Alabama Hills

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. Hundreds of 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 popular, but the fragile ground has led the Bureau of Land Management to steer campers to campgrounds.

What you'll find

• Rounded granite boulders and arches - the same rock as the Sierra behind.
• Mobius Arch framing Whitney - the standard photograph.
• Hundreds of 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.

Before you go

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.

Key facts