To visit some of the earth's oldest living things, budget a half-day for the thrilling drive up to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest (fs.usda.gov/inyo). These otherworldly-looking trees are found above 10,000ft on the slopes of the parched White Mountains, where you'd think nothing could grow.
First, visit the oldest tree, Methuselah, around 4700 years old. The area has picnic tables, the Methuselah Walk Trail and vault toilets, but no water. Next, set out on the 1-mile Discovery Trail through the Schulman Grove, a fantastic introduction to these gnarled and wind-battled stalwarts. Interpretative panels explain how Dr Edmund Schulman's curiosity about old trees led him to this grove in 1953, where he found the world's first known 4000-year-old tree. Stay on the trail to avoid damaging the fragile root systems.
A second grove, the Patriarch Grove, is set within a dramatic open bowl and reached via a 12-mile graded dirt road. Four miles on you’ll find a locked gate: the departure point for hikes to 14,246ft White Mountain Peak (California's third-highest mountain).
To reach the groves, take Hwy 168 east 12 miles from Big Pine to White Mountain Rd, then turn north and climb the curvy road 10 miles. While the trails are open year-round, the roads are weather dependent.
