This past June, Adventure Pup and I rolled into Whitney Portal Campground for five glorious days of Lone Pine camping, hiking, Jeeping, and pretending emails didn’t exist. When it comes d
own to things to do in Lone Pine California, the list is long, outdoorsy and glorious.
After a long drive from Southern California, with a fun detour through Kennedy Meadows, we arrived just in time for one of the strangest and most spectacular natural events I’ve ever witnessed. Thousands upon thousands of ladybugs filled the air. They swirled through the forest like tiny red confetti. It was honestly one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen in the Sierra.
And unlike mosquitoes, ladybugs don’t spend the entire evening trying to drain your blood.
I’d happily bottle up that entire ladybug hatch and bring it back to Big Bear Lake. At home, we’re currently fighting an aphid invasion of biblical proportions. Everything is coated in sticky honeydew. The patio furniture is sticky. The outdoor tables are sticky. Somehow the dog is sticky. I spent weeks convinced pine sap was falling from the trees until I learned it was actually aphid poop.
This is exactly why girls need camping vacations.
Lone Pine, California: Dirt Roads, Campfires and No Zoom Meetings
Back home, we’re pressure-washing honeydew off everything in sight around the backyard while trying to maintain some level of sanity. Up here in the mountains above Lone Pine, California? My biggest concern was whether the bears would leave my campsite alone long enough for me to get some sleep. Our first night at camp, the bears were active until 2 a.m. Do they not realize I’m on vacation over here? And Adventure Dog and I wake up at dawn every day of vacation to hike?
Adventure Pup, meanwhile, has apparently decided adulthood means becoming my personal bodyguard. She now growls at neighboring campers, camp showers, oddly shaped rocks, and basically anything taller than three feet. One evening she became convinced a nearby camp shower was a seven-foot-tall serial killer lurking in the forest. At least somebody is taking campsite security seriously.
The Great Lone Pine Escape: Where Your Boss Can’t Find You
I absolutely adore spending a week exploring Mammoth Lakes, but sometimes life gets in the way. When you’re juggling work, clients, hiking tours, and all the other chaos that comes with adulthood, it can be hard to justify driving several hundred miles for a short vacation.
That is when Lone Pine becomes my happy place.
If you’re looking for things to do in Lone Pine California, you’ll find no shortage of outdoor adventures. Between Lone Pine hiking trails, Jeep roads, fishing spots, high-country lakes, camping, and mountain scenery that looks straight out of a postcard, it’s one of the most underrated outdoor destinations in the entire state.
Alabama Hills and Other Places to Get Dusty in Lone Pine
There is a reason the Alabama Hills look like a movie set: they literally are one. Countless classic Westerns were filmed among these famous rock formations, including scenes from How the West Was Won, along with plenty of old John Wayne and Gene Autry movies. If you’re an old Hollywood buff looking for things to do in Lone Pine California, the Museum of Western Film History is absolutely worth a stop. And if you’re visiting in June when temperatures can push 100 degrees, an air-conditioned museum suddenly starts sounding like one of the smartest outdoor adventures in town.
Alabama Hills Adventures: Where Every Photo Looks Like a Western
Personally, I think the best way to experience the Alabama Hills is at sunrise in a Jeep during late May or early June. The morning light turns the entire landscape gold, and the wildflowers, especially the gorgeous Grape Soda Lupine, seem to bloom around every corner. This is a stunning area for spring wildflower photography.
If you enjoy wildflower photography, Lone Pine hiking, or simply driving around in your Jeep pretending you’re starring in your own Western movie, this place is pure magic. It is truly a California secret (I feel like Huell Houser right about now)
Exploring Alabama Hills: California’s Most Beautiful Movie Set
An added bonus? Most of the rattlesnakes are still sleeping in during those chilly early-morning hours. Once the desert sun starts heating those giant boulders, however, the danger noodles wake up and begin their daily shift. That is not 
the time to be enthusiastically boulder-hopping like an over-caffeinated mountain goat.
