Lone Pine, California truly is a small town surrounded by vast, empty land. Yet the magic of this community with a population just over two thousand is all that land. Lone Pine is right in the middle of some of the most remarkable scenery in the world. And for more than a century the world has gotten to know Lone Pine up close and personal. Because long ago, Hollywood began making movies here — in the Alabama Hills west of town.

It started out with the silent films — mostly westerns. The rocks of these hills became the signature of some of the old classic westerns. Now folks walk among the rocks — with photos from those old films — looking for locations where those movies were made. It’s an experience really enhanced by the Museum of Western Film History in Lone Pine. The community raised the money for the museum and it celebrates the celebrities and  films made in the rocks. A visit to the museum before heading into the rocks makes for a perfect adventure.

But Lone Pine is also the gateway to Mt. Whitney — the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states. The drive from Lone Pine up Whitney Portal Road is loaded with fantastic vistas. Indeed the whole region is unique. To the east you find Death Valley, to the North, Bishop, Mammoth Mountain, and many side canyons along the eastern Sierra Nevada. Highway 395 north out of Lone Pine will give your camera a real workout. The views are just fantastic. A reminder, that some of the best places in America, are the smallest places.