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.
Highway 395 south of Sparks, Nevada
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.
Bridgeport Reservoir with Sawtooth Ridges in the background
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!
Happy (and lazy) cows from California. Hey, get up and get back to work!
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.
Upper Twin Lakes
Lower Twin Lakes
 Mono County Museum |
 View of Full Moon from our Kitchen |
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.
 Our digs for two nights |
 Morning View at the Park |
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.