Many people enjoy Lone Pine camping at Tuttle Creek Campground or Lone Pine Campground, and both are beautiful options. However, I have personally encountered rattlesnakes at both locations. That’s exactly why I prefer camping at Whitney Portal Campground. The temperatures are cooler, the scenery is dramatically more alpine, and I spend a lot less time wondering if something venomous is hiding beneath my camp chair. Give me granite peaks, pine trees, and a TreeFox Pop-Up Tent over desert snakes any day of the week.
Lone Pine, California: Where the Mountains Are Massive and Your Cell Signal Is Optional
Hardcore camping means no showers, no Wi-Fi, and absolutely no clue what is happening in the outside world. Who won the California primary election? No idea. Who got voted off whatever reality show people are watching these days? Couldn’t tell you.
What I do know is that I had approximately one thousand mosquito bites, every muscle in my body hurt, and somehow my hair still looked surprisingly fabulous despite having just completed what could generously be described as a “creek bath” in snowmelt runoff.
That same freezing creek also became my foot soak after a twelve-mile hike. The water was so cold I screamed loud enough to alarm local wildlife. Somewhere in Lone Pine, a marmot probably thought a bear was giving birth.
That evening, I crawled into my tent, zipped myself inside alongside several hundred mosquitoes and what felt like the entire ladybug population of California, and hoped the famous Whitney Portal bears would allow me a full night’s sleep.
Earlier that day, Adventure Pup and I had accidentally hiked to Chicken Spring Lake. Our actual goal had been Cottonwood Lakes. Turns out, when you’ve slept two hours and arrive at a trailhead before sunrise, parking at the wrong trailhead becomes surprisingly easy. Oopsy.
The good news? Chicken Spring Lake was stunning. The bad news? It was still twelve miles of hiking at altitude, and my legs were filing formal complaints by lunchtime. But this is, after all, how we vacation.
The Perfect Early Summer Weekend in Lone Pine for People Who Hate Crowds
If you’re on a hiker’s holiday near Lone Pine, then any of the hikes up at Horseshoe Meadow should be on your list. Now, hiking in this area is not for the faint of heart. Literally. Most of these trailheads start above 10,000 feet, and hiking at those elevations requires both fitness and functioning lungs. If your cardio routine consists primarily of walking from the couch to the refrigerator, these may not be the best day hikes for you.
Of all the Lone Pine hiking adventures I’ve done over the years, the treks around Cottonwood Basin are easily my favorite. The hikes to the Cottonwood Lakes, South Fork Lakes, and all those numbered alpine lakes are considered “easy” by Eastern Sierra standards. And by easy, I mean there isn’t much elevation gain. What nobody mentions is that you’re still hiking twelve to fifteen miles at over 10,000 feet. Apparently, that’s what passes for a relaxing vacation when you’re an outdoor addict.
Chicken Spring Lake is another great option if you’re looking for things to do in Lone Pine, California. The hike is only about nine miles round-trip, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll somehow turn it into twelve by wandering off to explore Little Whitney Meadow or continuing up the Pacific Crest Trail because one more mile always sounds like a good idea until it isn’t.
The Great Lone Pine Escape: Where Your Boss Can’t Find You
What really surprised me on this trip was how empty the backcountry felt. When I pulled into the Horseshoe Meadow trailhead at six in the morning, there were backpackers everywhere. Cars filled the parking lot. People were adjusting trekking poles, stuffing snack
s into their packs, and preparing for a day in the mountains. A few hours later, however, I found myself completely alone. No hikers. No backpackers. No trail runners. Nobody.
At one point, I honestly started wondering if the Rapture had happened and no one bothered to tell me. If this were my personal Rapture, I have to admit, it wasn’t a bad location. Snow-capped peaks, alpine lakes, and not a single client emailing me. Although I would assume that if I had actually been Raptured, my entire body wouldn’t hurt quite this much.
I usually see plenty of people hiking around the South Fork Lakes area. Not crowds, thankfully, but enough fellow hikers to remind you that civilization still exists. I don’t want a trail that feels like the Hollywood Sign hike with one hundred influencers taking photos of Labradoodle Fifi while blocking the entire path. But seeing another person every hour or so is reassuring. It gives me confidence that if I roll an ankle and becom
e one with the granite, somebody will eventually stumble across me.
