Flyway · 45 days · 44 nights

Western Grand Circuit

A large circuit from California up the Pacific coast, through the North Cascades and Idaho, east to Denver, southwest across the Utah diagonal, then through Las Vegas and Death Valley back to the coast.

Start · Los Angeles, California 5,402 mapped miles 129.4 route hours

Open daily Google Maps routes ↓ Build in weekly rest days and several weather buffers; this is a regional circuit, not a continuous driving challenge. This circuit is divided into regional base-camp blocks. The displayed load is the heaviest day in each block; the same sleep site may repeat until the next transfer. Road times are planning estimates from mapped routes, not promises; recheck closures, weather, permits, and access before departure.

01 PerchPoint RoostAtlas sleep

Road routing is a planning aid. Verify closures, access, and conditions before driving.

Sunrise-to-sunset plan

Make camp
before dark.

Each row shows the heaviest planned day in that block. Every individual day has a Google Maps driving link from the prior camp or starting hub, through that day's PerchPoints, to that night's sleep site. The daylight figure uses the approximate winter-solstice day length for the region.

Days 1–5

Southern to northern California

Starts at Los Angeles

Point Mugu, Mendocino, and the redwood corridor with one full transfer day.

Drive: 6h 30m
Hike: 1h 00m
Logistics: 0h 48m
Planned: 8h 18m
Shortest day: 8h 48m
Daylight reserve: 0h 30m

Sleep · Mendocino County Fair RV Park ↓

Perches · Point Mugu · Mendocino Headlands Bluff Trail · California Coastal Trail · Tall Trees Loop Trail

Day 1 · Google Maps ↗ Point Mugu → Sleep at Mendocino County Fair RV Park Day 2 · Google Maps ↗ Mendocino Headlands Bluff Trail → Sleep at Mendocino County Fair RV Park Day 3 · Google Maps ↗ California Coastal Trail → Sleep at Mendocino County Fair RV Park Day 4 · Google Maps ↗ Tall Trees Loop Trail → Sleep at Mendocino County Fair RV Park Day 5 · Google Maps ↗ Camp and logistics route → Sleep at Mendocino County Fair RV Park

Days 6–11

Oregon and Olympic coast

Starts at Redwood country

Boardman, Cape Perpetua, and Second Beach as separate field days with coast-weather flex.

Drive: 5h 00m
Hike: 2h 30m
Logistics: 0h 30m
Planned: 8h 00m
Shortest day: 8h 24m
Daylight reserve: 0h 24m

Sleep · Salt Creek County RA-Area A ↓

Perches · Samuel H. Boardman Coast Trail · Cape Perpetua & Thor's Well · Second Beach Trail

Day 6 · Google Maps ↗ Samuel H. Boardman Coast Trail → Sleep at Salt Creek County RA-Area A Day 7 · Google Maps ↗ Camp and logistics route → Sleep at Salt Creek County RA-Area A Day 8 · Google Maps ↗ Cape Perpetua & Thor's Well → Sleep at Salt Creek County RA-Area A Day 9 · Google Maps ↗ Camp and logistics route → Sleep at Salt Creek County RA-Area A Day 10 · Google Maps ↗ Second Beach Trail → Sleep at Salt Creek County RA-Area A Day 11 · Google Maps ↗ Camp and logistics route → Sleep at Salt Creek County RA-Area A

Days 12–16

North Cascades

Starts at Olympic Peninsula

Cross the Puget region and separate Hidden Lake and Wing Lake into full days.

Drive: 5h 30m
Hike: 1h 12m
Logistics: 0h 42m
Planned: 7h 24m
Shortest day: 8h 12m
Daylight reserve: 0h 48m

Sleep · Howard Miller Steelhead CP ↓

Perches · Hidden Lake Trail · Wing Lake Trail

Day 12 · Google Maps ↗ Hidden Lake Trail → Sleep at Howard Miller Steelhead CP Day 13 · Google Maps ↗ Camp and logistics route → Sleep at Howard Miller Steelhead CP Day 14 · Google Maps ↗ Wing Lake Trail → Sleep at Howard Miller Steelhead CP Day 15 · Google Maps ↗ Camp and logistics route → Sleep at Howard Miller Steelhead CP Day 16 · Google Maps ↗ Camp and logistics route → Sleep at Howard Miller Steelhead CP

Days 17–21

Idaho to Denver

Starts at North Cascades

Use Idaho as a recovery base before the two-day eastbound transfer to Denver.

