Alabama Hills Lone Pine CA - The Perfect Movie Setting

The Alabama Hills in Lone Pine, California is the perfect movie setting. Have you heard about the Alabama Hills but didn’t really know where it was? Have you ever wondered where the fabulous scenery of rounded boulders, arches and mysterious gullies seen in so many famous Western movies and TV shows was located?

Alabama Hills the Perfect Movie Setting
Well wonder no more…I can tell you exactly where. The world famous Alabama Hills!
Alabama Hills with Sierra Nevada Mountains in Background

The Alabama Hills has been the filming location and perfect movie setting for over 300 movies. It reminded us of the perfect movie setting in Shelburne Falls, MA for Robert Downey, Jr’s movie “The Judge;” you can read our post here.

Movies and television shows filmed in the Alabama Hills during the 1920s to 1950s were mostly Westerns. More recently films such as Star Trek V and VII, Tremors, Gladiator, Dinosaur and Iron Man to name just a few have been filmed here. We stayed at the Dow Hotel in nearby Lone Pine because of it’s historical interest. The hotel was built in the early 1920’s for a convenient lodging place for the many actors and filming crew that came to film in the Alabama Hills. The adjoining Dow Villa Motel was added in 1959. You can find deals for any season at the Dow Hotel or other hotels in the Lone Pine area at Booking.com. We found the location of the town of Lone Pine to work great as a stopping point during our adventure as we traveled along scenic Highway 395 in California.

What are the Alabama Hills?

The Alabama Hills, designated a National Scenic Area in March of 2019, is an outstanding area of rock formations and stunning scenery framed by Mount Whitney and the Sierra Nevada mountains. Its rugged environment is a popular location for movie makers, television shows and commercials.

Rock Formations in Alabama Hills
Photographing at Mobius Arch
Hiking, picnicking, landscape photography and visiting movie filming locations have made the Alabama Hills a popular tourist destination.
Cactus and Rocks in the Alabama Hills
Barrel Cactus in Alabama Hills

The desert setting of the Alabama Hills with its unusual rock formations and oddly shaped desert plants is admired by nature lovers and photographers alike.

 

Where are the Alabama Hills Located?

US Highway 395 Sign Lone Pine California
The Alabama Hills can be reached from the town of Lone Pine, California located on Highway 395.
Road from Lone Pine CA to Alabama Hills
Driving Towards Mt. Whitney and Alabama Hills
From Lone Pine, California take Whitney Portal Road west about 2.5 miles where you will see the famous Movie Road.
Trail to Mobius Arch Alabama Hills Lone Pine
Turn right on Movie Road. In about 1.5 miles you will come to a “Y” in the road. Go right and immediately pull into the parking area on your left where the well marked trailhead is located.

Mobius Arch at Alabama Hills

Here you will find the Loop Trail that will lead you on a hike through beautiful rock formations and several arches. Mobius Arch is located a short way along the trail head that starts on the left of the parking area. There’s a small sign and easy to follow trail to the arch.

Mobius Arch Alabama Hills CA
Mt. Whitney, at 14,505 feet, the highest peak in the contiguous United States and the Sierra Navada mountains are visible through the twisted span of Mobius Arch. The scene provides a picture perfect photo opportunity.
View Through Mobius Arch

Face Rock at Alabama Hills

I have no idea how this Face Rock art started but I was looking forward to seeing it on our way to the Alabama Hills. I’ve been told that the locals like to change the look of this whimsical rock art from time to time so purhaps it will look different when you visit!

Face Rock Alabama Hills Lone Pine CA
Face Rock is located off Whitney Portal road about 2 miles from Highway 395. It’s on the right side of the road with easy access.

Movie Road Self-Guided Tour

There have been so many famous movies filmed here that you will want to pick up a copy of the Movie Road Self-Guided Tour booklet in Lone Pine. The booklet will help you locate some of the filming sites. Movies from Lone Ranger to Tremors and some Star War scenes have been filmed here. Movie stars such as John Wayne, Hopalong Casside, Gene Autry, the Lone Ranger and Tom Mix have been shooting it out with outlaws since the early 20’s. Mel Gibson, Alec Baldwin, Burt Lancaster, Cary Grant, Clint Eastwood, Nicolas Cage and Robert Downey, Jr., to name just a few have stared in movies filmed in the Alabama Hills.

Entrance to Alabama Hills Recreation Lands

We visited the Alabama Hills and the sites along US Highway 395 in California which included the incredible ghost town of Bodie. It was a rainly day while at the Alabama Hills but we were able to locate Face Rock and Mobius Arch and hike the entire Arch Loop Trail. It was really fun for us trying to locate Mobius Arch in the rain!

Sierra Nevada Mountain Range View

The Alabama Hills is a great area to visit not only for the historic movie interest but the scenery is remarkable and unique. Enjoy!

Directions to the Alabama Hills Trailhead

Take Hwy 395 to Lone Pine
At the stop light turn west onto Whitney Portal Road
Drive approximately 2.5 miles to Movie Road, turn right
In approximately 1.5 miles you will come to a Y in the road
Go to the right and pull into the dirt parking area immediately on your left
Markers for the hiking trail are on the left and right sides of the parking area
You can begin your hike at either side. The marker to your left is the shortest route to Mobius Arch.

To read more about the history of the Alabama Hills and to download a copy of the Movie Road Touring Brochure you can visit the Bureau of Land Management website.

Have you been to Alabama Hills? We’d love to hear your thoughts on the area too.

Let us know about your visit to the Alabama Hills in the comments below.

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