Mount Whitney: Mount Whitney stands at 14,505 feet and is the highest point in the contiguous United States. The west slope of the mountain is in Sequoia National Park, the summit is at the south end of the John Muir Trail, and the east slope is in the Inyo National Forest in Inyo County. Mount Whitney is above the tree line and has an alpine climate and ecology; very few plants grow near the summit. The peak’s name comes from Josiah Whitney, the state geologist of California and benefactor of the California Geological Survey in July 1864.
Trips going to Mount Whitney have specific quotas and must be reserved. A valid overnight permit or day-use permit is required year-round.
Mount Whitney is west of the town of Lone Pine along U.S. Highway 395 (approximately 105 miles south of Mammoth Lakes), and is easily accessed by the Whitney Portal Trailhead approximately 13 miles west of town. For more information on Mount Whitney and permits, contact the Wilderness Information Line at 760-873-2485 or the Reservation Line at 760-873-2483.
Death Valley National Park: Death Valley National Park has over 3 million acres of designated wilderness and hundreds of miles of backcountry roads. The park contains an amazing variety of terrain, historic sites, plants and animals for outdoor adventurers to explore. Some of the highlights of Death Valley are Golden Canyon, Artist’s Drive, Devil’s Golf Course, Natural Bridge, Zabriskie Point, Dante’s View, Twenty Mule Team Canyon, Titus Canyon, Eureka Dunes, The Racetrack and Badwater, the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level.
The Furnace Creek Visitor Center and Museum is open daily. The visitor center is located in the Furnace Creek Resort area on California State Highway 190. Contact them at 760-786-3200. The Death Valley Natural History Association sales outlets are located in visitor centers and contact stations and have informational materials about the park. Lodging, camp stores, restaurants, dump stations, fuel and auto services are available in Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells Village, Panamint Springs and in the towns adjacent to the park.
Cellphones and GPS do not work in Death Valley! Do not depend on them. In some cases there is spotty reception, but dependence on a cellphone or GPS can be fatal in an emergency situation. Check with the rangers for specific recommendations on travel safety. Located approximately 4 hours (214 miles) south of Mammoth Lakes, take U.S. Highway 395 south to Lone Pine and take State Highway 136 to State Highway 190 into the park, or continue south to Olancha to State Highway 190, heading east into the park.
Badwater, 282 feet below sea level, is the lowest point in North America and only 80 aerial miles from Mount Whitney.
Manzanar: Internment camp during World War II for U.S. residents of Japanese descent. Discover some of the history in the Owens Valley. 95 miles south of Mammoth Lakes.