The discovery trail is great, the trees are majestic and worth a visit. We were going down the dirt road to visit the Patriarch grove and one mile into the journey the front tire on our truck has been destroyed by a small sharp rock. If you plan on going there drive slowly if you want to reach your destination. read more

This is a beautiful park, I come here to relax and decompress. Nothing like getting out in nature to clear your head and put things in perspective. read more

This place is absolutely beautiful. We drive by this all the time on our way to Mammoth and beyond and always wondered what it was all about. I never imagined that California had trees so unique, beautiful, and so old! I have taken the family to see many different types of forests so they know about the different types of pine trees, redwoods, etc. but we never imagined trees could look like what we saw. The elevation can get over 10,000ft so be prepared and bring lots of water and dress warm. It can be very exhausting because of the elevation so take your time and enjoy the scenery. It can also get very windy; unto 40+ mph winds. My kids enjoyed hiking and exploring. We checked out old mining places, explored for the oldest and most amazing unique trees, and did lots of driving off road to find some very beautiful scenery. The visitor center, although very small, had lots of useful information. I suggest brining your packed lunch and having a picnic because there is no eateries up there. We carved out an entire weekend for this place to ensure we didn't miss anything and camped at Grandview Campground. The area has epic views of the constellations at night time because of the high elevation and lack of lights. I highly recommend reserving an entire day for this beautiful forest. read more

Had a wonderful time here, definitely coming back! The drive up by itself is worth doing, as you shoot up to more than 10,000 feet and see breathtaking views of the mountains around you. We went to the first stop of the pine forest, but there is another one farther up. The visitor's center is beautiful and very informative. There are three different trails, we took the shorter one because we were limited on time, but wow we were not disappointed. The pine trees are gorgeous, and very picturesque. Lots of opportunities for photos! The per person cost was $3 or $6 per car. Totally worth it! We had a wonderful time, highly recommended! read more

WOW! After you see the sign, you'll drive 24 miles up the mountain to a visitor's center. There are 3 trails to pick from. The Discovery Trail is the one with the Ancient Bristlecones. The other two trails, the mine trail is not difficult but the altitude does take your breath away, literally. We hiked around about 4-5 miles and felt secluded as there was no one else on the mine trail. read more

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest - Parks Near Me - Bishop, California

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The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is a part of the larger Inyo National Forest, administered from Bishop. The Bristlecone Pine part is about 25 miles east of Big Pine, and is a separate (and protected) entity. Why go here, a bit off the road if you are traversing US-395? Bristlecone Pines are found only in the western US, and the ones in this forest are THE OLDEST LIVING THINGS ON EARTH. That's right -- some over 3,000 (not a typo) years old. The other reason is that the trip up to forest, at over 10,000 feet altitude in the White Mountain range, is simply spectacular. The visitors' center is nice, but to gain the real impact of being here, bring your hiking shoes. And everything else. There is literally nothing on this mountain except trees -- no food, no gas, not even phones. But it is an adventure not to be missed. read more

The drive from the turnoff of Hwy 395 at Big Pine starts at Hwy 168. Allow one hour for the round trip drive. You will be going to 10,000 feet before you see the new visitors center at the Schulman Grove. Make sure your car can go over rough roads. Also, the temperature drop from Big Pine to the Grove is about 30 degrees each day, so prepare accordingly. Once at the grove, figure an hour at least to walk along the Discovery trail (1 mile). It climbs 300 feet, but taken slowly, it is OK. Do not miss the oldest trees on earth. Learn about their survival from a movie at the center. read more

