Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest

The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is located in the White Mountains within the borders of the Inyo National Forest east of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. At an elevation that ranges between 10,000 and 11,000 feet, the forest boasts incredible views of the Sierra Nevadas and surrounding area. But perhaps even more breathtaking are the Bristlecone pines – the oldest trees in the world.

Bristlecones grow twisted and gnarled because they are constantly battered by wind filled with particles of ice and sand, so that no two trees are alike. Instead of rotting away over time, the hard wood of the trees is slowly eroded by the extreme high-altitude weather. The result is a forest of trees that closely resemble ancient grandmothers slowly stretching out the knots in their back.

The strangely appealing beauty of these trees makes the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest a favorite spot for photographers and painters, but it is equally enjoyed by hikers and campers looking to explore a unique, off-the-beaten track destination.

The trees in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest have been around for thousands of years. In fact, the oldest living thing in the world – the Methuselah Tree – is nearly 5,000 years old. The first humans to come into contact with the trees were Native Americans from the Paiute tribe who came to the area to gather nuts and hunt deer.

The next people to happen upon the Bristlecones were military men and gold prospectors who wandered up to the desolate locale in search of adventure and wealth. Today the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is a protected area within the Inyo National Park designated as a place for scientific research and public outdoor enjoyment.

Bristlecone Pine White Mountains California

Visitors primarily come to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest to walk among trees that are so dazzling and so bizarre-looking that pictures of them are often thought to be doctored. The ancient, twisting forms rising up to the sky, however, are naturally colored in shades of gold and orange. No computer could possibly make them more spectacular.

Visitors can explore the forest independently, experiencing the awe-inspiring – some say spiritual – setting at their own pace. There is a self-guided nature trail in the Patriarch Grove that is perfect for this. The Patriarch Grove is home to the Patriarch Tree, which is the largest Bristlecone pine in the world.

The Schulman Grove also has several trails from which to choose. The one-mile Discovery Walk takes visitors to the over 4,000-year-old Pine Alpha – the first tree in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest dated by Dr. Edmund Schulman.

The Schulman Grove is also home to the famous Methuselah Pine, which is 1,000 years older than any other living tree in the world. Although the Methuselah Loop Trail leads past the ancient pine, visitors will have to keep their eyes peeled to spot it because it is not marked as a conservation effort.

For those visitors who would like to learn more about the forest, the Schulman Grove Visitor Center provides natural history lectures and interpretive talks each day from mid-June until Labor Day.

The Visitor Center standing today was built after the original was burned down in September 2008 by an arsonist. Several Bristlecone pines were also lost in the fire.

Methuselah Trail Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest

Schulman Grove Visitor Center

Bodie Ghost Town from the late 1800's and stands today in a state of "arrested decay"

Mammoth Lakes year round playgroud for outdoor enthusist. 30 miles from Mono Lake.

Laws Railroad Musuem located just outside Bishop the museum displays train and mining artifacts.

Manzanar National Historic Site museum and ruins of Japanese internment camp

Mono Lake Stop by the visitor center and your next road trip along Highway 395