Unfortunately, this was also the year I decided I didn’t need a map. Now, in my defense, I’ve done this loop many times. Usually once a year. What threw me off this time was the snow. There was far more snow lingering in the high country than I expected. I crossed multiple snowfields, lost the trail repeatedly, and eventually found myself relying on what can only be described as mountain-girl navigation.
“Well, Cirque Peak is over there. Mt. Langley is over there. The lakes have to be somewhere in between.”
Shockingly, this strategy sort of worked.
I ended up discovering several gorgeous alpine lakes that I don’t even think have names or numbers. Unfortunately, I also found myself wandering halfway up Cirque Peak while my legs were actively negotiating a workers’ compensation claim. By that point, I didn’t even feel like taking photos anymore, which should tell you exactly how exhausted I was. The entire experience had me seriously considering whether maybe I should invest in one of those satellite
communicators with an SOS button before my next Lone Pine hiking adventure.
And of course, because the universe enjoys keeping things interesting, I found a rattlesnake. At over 12,000 feet. Why are there danger noodles at 12,000 feet? Who approved this?
Naturally, Adventure Pup immediately decided the rattlesnake looked fascinating and attempted to investigate. Thankfully, she goes to annual snake aversion training next week because apparently, survival instincts are optional if you’re a Catahoula.
Meysan Lakes: The Prettier, Less Crowded Cousin of Whitney Chaos
If you’re looking for another incredible hike near Lone Pine, the Meysan Lakes Trail is an absolute butt-kicker. This is not a casual stroll. The first few miles climb relentlessly through exposed terrain with very little shade, so if you’re attempting this one in summer, start before sunrise and bring far more water than you think you’ll need. The trail is only about 11.5 miles round-trip, but it packs more than 4,000 feet of elevation gain into those miles.
The reward, however, is worth every miserable uphill step. The backcountry fishing around Meysan Lakes is incredible, some of the best we’ve experienced anywhere in the Eastern Sierra. By the time Adventure Pup and I staggered back to the Jeep, both of us were completely cooked. I stopped at a scenic overlook to grab a few photos for the blog, opened the passenger-side door, and my dog literally fell out of the Jeep like a pile of barely cooked linguine.
Honestly, same.
That was exactly how my legs felt.
Big Pine: Trading Traffic, Emails and Human Interaction for Mountains
If you’re looking for one of the most unique adventures near Lone Pine, California, then the White Mountains deserve a spot at the very top of your list. This is not a drive for your leased Tesla or your cousin’s lowered Honda Civic with the aftermarket spoiler. The White Mountains require a proper four-wheel-dri
ve vehicle, decent tires, and a willingness to disappear into some of the most remote wilderness left in California.
The drive itself is part of the adventure. From the moment you leave the pavement behind, the landscape begins transforming into something that looks more like Nevada collided with the surface of Mars. It is roughly twenty miles of off-roading to reach the locked Barcroft Gate, where the hike to White Mountain Peak begins. Along the way, you’ll climb to nearly 10,000 feet and pass through terrain that looks completely different from anywhere else in the Eastern Sierra. Wild horses roam the hillsides. Marmots pop up out of nowhere like furry little mountain gremlins. And every turn reveals another jaw-dropping view across the Owens Valley.
One of the reasons so many outdoor enthusiasts love the White Mountains is that this area remains wonderfully isolated. There is almost no light pollution. Astronomers travel from all over California to stargaze here because the night skies are absolutely ridiculous. If you’ve never seen the Milky Way blazing across the sky from horizon to horizon, this is the place to do it. From the upper reaches of White Mountain, you can see clear across the Owens Valley to the Sierra Nevada. It feels less like California and more like you’ve accidentally driven into another planet.
Of course, if you’re feeling ambitious, you can continue from Barcroft Gate and hike White Mountain Peak itself. The hike is roughly 15 miles round-trip and still holds snow some years well into July. Which seems unfair. The desert is roasting below you at 100 degrees and somehow there’s still snow on the summit. California is weird.