California is home to a number of superlatives. The tallest mountain in the continuous 48 states is Mt. Whitney (on the other side of the valley from the bristlecones), the world's largest living thing is the General Sherman sequoia (on the other side of the Sierra Nevada Range on the other side of the valley from the bristlecones), the lowest spot in the western hemisphere (on the other side of the White Mountains from the bristlecones) all call California their home. Well, if they could talk they would, anyway. So why not see the world's oldest living creatures-- the bristlecone pines? To get there head up CA 168 east out of Big Pine all the way up to White Mountain Road, hang a left, and follow up to the Schulman Grove. It's about 22 miles from I-395 in Big Pine, and it takes about 45 minutes to an hour in decent weather. CA 168 gets really narrow in parts, so take your time and drive safely. The Schulman Grove visitor center has been replaced temporarily with a trailer. There you can pay the day use fee, buy souvenirs, and watch an informative video. Near the trailer is a loop trail that will take you through the forest. It's usually dry in the summer, even if it's not very hot at 10,500 feet, so bring water. If you're anemic, you may want to bring oxygen or walk very slowly. Unless you're used to the high altitude, take your time on the walk. Enjoy watching the stately trees and observing the squirrels trying to steal a piece of fruit one of your fellow visitors carelessly left sitting on a bench. Just think about all the things that have happened over the past few thousand years as the trees slowly grew in this harsh environment. Wooowww-- I just blew my mind! If you want to take the "short cut" into Bishop via Silver Canyon Road, make sure you're driving a 4WD vehicle with decent clearance. There are a number of "FOUR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE ONLY" signs on the road, and you'll find they're not there for decoration. We only had an AWD Subaru Outback, and some parts of the road/trail were pretty hairy. At least we got to see some big horn sheep on the side of the road on the way down. If I'd have known better I probably would have taken CA 168 back to Big Pine and the 395 up to Bishop. Live and learn, eh? read more

I remember reading about the ancient bristlecone pines in a biology text during my junior college days in northwest Florida. At the time, I never imagined I would have the opportunity to visit them. After living in California for almost a decade being a biologist for a living, I had the opportunity to visit and yes, it was incredible. The drive alone is worth it going through sage scrubland, cutting through a narrow stretch of a prehistoric lava flow, into a pinyon juniper woodland, and then to a white, rocky peak with some of the most interesting and unimaginable plants I have ever seen. If you come here you must take a hike through Schulman Grove along the Methuselah Trail. Anyone can do it - just take your time, rest up, and enjoy the scenery at the little benches scattered along the trail. You see views of Death Valley, slopes of mono-bristlecone pine forest, and sapsuckers galore! The trees are bent and twisted and look like a colossus' bonsai garden with the roots growing over the jutting, white crumbling granite. It truly is amazing. Stop by the brand spankin' new visitors center and talk to the guides. They're knowledge of the pines and the eastern Sierras is about as vast as the Owens Valley and they're nice to boot. Learning a little bit about the significance of this unique pine community will make your hike more enjoyable. read more

The Bristlecone Pines are another California treasure. Having been several times as a kid, I wanted my family to experience these amazing trees, so off we go. Taking Hwy 168 out of Big Pine within 45 minutes to an hour we are parking at the Schulman Grove visitor's center. The road has many twists and turns and narrows to one lane at one point, so drive safely. As soon as we arrive we are greeted by two happy and friendly ranger's, you can see why they love their job, I would too with views like this. We start our visit with a ranger talk about the trees, their growing and life history and then we set off for a hike. As other's have mentioned, if you are not use to the altitude of the White Mountains or Sierra's take it slow and steady with a bottle of water. We take the Discovery trail and it was great, offering amazing views and lots of Bristlecone's. Back at the visitor's center I get to talking with one of the ranger's, he looked so familiar and low and behold he was a teacher at my middle school in Bishop. He is now retired, and working part-time in the Bristlecone Pines. He does an excellent job of answering questions and teaching various demonstrations. We were able to participate in one of the demo's they were offering, Dendrochronology. Unfortunately, a year or so ago an arsonist decided to burn down the beautiful visitor's center, scorching a few of the trees around where this center once stood. They are now using those trees to show visitor's how to use a tool that drills a very small hole into a bristlecone and when extracted it pulls a sample of the interior of the tree about 4 inches long and the diameter of a pencil. From this sample they let it dry, sand it, varnish it and you can distinctly see the growth ring pattern. This allows scientists to determine the history and age of the tree. A great opportunity for children, as they let each person attending the lecture take a turn on the Dendrochronology tool. The day in the Bristlecone's was amazing! read more

