Although not as well known as Route 66, Highway 395 has its own unique claim to fame. In the 1930s, it was heralded as the “Three Flags Highway” because it linked Mexico, the United States, and Canada. We’ve always appreciated Highway 395 because it offers an alternative to the mind-numbingly boring and traffic-crazed length of I-5 that traverses California.
Beginning Our Highway 395 Adventure
We planned to pick up 395 in the high desert of eastern Oregon, but what we were most excited about is a 150-mile section that starts in Bridgeport, California, ending in Lone Pine. It’s one of the most beautiful and interesting stretches of road that you can imagine. Here, Highway 395 traverses the high peaks of the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountain range, skirts the otherworldly landscape of Mono Lake, and ends in a unique panorama of boulders and arches known as the Alabama Hills.
We began our Highway 395 adventure at Goose Lake State Park in Lakeview, Oregon. A mere 110 miles from our last stop in Rocky Point, Oregon, we’ve stayed here several times and always found it quiet and peaceful. This time, we found it quieter than usual. Much to our dismay, the park was closed for the season. Stealth camping is not our style (we’re way too obvious with a 27-foot trailer and a big truck). But with dusk falling, we parked in the day-use area and called it a night, hoping that the sheriff wouldn’t come knocking on our door.
With a very early start the next morning and an uneventful 230-mile drive, we pulled into Washoe Lake State Park in Nevada. It’s a terrific overnight spot just south of Reno. There are no hookups, but the sites are spacious and pretty, set among the fragrant sagebrush, and a reasonable $17 per night. Despite the name, there was no lake—with sufficient rain, however, the lake will reappear.
Lovely campsites at Washoe Lake State Park
Where’s the lake?
A Few Days At Beautiful June Lake
Day three and 135 miles from Washoe Lake, we arrived at June Lake, our destination for the beginning of our explorations. A mere two miles off of 395, Oh Ridge campground is nestled into a spectacularly scenic location, set at 7,600 feet in a Ponderosa pine and juniper forest. Surrounded by the high peaks of the Sierra, our site overlooked the lovely lake, which changes from cobalt to aquamarine to silver depending on the time of day. Mid-October is the perfect time to enjoy the fall foliage.
The first inklings of fall colors along 395
View from our campsite of June Lake
We spent our five days at June Lake immersed in hiking the nearby trails and visiting nearby Mono Lake. Things are pretty quiet in the tiny town of June Lake this time of year, but to our delight, there was a little microbrewery. June Lake Brewing doesn’t look like much (a renovated garage, perhaps?) but the beer is excellent, and there’s a neon orange food truck (Ohanas 395) in the parking lot that turns out delicious chicken, fish, and pork tacos. The Smokin’ Porter at the brewery is excellent, too. Everything was so good, we ate here twice.
Ohana food truck at the brewery serves up excellent tacos
Really good beer at June Lake Brewing and tacos from the food truck
Should you be here in the fall, take time to drive the June Lake Loop, a 14-mile scenic drive that winds through the mountains and past four subalpine lakes strung like jewels on a necklace. It’s a lovely drive at any time of year, but especially fine when the aspens are dressed in their autumn attire of bright gold and orange.
The June Lake Loop
Around another bend in the road
Fall colors and a dusting of snow
A ribbon of color
Fresh snowfall
About The Campground
Oh Ridge is a beautiful Forest Service campground with no hookups, but with conveniently located water faucets (you can fill your tanks without moving your RV), excellent Verizon coverage, and only $12.50 per night (with the Senior Pass). It’s a great location for hikes in the high Sierra, driving the beautiful June Lake Loop, and visiting nearby Mono Lake.
The Duck Loop is popular
Pygmy Nuthatch in our campsite
A silvery afternoon at June Lake
Not all of the sites are RV friendly. Most are terribly unlevel and impossible for all but the smallest trailers. The Duck Loop, however, has long level sites. As a bonus, some of the sites (27-30) have amazing views of the lake. In scouting around the campground, we also liked sites 158 and 159, above the Duck Loop and with a distant view of the lake. With long, cold, snowy winters in the Sierra, the campground closes at the end of October for the season.