One thing I will absolutely recommend before heading into the White Mountains is carrying a spare tire. Actually, carry two if you’re the anxious type. The first time we camped near Barcroft Gate was while acclimating for Mt. Whitney. A lot of hikers use White Mountain Peak as a warm-up before tackling Whitney because the elevations are so similar. Along with extra water, food, and a good solar charger, we always make sure we have enough supplies to survive a surprise overnight stay. Because if your vehicle decides to throw a tantrum out here, help is not exactly around the corner. If you’re searching for untouched wilderness in California, this is about as wild as it gets.
Lone Pine: Because Yosemite Was Full of Influencers
Another popular stop in the W
hite Mountains is the Methuselah Grove Trail. Now, I’m not usually someone who gets excited about trees. But when a tree is nearly five thousand years old, I’ll make an exception. The hike begins near the visitor center at just under 10,000 feet and winds through the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. One of these ancient trees, known as Methuselah, is estimated to be more than 4,800 years old. Think about that for a second. This tree was already ancient when the Roman Empire was still a future concept. It was alive before Caesar, before Shakespeare, before indoor plumbing and before influencers started dancing on TikTok. The exact location of Methuselah is kept secret to protect it from vandals, which is probably wise because apparently, we can’t have nice things anymore, like history and nature.
Of course, all this hiking, Jeeping, camping, and mountain exploration eventually leads to the same question.
Where are we eating?
The Best Things to Do in Lone Pine, California Between Meals
If you’ve survived the White Mountains without flattening a tire or becoming marmot food, then a stop at Copper Top Barbecue in Big Pine is practically mandatory. The Food Network made them famous years ago, and people still line up for their barbecue. Personally, I think Holy Smoke BBQ up in Bishop serves a better brisket, but that is an extra hour of driving and by this point you are probably starving enough to eat your hiking socks.
When heading back toward Lone Pine, don’t skip Great Basin Bakery. Pick up a loaf of fresh sourdough for camp or grab one of their famous sandwiches to enjoy back at Whitney Portal Campground. There is something magical about sitting beneath towering pines, staring up at Mt. Whitney, and eating fresh bakery bread while pretending you’re some sort of sophisticated wilderness explorer instead of a person who hasn’t showered in three days.
For dinner, my favorite spot in Lone Pine remains Seasons Restaurant. Their elk medallions are absolutely fantastic. Add in great salads, excellent service, and one of the better wine selections you’ll find in the area, and it’s become our traditional “we survived another adventure” dinner stop. After a week of camp food, freeze-dried snacks, and trail mix, sitting down to a proper meal almost feels luxurious. And yes, you may want to shower before the best steakhouse on the 395. I hope you packed a Camp Shower.
And if the desert heat starts getting to you, don’t overlook Diaz Lake. While most visitors are focused on Mt. Whitney and the Alabama Hills, Diaz Lake is a fantastic place to cool off. On calm summer days, the paddleboarding is wonderful, and Adventure Pup absolutely loves swimming here. The only caveat? Avoid holiday weekends unless your idea of relaxation involves listening to Side-by-Sides, ATVs, and enough horsepower to qualify as a small NASCAR event. We made the mistake of camping there one Memorial Day weekend and learned very quickly that “peaceful lakeside getaway” means very different things to different people. You can always purchase a dog floaty for smaller dogs ahead of a Diaz Lake adventure or a Doggo-worthy paddleboard before you head to Diaz.
For me, the perfect Lone Pine vacation still looks the same. A few days at Whitney Portal Campground. Long hikes into the Cottonwood Basin. 
Jeep adventures through the Alabama Hills. Maybe a side trip to the White Mountains. Fresh sourdough from Great Basin Bakery. A great dinner at Seasons. And a tired Adventure Pup snoring beside me after another day of questionable outdoor decisions and spectacular scenery.
There are countless things to do in Lone Pine, California, but that’s really what keeps me coming back. It’s one of the few places left where you can spend an entire week hiking, camping, Jeeping, fishing, exploring, and staring at mountains without feeling like you’re standing in line for an attraction. Lone Pine still feels wild. It still feels adventurous. And best of all, it still feels like California before everyone discovered it.