I was in the Bishop area for business and didn't have time to hike much in the grove(s), but plan to return some day. It's well worth it, especially if you like a sense of mountain isolation, high above the surrounding valleys. The desert scenery is wide-open and unstoppable. It was very quiet on the windless day I was there. Others have described the nature aspect very well, so I'll add some pragmatic details. Regarding route 168 from Big Pine, the "one lane road" through Westgard Pass is not much of an issue (though I'd be wary at night). The sign on the west side of the pass should be more specific about the shortness of that stretch through the narrow pass walls. The uninformed could get the impression that 168 is one lane from there on out, but that section is about 600 feet long, and wide enough to handle two normal vehicles with caution. I'm sure it's caused some crashes, though. There was a fatal crash somewhere on 168 in May 1990 when a poorly maintained bus lost its brakes. Also, watch out for an unexpected dip (almost a hidden cliff) as you round a sharp right corner heading east before the pass. Another dip on that stretch of 168 has a warning sign, but oddly they didn't think this turn/drop section was a hazard. It seems prime for a crash if someone drives over it too fast and keeps heading straight. I went on a weekday morning in early May 2012 and only saw one other vehicle on White Mountain Road. Make sure your brakes and transmission are sound for the downhill return. It's one of those roads where tailgaters could be a real hassle. As of my visit they had largely rebuilt the arson-torched Schulman visitor center, but you could still reach the trails with no apparent restrictions. I wouldn't want to be up in that thin air on a hot summer day, assuming summer is when most tourists come. That road isn't plowed in winter, so you're at the mercy of snow. I'd go there shortly after the snow melts or before it comes again - and it's not too cold. It has a "roof of the world" feeling and the weather must get extreme. read more

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A vibrant and hefty wood-log visitor center burned to the ground here in September 2008. It appeared rather new and one would've expected the structure to stand for many years. Juxtapose that mental image with the trees of the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest which surround the former center and are over 3,000 years old. Indeed, one tree, the aptly-name Methusaleh Tree, is over 4,750 years old. Of course, no one will tell you which tree it is and you probably wouldn't recognize it if you stood in front of it. None of that really matters, though. The Methusaleh Trail, a long winding trail that takes you over a mountain and exposes you to sterling vistas, will guide you through groves of seemingly dead and twisted trees that are actually alive and, indeed, the oldest living things on the planet. The maxim that it's better to look good than to feel good does not apply to these trees, some of which appear as no more than standing pieces of firewood. read more

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There are not too many places where you drive on a paved road right up to a forest of ancient bristlecone pines in the world, but the Schulmann Grove is one such place. While the Schulmann is really cool, I would recommend driving another 12 miles on a gravel road up to the Patriarch Grove. Slightly younger trees (but still thousands of years old!), but I find the distorted shapes and sizes more to my sense of wildness. As I said, this is gravel, but it was no problem for our mini-van. Remember, this is a spring through early fall visit... read more

This place is a one of Nature's wonders. Hidden way up in the White Mountains of eastern California, it requires a drive up some twisty mountain roads to get there. On the way up, you begin to feel like you are at the top of the world as you can see the tops of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the distance. It's quite a beautiful drive with plenty of scenic vistas and valleys. Open only from May through October. There is no street address; I only have GPS coordinates, which Google Maps will recognize: N37 23' 08.4" W118 10' 43.1". For more detailed instructions, to access the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, take Highway 168 east from Big Pine, CA. In 13 miles, you will reach the turnoff to the forest, paved for the 10 miles to the Visitor Center at Schulman Grove, and then a reasonable (though rough and steep) dirt road another 13 miles to Patriarch Grove. Bristlecone pines are the oldest living organisms on Earth and can reach an age of 5,000 years. The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is in the White Mountains of the Inyo National Forest in California. The oldest tree, nicknamed "Methuselah", is more than 4,750 years old. The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is maintained by the Forest Service. Admission requires a $3 donation and there are educational docent-led tours. A small gift shop sells photographs, calendars, books, and other materials that one normally finds in a national park gift shop. The park is at an elevation of 11,000 feet, so be prepared; wear a hat and sunscreen, take plenty of water, and take your time while hiking; you may experience altitude sickness and feel dizzy and/or short of breath. read more

Visit the ranger center and visit the trees in the park a short drive beyond Bishop - it's beautiful and very peaceful. The views are awesome and it's a "must" see type of place for nature lovers. read more

I hate to give three stars to any natural area, but really, this place wasn't terribly impressive. Yes, it was kinda cool to see the oldest living things on the planet. But unless you have a particular interest in botany, I'd say that the long and curvy drive isn't worth it unless you have half a day to kill in Bishop for some reason. I would not make a special trip to the area to come here. If you decide to make the trip, be careful of the altitude - I'm in pretty good shape and was huffing and puffing on the little one mile nature trail. Bring lots of water and sunblock/hat, too. read more

So sad! Schulman Visitor Center burned to the ground on Thurs 9/4/08, just a few days after we visited it. Awful news.