Drive: 7h 30m
Hike: 0h 00m
Logistics: 1h 00m
Planned: 8h 30m
Shortest day: 8h 48m
Daylight reserve: 0h 18m

Sleep · Bear Creek Lake CP ↓

Perches · Vulcan Hot Springs · Denver

Day 17 · Google Maps ↗ Vulcan Hot Springs → Sleep at Bear Creek Lake CP Day 18 · Google Maps ↗ Camp and logistics route → Sleep at Bear Creek Lake CP Day 19 · Google Maps ↗ Denver → Sleep at Bear Creek Lake CP Day 20 · Google Maps ↗ Camp and logistics route → Sleep at Bear Creek Lake CP Day 21 · Google Maps ↗ Camp and logistics route → Sleep at Bear Creek Lake CP

Days 22–28

Colorado field week

Starts at Denver

Pikes Peak, Grays Peak, Glacier Gorge, Great Sand Dunes, and Gunnison each receive their own day.

Drive: 4h 30m
Hike: 3h 30m
Logistics: 0h 30m
Planned: 8h 30m
Shortest day: 9h 18m
Daylight reserve: 0h 48m

Sleep · Great Sand Dunes NP-Medano Pass Road Sites 1-8 ↓

Perches · Pikes Peak · Grays Peak Trail · Glacier Gorge Trail · Great Sand Dunes · Gunnison Route

Day 22 · Google Maps ↗ Pikes Peak → Sleep at Great Sand Dunes NP-Medano Pass Road Sites 1-8 Day 23 · Google Maps ↗ Grays Peak Trail → Sleep at Great Sand Dunes NP-Medano Pass Road Sites 1-8 Day 24 · Google Maps ↗ Glacier Gorge Trail → Sleep at Great Sand Dunes NP-Medano Pass Road Sites 1-8 Day 25 · Google Maps ↗ Camp and logistics route → Sleep at Great Sand Dunes NP-Medano Pass Road Sites 1-8 Day 26 · Google Maps ↗ Great Sand Dunes → Sleep at Great Sand Dunes NP-Medano Pass Road Sites 1-8 Day 27 · Google Maps ↗ Gunnison Route → Sleep at Great Sand Dunes NP-Medano Pass Road Sites 1-8 Day 28 · Google Maps ↗ Camp and logistics route → Sleep at Great Sand Dunes NP-Medano Pass Road Sites 1-8

Days 29–35

Moab, Needles, and Capitol Reef

Starts at Great Sand Dunes

Reach Moab, then follow the northern half of the Utah Flyway with repeated regional bases.

Drive: 6h 00m
Hike: 2h 00m
Logistics: 0h 42m
Planned: 8h 42m
Shortest day: 9h 30m
Daylight reserve: 0h 48m

Sleep · Hwy 24 Dispersed ↓

Perches · Funnel Arch Trail · Grand View Point Trail · Elephant Canyon & Chesler Park · Needles Overlook · Chimney Rock Loop Trail · Navajo Knobs & Rim Overlook

Day 29 · Google Maps ↗ Funnel Arch Trail → Sleep at Hwy 24 Dispersed Day 30 · Google Maps ↗ Grand View Point Trail → Sleep at Hwy 24 Dispersed Day 31 · Google Maps ↗ Elephant Canyon & Chesler Park → Sleep at Hwy 24 Dispersed Day 32 · Google Maps ↗ Needles Overlook → Sleep at Hwy 24 Dispersed Day 33 · Google Maps ↗ Chimney Rock Loop Trail → Sleep at Hwy 24 Dispersed Day 34 · Google Maps ↗ Navajo Knobs & Rim Overlook → Sleep at Hwy 24 Dispersed Day 35 · Google Maps ↗ Camp and logistics route → Sleep at Hwy 24 Dispersed

Days 36–40

Escalante to Zion

Starts at Capitol Reef

Calf Creek, Bryce, and Zion on separate days, ending at the west-side camp.

Drive: 3h 00m
Hike: 5h 00m
Logistics: 0h 42m
Planned: 8h 42m
Shortest day: 9h 30m
Daylight reserve: 0h 48m

Sleep · Coal Pits Wash Dispersed ↓

Perches · Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail · Fairyland Loop Trail · Canyon Overlook Trail · Zion National Park

Day 36 · Google Maps ↗ Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail → Sleep at Coal Pits Wash Dispersed Day 37 · Google Maps ↗ Fairyland Loop Trail → Sleep at Coal Pits Wash Dispersed Day 38 · Google Maps ↗ Canyon Overlook Trail → Sleep at Coal Pits Wash Dispersed Day 39 · Google Maps ↗ Zion National Park → Sleep at Coal Pits Wash Dispersed Day 40 · Google Maps ↗ Camp and logistics route → Sleep at Coal Pits Wash Dispersed

Days 41–45

Nevada, Death Valley, and coast return

Starts at West Zion

Las Vegas and Death Valley lead to Alabama Hills before the final coastal return.

