Alabama Hills — Local services in Bishop

Alabama Hills – Lone Pine, California

The Alabama Hills near Lone Pine, California, are nothing short of magical. Nestled between the Owens Valley and the eastern face of the Sierra Nevada, this rugged landscape is filled with striking rock formations, endless desert views, and the towering presence of Mount Whitney in the distance.

We spent a day exploring the area and were blown away by the sheer beauty and cinematic atmosphere of it all. The land is dry and desert-covered, with sagebrush stretching toward sculpted granite arches and towering boulders that seem frozen in time. Thousands of purple wildflowers were in bloom when we visited, creating a beautiful contrast against the sun-baked stone and distant snow-capped peaks.

Alabama Hills is also steeped in Hollywood history, having been used as a backdrop for Westerns and adventure films since the 1930s. Everything from cowboy classics to episodes of Star Trek have been filmed here, and it's easy to see why. The landscape feels otherworldly, like a place imagined rather than mapped, yet it remains deeply tied to the real stories of land, light, and legacy.

One particularly memorable sight was Nightmare Rock, a painted face tucked along the road leading into the hills. Its bright red lips hide the suggestion of sharp teeth, a surreal and creative reminder of how this place inspires both artists and adventurers.

Alabama Hills is a place where geology, history, and imagination meet. Whether you're a photographer, hiker, stargazer, or film buff, this place offers something unforgettable. We left feeling like we had stepped into another world, one etched by nature and shaped by dreams.

Thomas Corrao Stray...

One of the most beautiful places we have ever been to. Amazing rock formations with a backdrop of the tallest mnts in CA.

Yet, it is heavily regulated. We went in winter and hardly anyone there but I'm guessing it gets used heavily during the summer and hence all the regulations.

Movie Road through the camping area is dirt, level one and smooth enough for passenger cars and RV. But the spur roads heading into the camping loops are not RV friendly. It was very difficult to find a large level spot for our RV. Many of the sites are "day use only". If you have a small footprint (overlander, sprinter van, or car camping) then you will have more options. The website and on-site signage is great but the map says there are several RV-friendly spots but these are not identified--that would be very helpful if they were. Other camping spots are semi-private. Designated camping areas have a metal fire ring. Get a free permit online.

Lots of places to hike and wander around but the trails are not well marked--mostly we saw a lot of "no" signs. The trails at the day use should be clearly marked if they want people to stay on the trails.

As per services, there are a few porta-johns, otherwise, plan to take care of yourself--pack it in, pack it out. The town of Lone Pine is very close by and has hotels, gas,...

Alabama Hills is undeniably a beautiful place to camp. However, I’m giving it one star due to the unsettling experience I had — more specifically, the type of behavior some campers bring to the area. Around 12:30 AM, after I had already settled in for the night, two strangers pulled up to my campsite (between mile 0 and 0.5 miles). They began walking around my vehicle with a flashlight, which was extremely alarming. Without saying a word, they then decided to pitch their tent right next to my vehicle — clearly within the boundaries of my established site. It is completely unacceptable to invade someone else’s campsite, especially in the middle of the night. Waking up to strangers circling my vehicle gave me a near heart attack. I was too shaken to stay the night and had absolutely no desire to sleep next to people who showed such disregard for personal space and basic camping etiquette. Once they were a short distance away, I started my vehicle and left, ending up on a side street in town just to feel safe. I returned in the morning to see who they were and took the photos attached to this review at that time. While the landscape is stunning, the experience left me feeling unsafe — and that’s not something anyone should have to go through while trying to...