Just north of Lone Pine, along U.S. 395, in the unforgiving rain shadow desert of the Eastern Sierras, sits Manzanar National Historic Site. From 1942 through the end of World War II in 1945, Manzanar served as an internment camp for people of Japanese descent, forcibly removed from their homes along the West Coast. Today, the site is preserved as a reminder of this painful part of American history and the hope and perseverance of those who endured.
The Stanislaus National Forest is a pretty place to recreate, boasting 898000 acres and many opportunities for camping, hiking, and exploring. We stayed in a national forest campground along the middle fork of the Tuolumne River not far from the Hetch Hetchy entrance station to Yosemite National Park, and about a 45 minute drive to Yosemite Valley.
In this short, the Cranky Camper shares a drive along one of America's steepest- and scenic- drivable mountain passes. The Sonora Pass, a winding stretch of California 108 offers beautiful views and is a gateway to adventure.
Bridgeport, California is located in the heart of the Eastern Sierra Nevadas along U.S. 395. It is an adventurer's paradise, with hot springs, hiking trails, and the possibly haunted Bodie State Historic Park.
The Cranky Camper 