Drive: 5h 30m
Hike: 2h 00m
Logistics: 0h 48m
Planned: 8h 18m
Shortest day: 9h 42m
Daylight reserve: 1h 24m

Sleep · Alabama Hills - Movie Road ↓

Perches · Wheeler Pass Road North · Devil's Golf Course · Artist's Palette · Ubehebe Crater · Dantes View Road · Alabama Hills

Day 41 · Google Maps ↗ Wheeler Pass Road North · Devil's Golf Course → Sleep at Alabama Hills - Movie Road Day 42 · Google Maps ↗ Artist's Palette → Sleep at Alabama Hills - Movie Road Day 43 · Google Maps ↗ Ubehebe Crater → Sleep at Alabama Hills - Movie Road Day 44 · Google Maps ↗ Dantes View Road → Sleep at Alabama Hills - Movie Road Day 45 · Google Maps ↗ Alabama Hills → Sleep at Alabama Hills - Movie Road

Photographs behind the route

The perches.

Every map perch still opens the photographs, factual blurb, and GPS pin that inspired the route. The sequence follows the Flyway direction; the day plan above determines what is realistic before dark.

Stop 1 · Ventura County · 2 photos
Point Mugu
2 photographs from this location, made Nov 4, 2022.
34.086000, -119.060000Open mapped area ↗
Stop 2 · Mendocino County · 9 photos
Mendocino Headlands Bluff Trail
9 photographs from this location, made Jul 10, 2022.
39.310441, -123.809450Find a current trail guide ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 3 · Humboldt County · 7 photos
California Coastal Trail
7 photographs from this location, made Jul 10, 2022.
41.165200, -124.132328Find a current trail guide ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 4 · Humboldt County · 3 photos
Tall Trees Loop Trail
3 photographs from this location, made Jul 11, 2022.
41.207968, -124.012639NPS Redwood trails ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 5 · Curry County · 16 photos
Samuel H. Boardman Coast Trail
16 photographs from this location, made Jul 13, 2022.
42.195467, -124.371013Find a current trail guide ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 6 · Lincoln County · 12 photos
Cape Perpetua & Thor's Well
12 photographs from this location, made Jul 15, 2022–Jul 16, 2022.
44.278374, -124.113418Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 7 · Clallam County · 1 photo
Second Beach Trail
1 photograph from this location, made Jul 20, 2022.
47.891640, -124.631271NPS Olympic coast ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 8 · Skagit County · 15 photos
Hidden Lake Trail
15 photographs from this location, made Jul 24, 2022.
48.500543, -121.197512NPS North Cascades ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 9 · Skagit County · 2 photos
Wing Lake Trail
2 photographs from this location, made Jul 25, 2022.
48.514257, -120.782444Find a current trail guide ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 10 · Valley County · 1 photo
Vulcan Hot Springs
1 photograph from this location, made Sep 7, 2023.
44.567127, -115.695491Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 11 · Larimer County · 1 photo
Glacier Gorge Trail
1 photograph from this location, made Aug 8, 2023.
40.303593, -105.638005Find a current trail guide ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 12 · Clear Creek County · 1 photo
Grays Peak Trail
1 photograph from this location, made Aug 3, 2022.
39.633497, -105.816991Find a current trail guide ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 13 · Denver · 1 photo
Denver
1 photograph from this location, made Mar 28, 2022.
39.739200, -104.990300Open mapped area ↗
Stop 14 · El Paso County · 6 photos
Pikes Peak
6 photographs from this location, made Aug 24, 2023–Aug 12, 2026.
38.840900, -105.042300Open mapped area ↗
Stop 15 · Alamosa County · 10 photos
Great Sand Dunes
The national park's 30-square-mile dunefield has no designated trails; visitors choose their own route across the sand.
37.748778, -105.531440National Park Service ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 16 · Montrose County · 14 photos
Gunnison Route
14 photographs from this location, made Sep 8, 2022.
38.561489, -107.689774Find a current trail guide ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 17 · Grand County · 16 photos
Funnel Arch Trail
16 photographs from this location, made Apr 13, 2022–Sep 11, 2022.
38.521729, -109.599994Find a current trail guide ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 18 · San Juan County · 1 photo
Needles Overlook
A developed BLM overlook reached by the Needles Overlook Scenic Backway in Canyon Rims Recreation Area.
38.259417, -109.696402BLM Canyon Rims ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 19 · San Juan County · 36 photos
Elephant Canyon & Chesler Park
36 photographs from this location, made Sep 15, 2022–Oct 6, 2023.
38.115643, -109.836758NPS Canyonlands hiking ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 20 · San Juan County · 17 photos
Grand View Point Trail
17 photographs from this location, made Sep 12, 2022.
38.305051, -109.866958NPS Canyonlands hiking ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 21 · Wayne County · 11 photos
Navajo Knobs & Rim Overlook
11 photographs from this location, made Sep 18, 2022.
38.295693, -111.252286NPS Capitol Reef trails ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 22 · Wayne County · 20 photos
Chimney Rock Loop Trail
Capitol Reef lists Chimney Rock as a strenuous 3.6-mile loop with 590 feet of elevation change.
38.316954, -111.289757NPS trail guide ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 23 · Garfield County · 2 photos
Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail
A developed BLM trail covering six miles round trip to a 126-foot waterfall; sandy sections can make the hike more difficult.
37.829147, -111.419561BLM trail information ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 24 · Garfield County · 15 photos
Fairyland Loop Trail
A 7.8-mile Bryce Canyon loop with 1,900 feet of ascent, starting at Fairyland Point or near Sunrise Point.
37.632963, -112.145147NPS Fairyland Loop ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 25 · Washington County · 6 photos
Canyon Overlook Trail
6 photographs from this location, made Jun 8, 2022.
37.219094, -112.946300NPS Zion hiking ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 26 · Washington County · 14 photos
Zion National Park
14 photographs from this location, made Sep 24, 2022–Jun 5, 2026.
37.200000, -112.987000NPS Zion hiking ↗Open mapped area ↗
Stop 27 · Nye County · 1 photo
Wheeler Pass Road North
1 photograph from this location, made Feb 18, 2026.
36.212576, -115.949474Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 28 · Inyo County · 1 photo
Dantes View Road
1 photograph from this location, made Feb 22, 2026.
36.220954, -116.726684NPS Death Valley ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 29 · Inyo County · 10 photos
Devil's Golf Course
10 photographs from this location, made Feb 19, 2026.
36.285715, -116.825801NPS Death Valley ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 30 · Inyo County · 1 photo
Artist's Palette
A paved pullout on Death Valley's one-way, nine-mile Artists Drive; vehicles longer than 25 feet are prohibited.
36.363533, -116.802566NPS Artists Palette ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 31 · Inyo County · 1 photo
Ubehebe Crater
A Death Valley scenic stop and trailhead at a volcanic crater roughly half a mile wide and more than 500 feet deep.
37.010077, -117.450540NPS Ubehebe Crater ↗Open GPS pin ↗
Stop 32 · Inyo County · 7 photos
Alabama Hills
7 photographs from this location, made Feb 22, 2026.
36.613761, -118.124294Open GPS pin ↗