This is definitely a must stop for outdoor/nature lover's or anyone that wants to be awed by something that's been around since ancient times. As stated in other reviews, many trees are over 3,000 years old. And they're still alive. Very impressive. The old ones almost appear to be dead trunks but the little green tufts tell you there's still life yet in those limbs. The dicovery trail is the way to go if you have not acclaimated to the +10,000 feet altitude. It's a 1 mile loop across some fine examples of the forest with a nice view of the Owen's Valley at the top of the trail. It is really a shame the visitor center burned down. Very suspicious. The good news is none of the trees were lost. Be sure to bring lots of water. The dry air and altitude can make you dehydrated and there's no potable water at the trailhead. read more

The drive felt like such an adventure, coming from the 395, with the elevation changes it was exciting to see the landscape change from desert to forest and the single lane section of road between the two rocks was exciting! There were lots of beautiful views with areas to turn out and take pictures or to hike. Unfortunately we didn't have enough time to check out the visitors center since it was late and they were closing but the area & trees were so beautiful I can't wait to come back and really be able to explore them. read more

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When I photographed the trees, I thought my Van Gogh phone app was on. Those twisted and gnarled trees looked the same as a thick, wavy Van Gogh brushstroke. It's easy to be amazed by trees that started growing before the great pyramids were built. Trees that have been alive as long as recorded history. Even the dead logs last 10,000 years without decomposing. I pine for bristlecone pines. I expected old contorted trees and thin air, but I didn't expect the unique geology. It's called the White Mountain because of the white dolomite in the rocks that were blindingly reflective in the high elevation sun. There were also piles of ice-cracked stones. We kept our visit short by only going on the Discovery Trail which is a 1-mile loop that goes though a number of ancient trees. It was an interpretive trail so there were plenty of information placards posted along the easy-to-follow path. The groves are over 10,000 feet above sea level so take it slow if you're a lowlander, take bigger breaths of air, and protect against the sun. Set aside at least an hour if going on the shortest Discovery Trail. read more

It is hard for me to appreciate people who have not been there comparing the bristlecone pine forest to appreciating intellectual things like shakespeare. It is an exhilarating place on its own with vistas of show capped peaks which appear to be on the same plane. The knowledge that these 'un-burnable' trees have been there for over 5000years just makes it more of a 'wonder' nothing intellectual here. pure raw emotion - joy. read more

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest - vistas of snowcapped peaks seen from the 10000' plateau of the ancient bristle cone pine forest - Parks Near Me - Bishop, California

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Love this place it's nice and peaceful to be amongst the ancients. It's also a great spot for astrophotography

This place is really special. We've been to many National Parks and National Monuments all across the US, and this place is near the top of my list of favorites. It's not easy to get to, but it is so worth it. The visitor center is clean and has lots of informative activities and displays for all ages. We hiked the Mesuthulah trail - it took about 3 hours with lots of stops along the way with their numbered info points. Walking amongst these trees was a surreal feeling. It's pretty difficult to put it into words actually. Go here. Spend one day here. Breathe the air. Sit in silence. As we finished up the last part of the trail and the sun was setting, I was actually sad to leave. I told my husband "But I'm not ready to leave!" read more

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4,000 year old trees are pretty unique. It's amazing how these trees have been there for that long. Worth while stop you can take the shorter or longer hike. Good views to on the way up ranging from Eastern Sierras to portion of Death Valley. read more

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Fantastic place! On par with Zion or Bryce in my opinion. Get there for sunrise and the light is beautiful. Hiked the Methuselah trail (4.5 miles) in October and the temperature dipped in the low 30s so wear layers. From the visitor center, there's a gravel road going for another 12 miles but the most scenic trees are located right next to the visitor center so no need to go off-roading. Bring a camera and you'll have lots of great pictures to take. The drive from Big Pine is easy if one takes it at a leisurely pace. After our hike, we listened to the ranger's lecture about the place. The center is very nice and staff was very friendly and helpful. read more

If you are a nature enthusiast as I am, these trees and their history is nothing less than Spectacular! They have amazing twists and colors with only a fraction of living thickness on each tree! Absolutely breathtaking!! read more

That's awful news about the visiting center, it was very nice. This is an amazing site. Everyone must go. It's a great hike. It's just beautiful. read more

