March 15-16, 2017
Independence Creek campground provided a convenient overnight less than 10 miles from Manzanar National Historic Site with magnificent Eastern Sierra views and nice trails.
Located only minutes from the town of Independence, California off SR395 gave me a good signal, picnic table, BBQ pit, and a toilet I didn’t use (I rather enjoy having my own). Might have been two other rigs out of about 24 sites. However I think this Inyo County managed campground is a little excessive at $14/night for a gravel semi-level site.
I saw a co-op in town and was excited but only open Friday afternoons, which it wasn’t. Shopping is limited to over priced gas station mini-marts. Hard to believe this tiny burg is the county seat. Didn’t take long to drive through. Has charm.
It was quiet except for the lovely harmony sung by two small creeks flowing on each side of my campsite.
Best of all, it was a beautiful place to decompress after visiting Manzanar. I needed a nature fix real bad.
Narrow plank bridges crossed the brisk flow as snow melt from the High Sierras raced downhill.
A short walk on well groomed trail brought me past meteros used for grinding by the Paiute and Shoshone native people of the past. I can certainly understand why they’d choose this high desert valley to live where they could hunt bighorn sheep in the high country and mule deer down low. Plus the jackrabbits are the size of a bull terrier with bigger ears.
Owens Valley stretches 100 miles long by 6-20 miles wide. At about 4,000 feet above sea level and flanked by the Sierra Nevada to the west and the White and Inyo Mountains to the east, with peaks on both sides rising above 14,000 feet, it is one of the deepest valleys in the United States.
Guess you can tell by the photos I spent a lot of time gazing at the clouds.
This is as far north as I planned to go, so unfortunately I won’t be visiting the really high country where the bristlecone pines grow.
Did I mention the views and clouds?
Oh and sunset.
Even in the morning before returning to Manzanar.
Beautiful country side, sky and yes clouds 🙂 Just too cold for me, I really need sun at this time of the year! Keep warm and take care Diane
Would have been real cold up on those mountains, not too bad down in the valley. Wind was the worse.
Sounds close enough and sure has a gorgeous setting. Your photographs are outstanding. $14 for the views might be fair. Love looking at your pictures. The one of your rig all alone there in that beauty looks perfect. I’d sure like to soak up some of that scenery and quiet. While Florida has some really wonderful parks and waters and springs, I am so tired of all the people.
Thanks Sherry. I guess $14 compared to RV parks isn’t bad. I do love the big, open, quiet places in the west.
Great pictures of those beautiful scenes! I think those are lenticular clouds. We’ve had the opportunity to spend Independence Day in Independence. Quite a hoot, with 395 closed down as it is the parade route.
Thanks Jeff. Saw many lenticular clouds over the Sierras. How funny to spend the 4th in Independence. But then how could they not celebrate with a name like that.
You found one of my other reasons that I love living up here. THE CLOUDS !!!! I never get enough of how beautiful our clouds are. Independence isn’t much of a town but Lone Pine and Big Pine aren’t all that far.
Hope you continue to enjoy your time up here.
Rosemary
Such a long stretch of valley sandwiched between the two ranges provides the perfect stage for all those marvelous clouds. I really like Lone Pine. Didn’t make it to Big Pine. Have to save something for the next visit.
We did a road trip down hwy. 395 a few years ago. It was one of our best ever. Sorry you missed the bristle one pines. Beautiful photos as usual!
Thanks Lynda. After 40 years seeing the Owens Valley it was more than time to return. Next time I’ll stay longer and see even more.
Spectacular skies and mountains! My mother lived in Independence for a few years in the late ’20’s. She rode horses everywhere and told wonderful stories of the area. In some respects it hasn’t changed much over time.
I love this area! Miles to ride a horse right out your own backyard.
You found yourself a great place to camp. Beautiful rugged mountains and spectacular skies. I think camping within earshot of running creek is special. Great post.
I love to listen to the song of flowing water. Thanks.
This is an area of CA we are unfamiliar with and I loved this beautiful mini-tour. (I’m going backwards catching up, so will probably have to come back here to decompress after reading the previous post). I did find out after I read Foto Friday that I am both a nephologist and a nepholographer and I sure am glad you are too.
You could head north this route on the return to Oregon. 😉