Sleep along the route

RoostAtlas planning records.

These are planning leads, not reservations or access guarantees. Repeated use in the itinerary is intentional. Verify the current source before relying on any site.

developed · Northern California

Mendocino County Fair RV Park

Boonville, CA · 39.003826, -123.364263

A RoostAtlas lead for the Pacific opening leg.

Agency: County government
Original information year: 2022
Fee: Tents: $15/RVs: $30
Vehicle access: Passenger vehicle
Tent camping: Yes
RV camping: Yes
Elevation: 416 ft
Total sites: 20
RV sites: 11
Electric sites: 11
Water: Yes
Toilets: flush
Showers: Yes
Reservations: Yes
Stay limit: 14 days
Telephone: 760-861-4046

Water
RV dump
Flush toilet
Showers
Full hookups
Electricity

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developed · Central Oregon coast

Harbor Vista CP

Florence, OR · 44.015514, -124.124934

A RoostAtlas lead near the Cape Perpetua leg.

Agency: County government
Original information year: 2022
Fee: Tents: $35/RVs: $35-40
Vehicle access: Passenger vehicle
Tent camping: Yes
RV camping: Yes
Elevation: 79 ft
Total sites: 38
RV sites: 38
Electric sites: 38
Full-hookup sites: 18
Water: Yes
Toilets: flush
Showers: Yes
Reservations: Yes
Open season: all year
Telephone: 541- 997-5987

Water
RV dump
Flush toilet
Showers
Full hookups
Electricity

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developed · Olympic Peninsula

Salt Creek County RA-Area A

Port Angeles, WA · 48.166021, -123.704345

A RoostAtlas lead for the Olympic coast leg.

