The granite peaks and ancient pines of the Eastern Sierra bedazzle heart and soul so completely that, for many visitors, the experience surpasses that at more famous urban attractions.

This rugged region offers some of the most dramatic sightseeing in California. Highway 395, one of the state's most beautiful routes and generally open year-round, is the main north–south road. It travels the length of the region, from the Mojave Desert in the south to Bridgeport in the north, and along the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada, at the western edge of the Great Basin. Main towns along the route include Lone Pine, Independence, Bishop, and Mammoth Lakes, as well as Lee Vining, a small town at the eastern endpoint of Tioga Road (open only seasonally) into Yosemite National Park.

Pristine lakes and rolling hills outside the parks offer year-round opportunities for rest and relaxation. Or not. In winter, the thrill of Mammoth Lakes slopes—and their relative isolation compared to busy Lake Tahoe—draws a hearty breed of outdoor enthusiasts. From late spring through early fall, a hike through groves and meadows or alongside streams and waterfalls allows you to see, smell, and feel nature up close.