March 16-21, 2017
If you want to visit the Alabama Hills without camping there with no signal try out the nearby Tuttle Creek Campground about 5 miles from Lone Pine, California. Managed by BLM (Bureau of Land Management) at $5/night it’s a steal (half off with Senior Pass). Eighty-three large gravel sites along Tuttle Creek, some more level than others, accommodate big rigs with a table and BBQ/fire pit. Dump station an additional $5. Potable water available. Plus big views up and down Owens Valley surrounded by the Eastern Sierras and the Inyo Mountains.
However, don’t take the Tuttle Creek Road on the low end of Whitney Portal Road with a big rig. Although it’s gorgeous and paved it’s mostly one lane with turn-outs and twisty. Instead just a few miles further, and past Movie Road, take the 1.6 miles south on Horseshoe Meadows Road to the campground sign. Then slow down for the horrific speed bumps requiring an almost full stop at each one.
The lovely song of Tuttle Creek helped me relax and sleep after an emotionally draining visit to Manzanar National Historic Site. In the morning blue skies with patches of streaming clouds distracted me. And with temperatures predicted up to 80°F I didn’t feel like leaving or going any place at all.
I could almost watch the snow line climb higher every warm and windy day. A light afternoon breeze kept it from feeling hot. On the walk back from the pay station, spending two more nights, I saw a jackrabbit. They are huge, like a mid-sized dog.
Unfortunately the weekend brought revelry and the silence was broken by a rather large group of young people camped not far away. Guess that’s what to be expected over spring break. Then the wind picked up which didn’t inspire me to leave the camper most of the day. Instead I took advantage of the blazing fast internet signal and worked on blog posts and photos. Fortunately the noisy group left Sunday morning along with many other campers but they didn’t take the wind with them.
With more windy days I continued to stay inside. Sometimes, it’s just nice to stay home. Even if your home is on wheels. The two above shots, and below, were taken from the camper door. What’s not to like about that?
Had thought to leave Tuesday for Mojave Trails National Monument yet woke up to clouds hanging low over the Sierras and wind whipping up the Owens Valley from the south. Don’t like to be on the road under those conditions. Where I was had no protection from the wind unfortunately. But the price was right. Not cold and so beautiful to look at, from inside. Sprinkled on and off all afternoon. Rather interesting to experience other than perfectly clear blue skies. Gives the landscape a totally different perspective.
After almost a week of self-imposed confinement I began my journey southward with a stop at the Museum of Western Film History and an early birthday surprise.
That photo of the clouds it the top ‘above and below’ photo is a prize, Gaelyn. Nature sure has a way of recentering our world, no matter how hard we try to screw it up. Glad you found Tuttle Creek to unwind from Manzanar. 🙂
Thank you. Nature is how I ground and center.
My dog, Sasha, likes rabbits so I will have to keep this place in mind.
These rabbits are almost as big as Sasha and definitely bigger than Ranger.
Hi Gaelyn..your two photos from the back door of your rig are perfect, very surreal, almost like a beautiful oil painting. We are hoping to take a short jaunt up to the Alabama Hills and maybe the Table Lands if we can finish some contractor work here at home. Weather front coming in, so we will see. Last time we were at Tuttle, dump station was in-operable, good to know it is available as it is so close to the Hills. Streams must be filling up quick with snow melt. Than opening photo of your is what always draws us, and everyone else, to the 395 corridor.
Thank you. After 40 years away from the Sierras I’ll make it back sooner for the next visit. Hard to say how often the Tuttle Creek dump is emptied but the campground is very nice. Hope you make it to the Hills.
Some magical sky shots here. It really looks like a fab place and I love listening to running water. Have a great week, Diane and Nigel
Magnificent big sky country.
Sounds like a beautiful place. Your photos are stunning as usual!
Thanks Lynda. Nice place to spend some time.
Interesting and beautiful cloud formations. Great photos!
Thanks Peter.
Oh this has activated my Southwest Road Trip travel bugs!!
Good. Maybe I’ll get to meet you in the SW.
We love that area!
Well, both rims of the GC are getting snow, and so is Flag, right now (6:50 pm, 4/3).
Hope you get to Mohave Trails NM. We’ve heard there are some gems for landscape photography. 🙂
I feel in love with that area too. Not looking forward to the snow we’ll still be getting at the North Rim when I return to work May 1. Only spent a day at Mohave Trails NM then got home before the next storm.
Thanks so much for the campground information. It looks like a perfect spot for see the Alabama Hills. Or just to hang out in a beautiful place. Week-ends are the pits almost everywhere we’ve been too. I don’t get why people want to come out into gorgeous serene areas and fill them full of NOISE! When is Spring break anyway? The entire month of March and how much of April??
Those views out your door would make me stay home too. Wonderful photography. Love the skies. Love the shot of Turtle Creek. What a fantastic first picture and the middle one of the skies just superb! Some coffee table shots here Gaelyn. Your photography just gets better and better.
I think an especially good camp for big rigs with a toad as there’s so much to see and do in the area. The views are endless. And even with the annoying wind the clouds put on such fantastic shows. Spring break does seem to be more spread out than I remember. Weekenders I can partially understand, but why the unnecessary noise I can’t. Thank you for the lovely compliment. I believe we’re getting better with practice.
There has to be a better idea than speed bumps on roads where RVs travel. They are ridiculous. Lovely mountains and those skies are magical. Glad you were able to embrace the extended stay.
These were doozeys. But then so was the road I drove up to get there. Not bad views to be stuck with for a while.