The park is amazing! I took the Discovery Trail option to view the Bristlecone Pine trees and was totally impressed. The trails are well maintained with markers as they lead you to trees that are over 4,000 years old! The Rangers and store employees are ver friendly and helpful and the visitor center is very clean. It's a bit of a drive, but the scenery along the way is beautiful! read more

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest - The view along the way to the historic Bristlecone Pines trees! - Parks Near Me - Bishop, California

I was fortunate enough to visit Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, in Inyo forest. I hiked up to see the majestic tree but I couldn't locate the main attraction. Overall I was happy this place was so easily accessible and breathtaking. As you climb higher and higher, the views in methuselah trail (4.2 miles) are fascinating. read more

Great place to visit.. Please ignore the wilderness permit sign at the first ranger house at the entrance. If your visiting the park for the day no permit required. read more

I am a mere mortal rating beings thousands of years my senior on Yelp. While we are all unworthy... these trees are a sight to behold and word should be spread. These are the oldest living things on earth and standing among them I could feel a sense of how much they have stood through. I arrived late in the day so unfortunately did not get to complete the entire 4 mile loop but I am eager to go back and do it. It is a spectacular path along the hillside through the bristlecone pine forest at 11,000 feet. The trail was empty close to sunset and the air was crisp and fresh. There are benches scattered along the hike as well. If you want to revel in your own insignificance for a bit, this is a good place to do it. read more

Make the turn off of 395 near Big Pine and drive 20 minutes almost straight up - elevation goes from 3000 feet on the highway to 10,000 feet when you reach the parking lot. The drive can be a little scary as there are no railings but worth it when you reach the top and see the oldest living trees in the world. read more

The awe-inspiring views and photogenic trees are totally worth the long, winding drive. My hour-long hike on a largely deserted trail was one of those sublime experiences that you hope your vacation is packed with. Would return in a heartbeat, hopefully when the road to Patriarch Grove is open. read more

Great place to visit! Bring the family and come out to see this. It's amazing!

a true treasure, y'all need to see this area. bummed about the VC, hope volunteer donations can get this repaired. MORE than worth the side trip if you're in the vicinity of Bishop & can spend a day out & about. read more

Most amazing place in the world!! In the most amazing forest in the world, Inyo national forest! Dendrology dates a few of these trees over 4,000 years old. It is fun to try and guess which is the oldest, named the methuselah tree. The location is not disclosed, because its popular may be its downfall. The root systems are very delicate and a bunch of people taking photos with the tree could eventually kill it. This, obviously, would be awful. I think i know which is the oldest :) . Stay on the trail and enjoy yourself! I went in March. The road to the forest had just opened, but the road to the visitors center was not yet open. You can park your car at the gate and walk the trail. Be very careful as the snow can be very deep and dangerous. There was only one other photographer in the park. It was absolutely magnificent. I have wanted to go back ever since. read more

The whole area of the White Mountains is just so cool and it's a darn shame that the visitors center burned down - I love going in there to just browse around. These Bristlecone pine trees are old - downright ancient! Everybody needs to see these magnificent trees. read more

I've been visiting these trees for over a decade now and I am still amazed by them. I took my husband there for the first time and he loved them. We were totally shocked to see so many people at the visitor center this Labor Day weekend but I was happy to see so many people take an interest in these historic trees. We were also surprised to see that the rangers were cooking up hotdogs for all of the visitors and they had drinks and cookies too. I really enjoyed the new building and the guided tour on the Discovery trail. What a treat it was to come back and have such a warm welcome. I'll be bringing many more people in future years. read more

Another Gem in the Eastern Sierras.Take the scenic 12 mile drive to Patriarch Grove, there you will find trees older than man kind. A place to find peace and tranquility. It cost nothing to enter the park, just the gas money. read more

The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is one of the most magical, extraordinary places I've visited in my life. It's breathtakingly beautiful and the ancientness of the trees is overwhelming. We camped not too far from the Visitor's Center this past summer and it was a lovely campground with great facilities. The Visitor's Center is top notch and the rangers fantastic! We hiked 5 miles through the forest and then drove up to Schulman Grove. It helps to have a good off roading vehicle for this, but driving very slowly we managed just fine with a regular sedan. We spent the late afternoon hiking Schulman and watched the sun set. I'll never forget it! read more