Established in 1940, Kings Canyon National Park encompasses 461,901 acres of mountains and lushly forested land that’s accessible by car from Fresno via U.S. Highway 180 heading west. On the eastern side the closest large town is Independence just off Highway 395 and there are many hiking trails leading into the park from that direction.
Imagine yourself driving through California’s lush Stanislaus National Forest while surrounded by verdant, old growth trees and miles of open land without any cities. Suddenly you’re transported more than 100 years back in time to the California Gold Rush days as you enter the ghost town of Bodie! Located 34 miles north of Mono Lake at an elevation of 8379 feet (2554 meters), Bodie is considered to be one of the best preserved examples of abandoned towns in America by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
If you love movies, a scenic drive to the Alabama Hills Recreation Area to see where approximately 150 movies and a dozen television shows were filmed can be a very interesting adventure. Additional recreational activities for visitors include hiking, rock climbing, fishing, horseback riding and mountain biking.
