Alabama Hills is one of our favorite places to camp along beautiful Highway 395 and the Eastern Sierra. We’ve been here many times, and each time, we leave with a greater appreciation for the area. If you have never been here before, it really does feel like you are on another planet. Many movies have been filmed here. This is due to the diverse landscape that provides an incredible backdrop for photography. It also offers excellent videography settings. The contrast of the massive smooth boulders and jagged snow-packed peaks is stunning.
In the past, Alabama Hills was fairly unregulated for dispersed camping. This meant that you could camp essentially anywhere in the area. Over the years, and with increased popularity, the fragile environment has been negatively affected. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has recently implemented new regulations. These measures aim to help preserve the area’s natural beauty for future generations.
As of October 1, 2024, you must obtain a free permit here to camp in the area. The permit is valid for a full year and all sites stay first-come, first-serve. By obtaining a permit, you acknowledge that you will abide by the regulations to camp in the area, which include:
- Camping is only permitted in designated campsites with a tent icon. You can view a map here.
- Fires are only permitted in existing fire rings (in designated campsites) and you must have a valid California campfire permit.
- You must use the port-a-potties in the area. Alternatively, pack out all human waste with a wag bag or portable toilet.
- All equipment must be on the bare ground and not sit on top of any plants.
- Pack out all trash, waste, human waste, dog waste, etc.
- Stay limit is 14 days per calendar year.
With these new regulations and the limited campsites, it can be fairly competitive to score a good site. This is especially true on a busy weekend. We counted 23 campsites off of Movie Road when we were there. This is not a lot if you consider how popular this area has become. We were able to get a campsite without any issues. However, we did see some people scrambling later in the day to get a spot. If you’d like to camp here, and we suggest you do, arrive fairly early in the day. This way, you make sure you aren’t left without anywhere to call home for the night.
It can feel like a little bit of a bummer to have something so regulated. It used to be pretty easy to get a site. However, we do agree that it is necessary to make sure future generations can continue to enjoy this area. With the proper planning and preparation, it is absolutely still worth it to try and camp here. We can’t wait till our next visit.
To see more from our last visit to Alabama Hills, you can view our full YouTube video here:
Let us know if you have any thoughts on the new regulations. Do you feel like this is necessary to preserve the area?
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