Inyo National Forest

How I sincerely hope to add to this article one day! Inyo National Forest is home to such a wealth of fun. There’s a scenic soda lake! The tallest mountain in the lower 48 states! And, the longest-living beings on planet Earth.

A lone bristlecone pine grows improbably out of an otherwise bare, rocky plateau. It is a young tree with a narrow, slightly bent trunk and the characteristic clusters of needles on its branches. Other trees of this species grow in a sparse forest in the White Mountains beyond.

The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in Inyo National Forest was one of the major highlights of our second Great American Roadtrip in 2015. After meeting giant sequoias in their namesake park and spending time in tree-filled Yosemite, this was the perfect next destination!

A sign points the way towards the shady trail of the Methuselah Walk in Inyo National Forest.

Our curiousity was piqued when we encountered bristlecones among the redwoods in Sequoia National Park! After meeting the biggest trees on Earth, we decided to make our next mission to meet the oldest.

A portrait of an ancient bristlecone pine. At first glance, this individual appears dead: most of its branches are bare. However, upon closer inspection, you can see that the back half of the tree is still growing!

Trees of this species are the oldest living things on the planet! The very oldest have lived more than 4000 years! The location of the most ancient of these elders is a secret.

A close-up photograph of the gnarled, resin-coated trunk of one ancient bristlecone pine.

To meet them in person, we drove into Inyo National Forest, up into the White Mountains. We set out on the Methuselah Walk in the Schulman Grove on a beautifully warm and sunny fall day.

Of course, it was spectacular right from the start. I was so stoked to be in a new forest – and a new mountain range! And the star attractions, the ancient bristlecone pines, were everywhere!

Bristlecone pines dot the hillside, deep in Inyo National Forest.

We were hardly a few meters down the trail before we were stopping to delight over sweeping views above the forest, and to get up close and personal with the gnarled, resin-hardened trees.

In this tree portrait, a truly ancient bristlecone pine stands alone on a hillside. Branches sprout everywhere from the trunk everywhere, at odd, gnarly angles. Again, this tree appears dead at first glance, but in fact has diverted its energy to just a few of the branches!

The hike is a short one, at just 7 kilometers. But plan on it taking you at least half a day. You’re going to want to sit on one of the benches and take it all in. And you might find yourself – as I did – drawn to meet every tree alongside the trail.

A narrow trail leads up to a clearing where an inviting bench is waiting. The hillside is dotted here and there with bristlecone pines in this Inyo National Forest scene.

As we wandered, Kent and I wondered which individuals were the most ancient. We marveled at trees that seemed half-dead and half-alive, following a lightning strike or a fire. I touched their needles and cones, full of curiosity. Mostly we just ambled along in awe.

Our Inyo National Forest experience was over far too quickly. I loved the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest – I’d go back in a heartbeat! And there’s still so much more that we want to explore there. There’s even another grove of ancient trees! Maybe one day, we’ll have a chance to return.

A portrait of the author on the Methuselah Trail in Inyo National Forest. She wears a sleeveless black top and pink sunglasses, and grins at the photographer, with a large camera of her own at her hip.

Ready to explore Inyo National Forest? You’re gonna love it! Check the official site for help planning your adventure!

An outline of the Methuselah Walk  loop trail in Inyo National Forest.

Specifically into the Ancient Bristlecone Pines? The best part, in my opinion! Just be aware that this part of Inyo National Forest is quite remote – but that’s part of the appeal! Take water and snacks. Driving, leave the 365 behind at Big Pine, and take highway 168 towards the Nevada border. Stay alert for a turnoff onto the winding White Mountain Road, which continues north of Schulman Grove (to further adventures!).


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