Vista Point
VISTA POINT
Near Mammoth Lakes, CA
I remember reading a quote from a very famous landscape photographer - when asked how he found his locations to photograph. His reply was “I just drive around until something wonderful catches my eye”. How true, sometimes the most beautiful scenes just appear right in front of you.
I was driving toward Mammoth Lakes when I happened to look over and see this breathtaking vista. I quickly pulled over and was able to capture this image directly from my van. In winter, on the road from Bishop to Mammoth Lakes, CA this wonderful scene presents itself and makes for an easy but stunning landscape opportunity. As wonderful as this location is, lighting is everything and the pink hues from late sun make this place magical.
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
Trail Difficulty - EASY
I would rate the difficulty of this trail a 1 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult). There is a nice pullout (viewing area) right off of the highway for this location. I actually shot this image from the inside of my van stopped at the pullout.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
7,900 Ft. Elevation
View In Google earth
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to Vista Point.
The closest community to Vista Point is Mammoth Lakes (11 miles) and the closest city to Vista Point is Bishop, CA (28 miles).
From Bishop, CA
From Bishop, take US-395 N towards Mammoth Lakes. The location is approximately 1/2 mile after exit 252 for Crowley Lake/Hilton Creek. You will see a pullout on the right. The image was shot from the pullout.
From Mammoth Lakes, CA
Drive to US-395 South and turn right and drive 10.8 miles and take exit 252 toward Crowley Lake/Hilton Creek. Go over the overpass and return toward Mammoth Lakes on South Landing Rd. Merge back on 395 North and drive for approximately 1/2 mile and you will see a pull off on the right. The image was shot from the pullout.
Photography Tips
This shot is as close to a layup as you will get in landscape photography. It is pretty straight forward and was taken directly from the side of the road (pullout). As mentioned, I shot this image from the inside of my van while parked at the pullout.
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 60 mm
Exposure – 1/4 th sec @ f 8.0
ISO – 35
Date – Feb 18th
Time – 5:40 am
Best Time of Day to Shoot
In winter, this is a SUNSET shot.
I found the best time to shoot this location in winter is from 30 minutes before - 15 minutes after sunset. As sunset approaches, the snow glows with a pinkish tint which is breathtaking. However, the sky is best after the sun sets. The above image is a composite of both.
Best Time of Year
The location of this shot (Vista Point) is a pullout and a nice viewing area year round. In the non-winter months, this location overlooks Crowley Lake looking toward Glass mountains. However, for me the location is best in the winter, with snow covering the foreground and mountains. Truly, a winter wonderland.
The above shot was taken on February 18th
Lens(es) Needed
The image above was a 3-shot horizontal pano with a 60mm lens to capture as much detail as possible.
Birds-Eye View
Permits
There are no permits required at this location.
Direction of the Shot
From the pullout, the shot was taken north at around 9°.
Equipment Needed
Other than a tripod, there is no need for any special photography equipment unless you plan on doing a panoramic shot.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
The pullout for the Vista Point (Lake Crowley Overlook) is about 100 yds long. There will be several cars stopping to take in the beautiful view and snap a quick photo. Other than that, not many other photographers will be at this location as it nears sunset.
Weather
The location of this shot is on the road just before the community of Mammoth Lake (between Bishop, CA and Mono Lake, CA) and is at 7,900 ft. Mammoth Lakes is a beautiful resort with peaks up to 11,000. During the winter this road can get 3-5 ft of snow and can at times require chains to travel. The temperatures are generally, MUCH colder than in Bishop.
Cell Service
I use Verizon and had cell service at this location.
Lodging & Camping
As mentioned, the nearest communities/cities are Mammoth Lakes (11 miles) and Bishop, CA (28 miles). Both locations are worth visiting while in this area. Mammoth is a ski resort in winter with several lodging opportunities and Bishop is a nice sized town with plenty of places to stay. The nearest camping is in Mammoth Lake and at June Lake (closed in winter) and a couple of campgrounds near Bishop.
Nearby camping and lodging
Camping - click on the campground below for directions
Twin Lakes Campground (Mammoth Lakes)
Lake Mary Campground (Mammoth Lakes)
Lodging - click on the lodging below for a TripAdvisor review
Best Western Bishop Lodge
(760) 873-3543
1025 N Main St, Bishop, CA
Vagabond Inn Bishop
(760) 873-6351
1030 N Main St, Bishop, CA
Nearby Restaurants
Do yourself a favor and visit the town of Mammoth. It is a wonderful town with lots of great places to visit and eat.
Nearby Restaurants - click on the restaurant below for yelp review
Mammoth Tavern
(760) 934-3902
587 Old Mammoth Rd, Suite 10 - Mammoth Lakes
The Warming Hut
(760) 965-0549
343 Old Mammoth Rd, Mammoth Lakes, CA
Latin Market Taqueria
(760) 934-7120
1566 Tavern Rd, Mammoth Lakes, CA
Area Guides and Workshops
None