Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest

Take note: the address listed is for the visitor center which is a 1 hour drive away from the actual forest. This caused some confusion and road trip reorganization for me.

This is the third “destination” with the wrong address/coordinates on here. The ACTUAL Bristlecone Forrest is over an hour away! Completely threw our whole day off :/

The drive is a haul but you get to see the oldest trees on earth, so it's worth it. Drive is super beautiful too. Full hike guide to the grove here: https://hikingguy.com/hiking-trails/hiking-la/ancient-bristlecone-pine-forest-hike/

These trees are incredibly beautiful and strange, but put away any expectation that they will be anything like the towering redwoods or giant sequoias. They are much smaller in size, but they make up for it with their twisted, partially dead crowns and sprawling, gnarled root systems.

The Methuselah Grove Trail, which is accessible from the visitor center, offers a 4.5 mile loop through Methuselah Grove, the site of the tree once thought to be the oldest known living non-clonal organism (an older tree has been discovered since, but still - these trees are ancient). You can pick up a brochure for a self-guided tour of sorts; there are frequent stops with information about the bristlecones and their remarkable adaptations that have allowed them to survive for so long. The hike gains about 800 feet and takes on average 2-3 hours to complete. While I was there (July) there were wildflowers blooming along the trail, adding to the beauty of it all.

I visited in mid-November and slept overnight in the parking lot (sub-freezing temperatures, would not recommend), but the visitors center is not open in the off-season. It is a long drive through Inyo National Forest but wholly worth it. Start any hikes early in the morning and be respectful of the Bristlecones, these are the oldest trees in the world.

This is a must place to visit , only in California you can find the oldest living tree in the world. I recommend to start early in the morning, bring plenty of water, snacks hats, frequent stop/ rest in higher elevation. I recommend doing the Methuselah trail and did it with 9-14 year old children. Stop by the visitor center prior to hiking.