Alabama Hills
Rounded granite boulders below the Sierra escarpment, used in hundreds of films, with Mount Whitney directly behind.
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The hills are the same granite as the Sierra Nevada behind them but weathered differently - chemical weathering underground rounded them into boulders and arches while the range above was carved into peaks, so two very different landscapes sit within a few kilometres. Mobius Arch frames Mount Whitney through it, which is the standard photograph. Over four hundred films and many television episodes have been shot here since the 1920s, from westerns with Gene Autry and Hopalong Cassidy through Gunga Din to Iron Man and Django Unchained; Movie Road is signed accordingly. It became a National Scenic Area in 2019. Dispersed camping is permitted but has caused damage and is now permitted and regulated.
What you actually see
- Rounded granite boulders and arches - the same rock as the Sierra behind.
- Mobius Arch framing Whitney - the standard photograph.
- Over four hundred film locations - signed along Movie Road.
- Two weathering styles side by side - boulders below, peaks above.
When to go
October to May; summer in the Owens Valley is very hot. Half a day.
Honest expectations
Summer heat is severe. Dispersed camping now requires a permit after years of damage. Roads are unpaved and washboarded. There is no water or shade.
Nearby
Lone Pine is east; the Whitney Portal road climbs west.
What to pack for Alabama Hills
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
