In the past we have driven over most of highway 395 but never stopped to smell the roses, for we had to go from point A to B and overlooked many beautiful locations. Besides, those times we drove during summer and winter season and it is quite different now in the fall. We will be sharing beautiful sceneries that are often overlooked by Californians when driving through this road, us included.
Leaving Sparks, Nevada behind we head south and took highway 395, the Scenic Eastern Sierra Nevada. For several hundred miles the highway traces the dramatic eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, diving down into the deepest valley in North America (Death Valley) and passing roadways and trailheads that lead to all kinds of natural and historic wonders.
Our first stop on this highway was at Bridgeport, where we set camp to explore and be awed by the beauty of the surroundings. Bridgeport is a popular destinations for fishing – a town backed by the jagged spires of the Sawtooth Range, aptly named because of its knifelike spires of granite splitting the sky with splendid accuracy.
Driving around here we noticed the vast sage brush rangelands with wide open spaces for which the west is famous, and the vast ranges where the happy cows from California reside. We believe they are happy, since we noticed them smiling each time we took pictures of them!
The interconnected Twin Lakes (located about 13 miles west) are beautiful and worth the drive; each well over a mile long, and about half a mile wide. These lakes are nestled under the jagged crest of the Sawtooth Ridge, and the icy blue Matterhorn Glacier; they’re really something to look at.
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More beauty along the Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway in Mono County.
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Our digs with a view at Paradise Shores RV park.
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The mornings at Bridgeport were “brisk” – into the low 20’s and a little colder than we like to subject Betsy’s systems to. The elevation here was over 6400′, so our next stop will be at Bishop, which is closer to 4000′ and will give us milder nights.
Lowes Travels 
A nostalgic look at the Eastern Sierras again for us. It certainly is beginning to get cold there at night. The 20’s is a little colder than we like as well. Safe travels and enjoy 395. 🙂
This is going to be a fast paced adventure as most campgrounds are already closed for the season and its Brrr at night 🙂
I’m having so much fun first following LuAnn and Nina and now you guys on the same route. I hear nights can get pretty darn cold even in Death Valley. We used some heat last Feb in DV. We’re heading out slowly on Monday….see ya in the desert 🙂 Plan to take two to three weeks to get to Phx depending on weather….inclement weather? We’ll move faster…lol
Found you guys on Wheeling It. Love to find new RV blogs that are active. We’re four years away, on junior and one freshman in high school at the moment, from our own RV adventure. Clicked on over to your sight and find your camped about 11 miles from where I was fishing today on the East Walker River in Nevada. I only live about 45 min away in Smith, Nevada. We are subjected to RVers driving up and down 395 all the time and making us long for the road. Looking forward to your adventures and living vicariously through you, among others, until we can kick the teenagers out, sell the house and move into our own RV. Good luck and take care.
Glad you found us and guess what, four years will arrive before you knew it. Since we had been on 395 before our initial planned route would have taken us thru Smith but changed course due to the cooling weather and closed parks, beside Wheeling It is quite persuasive on her blogs.
I suggested Wheeling It take the route through Smith Valley, but they’d already passed. It’s only about 20 minutes longer and, IMHO, a lot prettier. Looking forward to following your adventure until we can leave on our own.
Who knows we could be on that route one day and check it out.
Thanks for the tip.
Looks like a pretty route, any fish in those lakes?
Oh yeah, most lakes here are stocked with Trout.
Thanks, we are heading west after new year and I need to make sure we hit lakes/rivers where fishing can be done or hubby pouts a lot
He will be very happy especially if you decide to go to Alaska. He will be in heaven catching those King Salmon.
Just catching up on your 395 travels. In the 2 years we’ve done the trip we’ve never actually stopped at Bridgeport so that’s another one to add to “the list”. Sooooo much to see and do on 395. One or even two years is not enough!
Nina
Sooo true…never enough days to enjoy all its beauty.