Eastern Sierra
The 150 miles of Highway 395 (also known as the Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway) between Bishop (Inyo County) and Topaz (Mono County) ranks right up there with coastal Highway 1 as California’s most scenic drive. Make sure you take exit 263 to Highway 203 and see very dog-friendly Mammoth Lakes, worth taking a few days to explore. Continue your journey north on Highway 89 to Markleeville (Alpine County) or west on Highway 4 to Bear Valley and you'll add to the lifetime's worth of dog-friendly attractions easily accessible from the San Francisco Bay Area.
You and your four-legged friend will find yourselves surrounded by rugged canyons, granite peaks, rushing streams and vast displays of aspens, cottonwoods and willows that for a few weeks in autumn paint the landscape in yellows, oranges and reds.
Explore
Related Posts
Majestic, dog-friendly mountain towns
Let’s admit it. DogTrekkers are spoiled here in sun-kissed California. In the California mountains, you’ll find enchanting towns just waiting for people and pups who seek adventure on a grand scale. These communities are also home to charming and dog-friendly places to stay, dine, hike, swim, and play. We’ll explore a few mountain towns today, beginning our 5,000-foot-plus journey near Lake Tahoe and moving south. Read more
Mammoth Lakes is the ultimate pup-cation
You know that awesome spinning in circles routine your pup does before going on walks or getting a treat? It’s going to happen a lot in Mammoth Lakes. Read more
The ultimate doggie treat: a Mammoth Lakes adventure
Chances are your dog loves to Visit Mammoth as much as you do, if not more. As Fido watches you pack the car with hiking, fishing and bike gear he anxiously waits for his dog bowl and bed to be put in the trunk. Read more
Get your dog-friendly kicks on Route 395 in the Eastern Sierra
Looking for a road trip that will have your dog wagging her tail the whole way? Free up four or more days for a leisurely junket on the federally designated Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway (Highway 395). It runs 150 miles between Topaz, just over the state line in Nevada, and Bishop in Southern California, skirting the Eastern flank of the Sierra Nevada, including our friends at Mammoth Lakes. Read more
Onward to Mammoth, Bishop and Lone Pine in the Eastern Sierra
It’s just 30-minute drive from Lee Vining to Mammoth Lakes, the major tourism hub in the Eastern Sierra. There’s giant ski resort here (dogs welcome on the Panoramic Gondola to the summit, but you’ll have to hike down) and tons of dog-friendly hotels, resorts and amenities, but the big attraction is the great outdoors. Read more
Moving south in the Eastern Sierra
Keep your eyes on the road, because the next major attraction is Mono Lake, a geological anomaly preserved as a natural reserve to protect its tufa towers, calcium carbonate knobs and spires formed by the interaction of freshwater springs and alkaline lake water. The lake has no outlet and is said to be twice as salty as the ocean. Read more
When and where to go in the Eastern Sierra
Summers are glorious for dogs in the Eastern Sierra while winters are devoted to snow sports,but the best time of year, especially if you’re into photography, is late September into mid-October. Read more
The ultimate doggie treat: a Mammoth Lakes adventure
There are few spots better to vacation with your dog than majestic Mammoth Lakes. The landscape is breathtaking, the adventures are epic, and the people, trails, and accommodations couldn't be more dog-friendly. Read more
Mountain majesty in the Eastern Sierra
Pet-friendly is the keyword in this neck of the Sierra, and if you and your pup are looking for liquid refreshment, there’s almost no end to the places the two of you can splash around (they don’t call it Mammoth Lakes for nothing). Make a base camp at dog-friendly lodging in or near town or in nearby June Lake. Travel the 16-mile June Lake Loop and check out four road-accessible lakes—June, Gull Silver and Grant—and others that are hike-in only. Read more
Buckle up for big mountains, big fun at dog-friendly Mammoth
Yes, it can be a bit of a drive depending where you start out—but a beautiful one. Highway 395 skirting the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada deserves lots of pull-over time on the way to Mammoth Lakes Read more
Sno-Park with your pup
You spend a lot of time and gas money getting to Lake Tahoe, so why spend more time and money circling (or paying) for a place to park? Read more
Hiking ‘California’s Switzerland’
The Eastern Sierra is often referred to as “California’s Switzerland” for its jagged peaks and high-altitude attractions. The options for dog-friendly hikes in the region are limitless, and if you want to top off some exercise with a hearty meal, we have a couple of suggestions. Read more