WHITE MOUNTAIN ROAD and other California, CA Off The Beaten Path Tips

There are a lot of dramatic roads that can be driven throughout the Golden State and this is one of the best. Coming north off of CA 168 just east of the narrow confines of Westgard Pass, the White Mountain Road starts climbing slowly among juniper-clad hills. At about four miles in, the pitch steepens bringing you to Grandview Campground - the only established campground along the road and a waterless campground at that - at five miles and then to the magnificent Sierra View Overlook at eight miles. Now, the road climbs high along the western shoulder of the range coming to the Schulman Grove at 10 miles. The pavement ends here, but the graded road that continues is in good shape, The views just keep getting better as you head north. Most visitors will stop at the Patriarch Grove, a magical grove of ancient bristlecones just surviving - as they have for centuries - right at timberline, just over 11000 feet high. The road continues for another 4.6 miles, however, with the first stretch being fairly steep. You drive across some magical high alpine deserts with White Mountain Peak - 14246 feet high - rising beyond. From the gate, you can dismount and continue to the very peak top - the fourth highest peak in California - but the way covers about15 miles and 2600 feet of elevation gain. SeeChalfant for more on climbing the peak itself.

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