Majestic Morning
MAJESTIC MORNING
Alabama Hills, CA
The Alabama Hills are some of the most unusual rock formations found in the American Southwest. Set at the base of Mt. Whitney and the Eastern Sierra’s, they can provide a perfect backdrop for stunning landscapes and truly memorable moments.
In the 2007 movie “The Bucket List”, Morgan Freeman writes out a list of things he wanted to see/do before he dies. First on his list was to “witness something truly majestic”. I can say without hesitation - that standing at this location, on this day, in the moments leading up to sunrise - I was able to do just that. I invite you to visit this place and experience your own Majestic Morning.
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
Trail Difficulty - EASY TO MODERATE
I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 2 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult). The hike to this location is a fairly easy 250 yd walk up a modest slope. In my opinion, the higher you climb up the slope, the better shot you will get.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
4,775 Ft. Elevation
Download KMZ Trail File
Click Here to download the KMZ file for this location
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to Majestic Morning pull out
From Lone Pine - take Whitney Portal Rd out of Lone Pine for 2.7 miles and turn right on Movie Flat Rd. After a few hundred yds, the road goes from a paved to a dirt road with some washboards.
Continue on the dirt road for about 2 1/2 miles until you come to a “T” in the road. Turn right (you will see the Mobius Arch trailhead on the left) and continue driving on the dirt road east for about 1/4 mile and then the dirt road turns left. From this turn drive about 1/4 mile and you will see a small pull-out on your right.
Park at the pullout and walk up the gravel slope for about 250 yds. The shot was taken among the rocks on the side of the hill.
Photography Tips
There are hundreds of locations around the Alabama Hills to photograph sunrise with Mt. Whitney in the background. However, I felt that I wanted the view of Mt. Whitney to appear as level as possible (not shooting up), so I hiked up the slope of one of the hills for my composition (the location is just 120 yds or so from the “Eye of Alabama Arch” seen in many great images). You can hike a little higher up the rocks if you choose to get an even higher view.
The image above was taken on the 2nd day we (my friend Don Metz and I) visited this spot in Alabama Hills. After shooting the first day, I realized this early morning scene is more beautiful than a single photograph can capture - as the change from twilight to sunrise provides different moods, hues, and illumination. So, we returned for the second day and I decided to composite multiple images to try to capture the moment.
The image above was a composite of three images (from the same spot without moving the camera/tripod). The first image was taken 25 minutes before sunrise (to capture the early morning hues on the mountain), the second image was taken about 7 minutes before sunrise (to capture the pink clouds), and then the third shot at sunrise (to capture the pink glow on the granite face of the mountains). These images were blended to produce an image that represented my memory of that Majestic Morning.
View In Google earth
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 60 mm
Exposure – 1 sec @ f 8.0
ISO – 100
Date – Jan 31st
Time – 6:31 am
Other Images From This Location
Best Time of Day to Shoot
The Alabama Hills are great to visit all day.
However, for the shot above, the best time to view and photograph it is very early morning - pre-dawn to sunrise. Predawn, the alpenglow illuminates this stunning view of Mt. Whitney and prepares you for the unbelievable pink/red/orange colors that appear as the sun first touches the peaks. After sunrise, the colors will be blown out.
This shot is facing west by southwest so in the winter, the sun will set almost directly behind Mt. Whitney. With this in mind, you might get a nice sunset over Mt. Whitney at sunset.
Best Time of Year
Alabama Hills is great to visit and photograph all year. However, to witness this majestic scene you want to visit while there is a good amount of snow on Mt. Whitney.
Mt. Whitney is the tallest mountain in the lower United States with an elevation of 14,505 feet and will be covered in snow most of the winter months into early spring.
The image above was taken on January 31st.
Lens(es) Needed
Standing in this location, facing Mt. Whitney and the eastern Sierra’s you will be tempted to shoot a wide-angle or do an ultra-wide panoramic. However, I found the composition I liked the most was using a standard to short telephoto lens.
This image above was taken with a 60mm equivalent lens.
Birds-Eye View
Permits
The Alabama Hills is located on BLM land and at this time, there are no permits required in the area.
Direction of the Shot
The direction of the shot is west by southwest @ 250°.
Equipment Needed
From a photographic perspective, all you will need is a sturdy tripod (to potentially do image blending) and a standard to medium telephoto lens.
If you are at the Alabama Hills in the winter, you will most likely need heavy-duty winter clothes, a hat, and gloves. The temperatures in this area can easily get into the 20’s in the morning.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
The Alabama Hills is a popular location for hikers, tourists, photographers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts. However, the area is about 3 miles long by 2 miles wide, so there is usually lots of open space for everyone to enjoy.
In the winter, there might be a moderate number of photographers up before sunrise. However, at this location, you may have the place all to yourself.
Weather
The weather in Lone Pine is modest with lows in the winter reaching the low 20s.
Cell Service
I have Verizon and cell service is limited while in the Alabama Hills. The cell service is stronger in Lone Pine, CA.
Lodging & Camping
The closest town to the Alabama Hills in Lone Pine, CA. It is a small town, but it’s a pass-through for tourists driving from Los Angles to Mammoth Mountain, so there are several hotels.
Camping in Alabama Hills is still free (as it is on BLM land). However, they have greatly reduced the number of camping spots available. NOTE: this area is VERY popular at certain times of the year and especially on the weekends - so camping locations can sometimes be hard to find. There is a fairly nice campground in Lone Pine called Portagee Joe Campground.
Nearby camping and lodging
Camping - click on the campground below for directions
Portagee Joe Campground (on the west part of Lone Pine)
Lodging - click on the lodging below for a TripAdvisor review
Whitney Portal Hostel
(760) 876-0030
238 S Main, Lone Pine, CA
Best Western Plus Frontier Motel
(760) 876-5571
1008 S Main St, Lone Pine, CA
Comfort Inn
(760) 876-8700
1920 S Main St, Lone Pine, CA
Nearby Restaurants
There are several restaurants in the little town of Lone Pine. For breakfast or lunch, I like either the Alabama Hills Café or The Grill. For dinner, the Seasons Restaurant is my go-to place. It is more upscale and expensive but has a nice menu and good food. Another very good option is Castro’s Taco Stand (right on the main street) - they have great street tacos at a good price.
Nearby Restaurants - click on the restaurant below for a yelp review
Alabama Hills Cafe & Bakery
(760) 876-4675
111 W Post, Lone Pine, CA
Seasons Restaurant
(760) 876-8927
206 S Main St, Lone Pine, CA
The Grill
(760) 876-4240
446 S Main St, Lone Pine, CA
Area Guides and Workshops
None