Range of hills and rock formations near the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada in the Owens Valley, west of Lone Pine
General Information
How to Get There
From Los Angeles (~200 mi): Take US‑395 N to Lone Pine, then head west on Whitney Portal Road and turn onto Movie Road to enter the Alabama Hills.
Overview
The Alabama Hills are a range of rounded, boulder-strewn orange hills below the sharp granite peaks of the Sierra Nevada, near Lone Pine in the Owens Valley, with Mount Whitney, the tallest peak in the contiguous United States, towering behind. Known for dozens of natural arches, including Mobius Arch and the Eye of Alabama, and reached by short walks off Whitney Portal Road and Movie Flat Road, the area is a favorite for scenic drives, easy hikes and free BLM camping. Hollywood filmed hundreds of Westerns and other movies among the rocks.
The hills are as old as the Sierra but were shaped by different erosion, and their potato-shaped boulders weather from 82- to 85-million-year-old granite. They were named for the Confederate warship CSS Alabama by Southern-sympathizing prospectors during the Civil War. The rugged escarpment beneath is the result of earthquakes, including the great 1872 Lone Pine earthquake.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Alabama Hills", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
Featured Trails
Mobius Arch
Natural arch formed by wind erosion, set among sculpted granite formations and desert terrain with panoramic views of nearby mountain peaks.