Love the photos! Especially the little bird one–great shot!
Thanks, Janna. We’ve been trying to get a photo of a Pygmy Nuthatch for the longest time. They were very busy in our campsite foraging for food!
This is the best time to be on 395 traveling through the Sierra’s with all the color and snow topped mountains. I love when we come upon those ribbons of colors coming down a canyon:) So glad you included that photo of the pygmy with the seed. Great capture, Eric!!
I agree, the fall is definitely the primo time to be traveling through the Sierras. And meeting up with you guys in Lone Pine made it all even better. :-)
My sister and her husband live in Washoe Valley, with that amazing view of Mt Rose. I love visiting there. And some years there’s even water in the lake!
We really enjoyed that gorgeous view, Kim. Would be fun to meet up with you guys for some adventures on 395 sometime!
Those are some pretty spectacular photos of a place that we love. Our favorite hike is the Virginia Lakes hike to the top. Hopefully someday we can do the 12 miles loop back down. Highway 395 is especially wonderful in the fall, and you caught the feeling perfectly.
Thank you so much, Sue. The Virginia Lakes hike looks gorgeous — we didn’t get to it this time, but it’s definitely on our list for a return visit.
It’s a really small world when Hawaiian Soul Food makes it to eastern California. The photo of the pygmy nuthatch is a winner!
Haha, we thought the same, Sheila! At first I thought Hawaiian Soul Food was out of place in the Sierras, but those tacos were outstanding.
Lovely photos! That nuthatch is so sweet! 395 is one of the best highways in the country I think!
Glad you enjoyed the photos, Lisa. We absolutely love 395 and are so happy we were finally able to spend a bit of time there. We’ll definitely return!
Gorgeous gorgeous pictures of your fall color and that view from your campsite at June Lake. WOW! Love the nuthatch. What a great shot. 395 sounds like a wonderful road especially if it will allow you to skip I-5. We don’t stealth camp much either and mostly because I don’t want that police knock on the door at 2am. But sometimes, you do what you gotta do. Is it unusual for campgrounds in Oregon to be closed at the end of October too? Oh, it probably wasn’t the end of October when you were there actually. So why was the campground closed? Thanks so much for the information on the specific sites at Oh Ridge. Is it open enough for solar?
Sherry, I think most of the state parks in Oregon stay open all year, but Goose Lake closes for the season October 1st (we were surprised!). Oh Ridge is perfect for solar, including the Duck Loop. Put it on your list! So glad you enjoyed the photos. :-)
Such a beautiful area. We appreciate how you describe the campgrounds and area.
I’m glad the info is helpful for you, Debbie. It is an incredibly beautiful area!
June Lake is the one area on our list we didn’t make it to this time. Love the pics of the color, and that campground has wonderful views. The truck and brewery sound like a sweet combination :-))))
Jodee, June Lake is another reason to return! You’ll have to go there when you get your solar installed. You guys would really enjoy the brewery, too.
We discovered June Lake last spring–what a gem! As is the whole Owens Valley. Will you be able to visit the Bristlecone Pines? They’re our favorite. But it might be too snowy up there by this time…Anyway, say hello to the greater 395 Corridor for me!
Gretchen, we didn’t make it to the Bristlecone Pines this time, but we did hike among them in Great Basin National Park. They’re magnificent! So many hiking opportunities near June Lake — I’m glad you’ve discovered it, too.
Loved reading this post Laurel. It brought back so many lovely memories for me. I think the 395 is best done in the fall. The colors are spectacular. :)
I agree with you, LuAnn — the fall is the best time for traveling 395. I’m glad you enjoyed the post — you gave us some great tips for trails to hike!
You got that right, we never tire of following 395 especially in fall. Thanks for taking us back to the June loop, we so enjoyed that drive as well with all the golden leaves glowing.
What a great capture of the Pygmy Nuthatch!
395 is calling us again, maybe will take its call next Fall.
Next fall seems like the perfect time, since you guys will be on the West Coast! We were happy to finally get a photo of that adorable Pygmy Nuthatch — they were flocking to the trees around our campsite.