Highway 395 From Mono Lake to Lone Pine

I recently returned from a car trip down one of the most scenic highways in America – Hwy 395 between Lee Vining and Lone Pine, California. All along the route the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada is looming large on your right (heading south) and on your left (if heading north). Those peaks are always in your grill, so to speak, and as a photographer it's hard to make progress because you are always seeing places to stop along the road and capture a memorable scene. But the best part is the many canyons carved by creeks flowing down from alpine lakes and glaciers that connect with Highway 395 and make access to photogenic landscapes fairly easy, especially if you have a high clearance vehicle and 4-wheel drive. The most scenic time to visit is autumn, when the cottonwoods and aspens in these creek-carved canyons reach peak color foliage. Some of the best canyons to visit are Conway Summit, Bishop Creek, Rock Creek and McGee Creek. Often there are beautiful high elevation lakes at the terminus of these creek canyons, like Convict Lake, North Lake, South Lake and Lake Sabrina. In addition, there are fantastic photo opportunities along the way that have little to do with fall foliage but everything to do with dramatic landscapes, like Mono Lake and the Alabama Hills. Check it out. I've taken this drive twice in autumn in the last five years, and I can pretty much guarantee you won't be sorry.