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Alabama Hills

Saturday, December 23, 2023

Trail Map

Other Names

Movie Road, Mt. Whitney, Lone Pine Creek

Last Known Status

Open

With unique landscape filled with colorful boulders and excellent views of Mount Whitney, it’s no wonder why Alabama Hills is one of the top film locations for major movie studios. The main attraction is “Movie Road” where visitors can take a self guided tour and check out the actual film sites of classic westerns and modern movies (Tremors, How The West Was Won, Iron Man and Man of Steel are just one of many examples).

Dispersed camping is permitted but there may be some changes coming in the near future. Designated campgrounds can be found just a few miles away at Lone Pine (west), Portuguese Joe (east), and Tuttle Creek (south). There is no direct OHV access from these campgrounds so vehicles will need to be street legal or be hauled to and from the trailhead.

Most of the area consists of wide and hard packed 4x4 roads, making this area best explored in a jeep or dual sport motorcycle. There is a designated multiple use trail located west of the Arch Loop Trailhead that is open to dirt bikes, mountain bikes and hikers.

Trail Map... Nearby ATV Trails...

REGULATIONS

Permit Required	Yes	CA OHMVR stickers required
Dates Open	Year-Round	CA OHMVR red sticker vehicles permitted year round
Other ATV Stickers Accepted	Yes	Residents of any state not listed must purchase a Nonresident OHV Use Permit. (AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, IA, ID, IN, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, TX, UT, VT, WA, WI, WY)
Spark Arrestor	Yes	A spark arresting exhaust silencer or end cap is required for all vehicles.
Noise Limit	Yes (96 dB)	CA OHMVR noise limits apply (1985/older limit 101 dB, 1986/newer limit 96 dB)
Whip Flags	Not Required
Maximum Vehicle Width	No Restriction
Motorcycles & Dirt Bikes	Some Areas	CA OHMVR stickers required permitted on designated trails
ATVs	Some Areas	CA OHMVR stickers required permitted on designated roads
UTV & SXS	Some Areas	CA OHMVR stickers required permitted on designated roads
SUVs & Jeeps (registered)	Some Areas	permitted on designated roads
Dune Buggy & Sand Rail 4x4 (unregistered)	Some Areas	CA OHMVR stickers required permitted on designated roads
2 Stroke Engines	No Restriction	CA OHMVR restrictions apply
MX Helmet Required	Yes	helmets required by state law
Camping	Some Areas	(camp in developed sites only)
Campfires	Some Areas	(permitted in developed campsites only)
Night Riding	Unknown
Trail Blazing	Prohibited	stay on trails
Rule Enforcement

TERRAIN

Approx Size	30,000 acres (47 sq mi)
Miles Of Trail	20
Climate Type	Desert
Elevation	4500 to 4800 ft.
Trail Maintenance	Marked, Not Rated, Lightly Maintained
Loose Dirt	Little
Hard Pack	Mostly
Sand	Some
Mud	None
Dust	Some
Rocks	Some
Trees	None
Steep Hills	Few
Water Crossings	Few
Small Jumps	None
Large Jumps	None
Berms	None
Sand/Gravel Pits	None
Single Track	Few
Roads	Mostly
Shade	Few
Hazards	Few	(hazards assumed marked but use caution)
Novice	Mostly
Amateur	Some
Expert	Little

TYPE OF AREA

Area	Motorized Trails

Land

BLM

GPS POINTS

KEY SERVICES

Gasoline	1-5 Miles (E)	Shell (760) 876-1035
Diesel	1-5 Miles (E)	Shell (760) 876-1035
Water	1-5 Miles (E)	Portuguese Joe Campground (760) 873-5577
RV Hookup	30+ Miles (N)	Browns Millpond Campground (760) 873-8522
RV Disposal	1-5 Miles (S)	Tuttle Creek Campground (760) 872-5000
Campground	1-5 Miles (E)	Portuguese Joe Campground (760) 873-5577
Conv Store	1-5 Miles (E)	Shell (760) 876-1035

FEES & PASSES

Parking	(None)
Entry	(None)
Riding	(None)
Camping	(None)

RATINGS

Our Rating	Good
Recommended Stay	Full Day
Comments	(Scroll Down For Rider Reviews & Comments)

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

Nearest City

Lone Pine, CA

Address

Movie Flat Road, Lone Pine, CA 93545

Trail Map

From: Bishop, CA
1) Take US-395 South about 55 miles
2) Turn right (west) onto Whitney Portal Road, continue 2.7 miles
3) Turn right (north) onto Movie Road, continue 1.6 miles toward staging area.