Page Type:
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Route |
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Lat/Lon:
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36.61470°N / 118.095°W |
Route Type:
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Hiking, Bouldering |
Season:
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Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter |
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Time Required:
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Less than two hours |
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Difficulty:
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Easy/Moderate walk |
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Overview
This is an easy to moderate walk to a beautiful natural stone arch that frames Mt. Whitney (or Lone Pine Peak, depending on your angle of view). I would just say it's an easy walk, but since it is an unmarked trail and starts by descending somewhat steeply into a wash, I'll rate it as easy/moderate. It's about 1/4 mile to the arch. This is perhaps the best known and easiest to reach of the 12 or so arches of the Alabama Hills. It measures about 17 feet wide by 6 feet high.Edit 09/12/2011: Went to the arch this weekend, and the trail is now marked and graded so it's quite an easy walk now
Getting There
From the stoplight in Lone Pine drive 2.5 miles west on Whitney Portal Road. Turn right on Movie Flat road and go approximately 2 miles to where the road forks. Take the right fork to a small turn around parking area. Park here then follow the use trail heading down into the wash. Head north out of the wash and walk north along the use trail. You'll go perhaps 1/6 of a mile and all the while keep your eye out for the arch. It is not huge and may be easy to miss! There is a smaller arch just a few feet to the west of it. Also from the parking area looking east you can see a heart shaped arch in the distance.Essential Gear
Hiking shoes, water, sunscreen, and a camera!External Links
Weather Forecast for the Owens ValleyBob's Arches