The stretch of Highway 395 between Bishop and Mammoth Lakes sits at 4,000–8,000 feet elevation with the Sierra Nevada escarpment rising immediately to the west. Within 30 miles of the highway are alpine lakes, granite cirques, ancient bristlecone forests, and high passes that most backpackers spend multiple days reaching. Van lifers can camp free on BLM land along the highway corridor and day-hike into the same terrain.
These five hikes are selected specifically because: (1) the trailhead parking is van-accessible without a timed entry reservation, (2) free overnight camping exists within a reasonable drive of each trailhead, and (3) the hikes showcase terrain you can't see from the road. The Eastern Sierra charges no admission fee to hike — all these trails are accessible without paying park entrance.
Altitude note: Bishop sits at 4,150 feet. The trailheads in this guide range from 7,200 to 9,200 feet. If you're arriving from sea level, spend one night at lower elevation before attempting the strenuous hikes. Altitude sickness is real — symptoms include headache, nausea, and fatigue.
Free Camp Base: Eastern Sierra BLM
The Bishop/Mammoth corridor has excellent free BLM camping that serves as a base for all five hikes below. Key areas:
- Chalk Bluff Road (Bishop): BLM dispersed camping on the benches above Bishop. 14-day limit. Great cell signal. About 20–40 minutes from the southern trailheads.
- Benton Crossing Road (Mammoth area): BLM land east of US-395, 8 miles south of Mammoth junction. Flat, spacious, and near Wild Willy's Hot Spring. Good positioning for the northern hikes.
- Crowley Lake area: Scattered BLM campsites around Crowley Lake between Bishop and Mammoth. Windy but spacious with big views.
The 5 Hikes
1. Pine Lake via Pine Creek Trail
The Pine Creek drainage climbs from the valley floor through a tungsten mine operation into one of the most beautiful high-alpine basins in the Eastern Sierra. The trail passes Brownstone Mine remnants, then enters Inyo National Forest at a series of stair-step lakes ending at Pine Lake at 10,200 feet. The basin above holds additional tarns accessible off-trail. The trailhead is 10 miles from Bishop via Pine Creek Road — the parking area is large enough for full-size vans. No permit needed for day hiking.
2. Lake Sabrina and Blue Lake Basin
Lake Sabrina sits at 9,132 feet above Bishop in the Bishop Creek canyon. The trailhead (at the lake's eastern end) accesses multiple lake basins — the most popular route goes to Blue Lake, a turquoise cirque lake below 12,000-foot peaks. The trail is well-maintained and relatively accessible for its elevation. The Bishop Creek corridor has several fee campgrounds but Chalk Bluff BLM is a solid free base 40 minutes below. Note: the access road to Sabrina is steep with some tight switchbacks — take the van up slowly and assess width comfort before committing.
3. Convict Lake to Mildred Lake
Convict Lake is one of the most striking lakes in California — a deep blue-green lake ringed by 12,000-foot colored peaks of metamorphic rock in reds, yellows, and purples. The trail around the lake is flat and popular; continuing up the canyon to Mildred Lake adds 1,600 feet and most visitors turn back at the lake loop. The upper canyon is quieter and the geology gets more dramatic with altitude. The Convict Lake day-use parking area is large and flat — easy for any van. Just south of Mammoth Lakes off US-395.
4. Duck Lake via Mammoth Pass
Accessed from the Horseshoe Lake trailhead above Mammoth Lakes (Mammoth Pass Road — passable in a high-top van but narrow). The trail climbs through lodgepole forest, past McLeod Lake, over the pass at 10,500 feet, and drops into the Duck Lake basin at 10,450 feet. Duck Lake is enormous by alpine standards — over a mile long — and the views from the pass in both directions are extraordinary. Start early in summer; afternoon thunderstorms build quickly above 10,000 feet in July–August.
5. Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest (Schulman Grove)
Technically in the White Mountains east of Bishop rather than the Sierra, this hike is unlike any other on this list. The Schulman Grove contains the oldest living trees on Earth — Bristlecone Pines over 5,000 years old, twisted by millennia of wind and cold into surreal sculptural forms. The Methuselah Trail loop passes through the grove including the (unmarked, for protection) area containing Methuselah, the ~4,789-year-old tree that is the oldest verified living organism. Access via White Mountain Road east of Big Pine — 24 miles of paved road. The road reaches 10,000+ feet and is typically open May through October. Day use fee: $3/person.
Van Parking Notes
All five trailheads have parking areas that accommodate full-size vans (Sprinter, Transit, ProMaster). None have height bar restrictions. Considerations:
- Pine Creek trailhead has a flat, large lot — no issues for any van size
- Lake Sabrina has a medium lot that fills quickly on summer weekends; the approach road has tight switchbacks — assess before committing
- Convict Lake has a large day-use lot, flat and easy
- Horseshoe Lake (Duck Lake) has a narrow access road but adequate parking once there
- Schulman Grove has a large visitor center parking area, easily accessible
Plan Your Eastern Sierra Van Trip
Map the BLM camp spots, trailheads, and key fuel stops between Bishop and Mammoth in the Vanlife.la planner.
Open the Route Planner →FAQ
Do I need a permit to hike in the Eastern Sierra?
Day hikes on all five trails above are permit-free. Overnight camping in the John Muir Wilderness requires a wilderness permit from Inyo National Forest — the quota system at recreation.gov governs these. Plan overnight trips well in advance (quotas go live in the spring for summer dates).
When is the Eastern Sierra snow-free for hiking?
Lower trails (like Convict Lake and Bristlecone) are snow-free by May. High passes (Duck Lake, Blue Lake Basin) are typically clear by late June to early July. Check the Inyo National Forest website for current conditions before attempting any pass hike before mid-June.
Is there cell service in the Eastern Sierra?
In Bishop and Mammoth towns: yes (all carriers). On US-395 between them: mostly yes with occasional dead zones. In any canyon or at trailheads above: usually no. Verizon has the best coverage in the corridor. Download maps offline before driving the canyon roads.
Driving through the Eastern Sierra? See the full Highway 395 Van Life guide for overnight stops, free camping, and driving notes for the entire corridor.