to capture this picture.

Mammoth Lakes Area

I made my way to Mammoth Lakes, a town with breathtaking scenery. My next stop was Benton Crossing Road, a peaceful route with minimal traffic and incredible views of the Sierra Peaks. One of the prominent sights along this road is Mt. Morrison, standing at an elevation of 7881 ft. Mammoth Lake is renowned as one of California’s popular ski destinations, but since I’m not into skiing, I didn’t explore that part on this trip. Maybe next time!

Hot Creek Geological Site is a place you’ve got to check out to believe it. It’s famous for its amazing hot springs, boiling pools, and bubbling mud pots. Just a heads up, the water in these pools can get as hot as  93 degrees Celsius (200 degrees Fahrenheit), so it’s not safe for swimming or soaking. But the winding stream creates a natural leading line to Laurel Mountain in the background making it perfect spot for landscape photography.

On my way back from Hot Creek, I came across this beautiful composition: a dirt road leading into Mt. Morrison with the Laurel Mountains in the background. The golden hour had just passed, and the mountains were emitting a dusky purple colour.

Just 15 minutes from the hot creek is Convict Lake, a well-known spot with an interesting backstory. The lake got its name because back in 1871, a bunch of convicts escaped from a nearby prison, and a shootout went down between them and a posse, which ended with a few people kicking the bucket. Nowadays, Convict Lake is a cool spot for people who love the outdoors. You can do all sorts of stuff there, like fishing, boating, hiking, and camping (just no shooting!). It is also a well-known spot to view fall colours in California. And the best part is that you don’t even have to walk around much – you can take in the whole view from the parking area.

Big Pine Area

Okay, this was the most challenging part of the trip. I had to hike 11 miles, over 2000 ft of elevation, with 15 pounds of gear on my back. I set out for the hike early in the morning to avoid the mid-day sunlight, but the hike was brutally exhausting. At one point, I even regretted attempting it. However, two hours and 6 miles later, I could finally see what I had come all the way up for: a majestic granite peak called Temple Crag. This shot was taken from Lake 2 of the Big Pine Lakes. There are a total of 6 alpine lakes in the area, each equally serene and picturesque. I spent an hour at the top and then headed back down, which was way more manageable. I finished the whole thing in under 5 hours. Not too bad for a first-timer, huh?

Manzanar

During World War II, the Manzanar War Relocation Camp was one of the American internment camps where thousands of Japanese Americans were forced to relocate following a presidential executive order. This happened because they were suspected of potential espionage after the Pearl Harbor attack. Today, the site is managed by the United States National Park Service and is open to the public. It serves as a reminder of the injustice people suffered from a short-sighted and discriminatory policy.

Lone Pine Area

Alright, let’s get back to the fun stuff now. Close to the small town of Lone Pine lies Alabama Hills, maybe the most Instagrammed location on this trip. Its eroded hills and round rock formations give this place a timeless and enchanting quality, kind of like scenes from classic Western movies. I found out that this is the place where they filmed the famous Jericho Missile Scene from the first Iron Man movie. I wanted to recreate this too, but I couldn’t find the exact spot. What I did manage to capture, however, was an alpenglow on Mt. Whitney with the full moon still shining in the sky. I’m super proud of this shot!

Did you know that Mount Whitney is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States? Surprisingly, it doesn’t even make the top 10 tallest mountains in the whole US.

Finally, how could I miss the most Instagrammed site in this whole trip? Just look up Alabama Hills, and you’ll see this composition appear the most. I’m glad I got there early. I’ve heard this place is usually swarming with influencers.

The Sierras have so much more to offer, but unfortunately, my PTO only allowed me to cover these this time. There are many more beautiful landscapes that I have yet to explore. Hopefully, I’ll be back next time!