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Ancient Bristlecone Pines
Oldest trees on earth! Ancient Bristlecone Pines, Inyo NF
white mountains

California Bristlecone Pine Trees

inyo maps

nearby towns:
  • Benton, CA
  • Bishop, CA
  • Big Pine, CA

    topo maps

  • 4000 year old pine trees
    Twisted & gnarled trees are older than the Redwoods & Sequoias!

    Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is a protected preserve located within the Inyo National Forest, directly north of Death Valley National Park

    White Mountain Ranger Station, Inyo NF
    760-873-2503

    No water
    No telephones
    No gasoline.
    Dress warmly!

    Wilderness Area Acres
    White Mountain Range 28,000

    biking trails old mines jeep roads

    For many years now, scientists, archeologists, and historians have relied on a dating system known as radiocarbon dating. It was discovered back in the 1960's that this process was flawed and needed to be calibrated. The wood from bristlecone pines helped correct this process by providing samples that could be precisely dated. Scientists dated these samples by counting their growth rings; they then measured the amount of carbon-14 (C-14) in those same samples. They discovered that the radiocarbon dating process was providing dates that were "too young" and established a calibration factor to correct the dating process.

    Faulty C-14 data obtained before the bristlecone pine calibration was then re-examined and corrected. Archeologists found that some artifacts discovered in Europe were actually 1000 years or older than previously thought. This revision of archeological site dates led historians to a reinterpretation of cultural diffusion throughout the Mediterranean and European areas. Because the bristlecone pines of this grove provided the wood to recalibrate the radiocarbon dating method, they have become known as the trees that rewrote history.
    - USDA Forest Service

    A few dirt roads for SUV travels or mountain biking w/ great views of the Eastern Sierra range. If you want privacy, away from crowds camping options, there are plenty to choose from. The only developed Campground is Grandview & is very popular with astronomers & RVs, especially during a new moon summer weekend. The best fishing & aspen forests are on the back roads just outside the parks boundaries on the eastern slopes. 4 wheel drive is needed to reach some spots, but there are just many ideal 2WD accessible sites.


    Aspen Camping Fishing

    Hiking Ancient Bristlecone Pines

     trail  mi.  elev.  veg  toilet  water  contact  cmpgrnd
    Self Guided  5 RT  10000  alpine  vault  none Visitors Center
    760/ 873-2500

    none
    [Self Guided]
    Hwy. 395 from the town of Big Pine
    Westgate Pass Rd. (SR 168) & White Mountain Rd. up to Schulman Grove at 10,000' high elevation.
    Open : Daily June - late October.
    Visitors Center: open mid June - Labor Day weekend

    Grand View Campground: Ancient Bristlecone Pines

    campground  elev. spots  veg toilet water fee
    Grand View 8600' 26 pinyon pine vault  no yes

    grand view campground



    Primitive Camping

    Get an Inyo Forest Service Map & explore the dirt roads. 4 wheel drive is required for some routes. They will lead to a quite different terrain than that of lunar scapes on the front side. Find aspen lined creeks, lush meadows & lots of beavers, fishing, seclusion. Some primitive camp spots are set up along the waters edge on Cottonwood Creek. Obtain a free fire permit if you plan on camping back here.

    • Cottonwood Creek
    • Crooked Creek
    • Silver Canyon
    • Overflow Camping behind Grandview
    If you arrive late, around nightfall to Grand View Campground, head to the back of camp & take the bumpy dirt road that leads down to the abandon mine. There are numerous camp sites along this route. No picnic tables or bathrooms tho.

    Back Roads near Bristlecones

    Altho there are several wilderness boundaries around this region, locked gates, research facilities and limited vehicle access to the groves, there are still numerous dirt roads to explore. Most are high clearance, and some may require 4x4 low.

  • Silver Canyon will leads from the upper mountain ridgeline at pinyon forests, all the way to the valley floor at Laws (elevation 4113') the railroad museum, near Bishop, California.
  • Cottonwood Canyon is a popular day trip for 4 wheel drive vehicles. Aspen groves and big beaver-run creek with camping and fishing spots. DEAD END: The historic ranch and road beyond can get crowded on summer weekends - as it becomes a tourist parking lot, a photographers stop, a 3 point turn around for those just passing thru, as well as numerous campers holding down their prime, remote, creekside campsites.
  • Crooked Creek offers vast open skies and boulder gardens of all sorts. Meadows, mud, hiking and picnic spots. Minimal campers and locked gates.
  • Inyo Road #6S01 - Wyman Creek Road leads down to the deserts, eastward to Hwy 168 at Nevada border.
  • UC White Mountain Research Lab (road closed to public)



    Bristlecone Pines

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