Agency: County government
Original information year: 2022
Fee: Tents: $28/RVs: $26
Vehicle access: Passenger vehicle
Tent camping: Yes
RV camping: Yes
Elevation: 146 ft
Total sites: 41
RV sites: 41
Water: Yes
Toilets: flush
Showers: Yes
Reservations: Yes
Open season: all year
Telephone: 360-928-3441

Water
RV dump
Flush toilet
Showers

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developed · North Cascades

Howard Miller Steelhead CP

Rockport, WA · 48.484435, -121.598145

A RoostAtlas lead near the North Cascades transition.

Agency: County government
Info last updated: 2026
Fee: Tents: $16/RVs: $30
Vehicle access: Passenger vehicle
Tent camping: Yes
RV camping: Yes
Elevation: 272 ft
Original information year: 2022
Total sites: 60
RV sites: 50
Electric sites: 50
Water: Yes
Toilets: flush
Showers: Yes
Reservations: Yes
Stay limit: 14 days
Open season: all year
Generator hours: 0800-2200
Telephone: 360-853-8808

Water
RV dump
Flush toilet
Showers
Electricity

RoostAtlas notes

Generator hours: 0800-2200

Multisource verified

OpenStreetMap public data corroborates this site's identity, location, and camping type.

Independently supported: location, site identity, camping type. Other details remain attributed to the source publication.

OpenStreetMap — Howard Miller Steelhead Park — OpenStreetMap (checked 2026-08-11)

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developed · Central Idaho

Tyndall Creek

Cascade, ID · 44.573818, -115.683162

A RoostAtlas lead near the Idaho stop.

Agency: U.S. Forest Service
Original information year: 2022
Fee: Tent & RV camping: Free
Vehicle access: Passenger vehicle
Elevation: 5402 ft
Water: No
Toilets: vault/pit
Reservations: No

Vault/pit toilet

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developed · Denver

Bear Creek Lake CP

Lakewood, CO · 39.643294, -105.159844

A RoostAtlas lead for the Front Range segment.

Agency: County government
Original information year: 2022
Fee: Tent & RV camping: $35
Vehicle access: Passenger vehicle
Tent camping: Yes
RV camping: Yes
Elevation: 5682 ft
Total sites: 47
RV sites: 47
Electric sites: 47
Water: Yes
Toilets: flush
Showers: Yes
Reservations: Yes
Open season: Apr-Oct
Telephone: 303-697-6159

Water
RV dump
Flush toilet
Showers
Group sites
Electricity

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developed · Great Sand Dunes

Great Sand Dunes NP-Medano Pass Road Sites 1-8

Mosca, CO · 37.803291, -105.495851

A RoostAtlas lead near the dune segment; verify road access and current park rules.

Agency: National Park Service
Original information year: 2022
Fee: Tent & RV camping: Free
Vehicle access: 4x4
Tent camping: Yes
RV camping: Yes
Elevation: 8575 ft
Total sites: 8
RV sites: 8
Water: No
Toilets: No
Reservations: No
Telephone: 719-378-6395

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dispersed · Moab

Long Canyon Dispersed

Moab, UT · 38.541811, -109.707506

Site type uncertain. OCR readings disagree; this classification may be inaccurate.

A RoostAtlas lead at the start of the Utah diagonal.

Agency: Bureau of Land Management
Original information year: 2023
Fee: Free
Vehicle access: Passenger vehicle
Tent camping: Yes
RV camping: Yes
Elevation: 5870 ft
Water: No
Toilets: No
Reservations: No

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dispersed · Capitol Reef

Hwy 24 Dispersed

Torrey, UT · 38.326759, -111.364144

A repeatable base for the Capitol Reef block.

Agency: U.S. Forest Service
Original information year: 2022
Fee: Tent & RV camping: Free
Vehicle access: Passenger vehicle
Elevation: 6503 ft
Water: No
Toilets: vault/pit

Vault/pit toilet

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dispersed · Escalante and Bryce

Grand Staircase Escalante NM - Henrieville Creek

Henrieville, UT · 37.617086, -111.896804

A RoostAtlas lead for the central Utah diagonal.

Agency: Bureau of Land Management
Original information year: 2023
Fee: Free
Vehicle access: Passenger vehicle
Tent camping: Yes
RV camping: Yes
Elevation: 6665 ft
Water: No
Toilets: No
Telephone: 435-644-1200

RoostAtlas notes

Permit required

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dispersed · Rockville

Coal Pits Wash Dispersed

Rockville, UT · 37.170951, -113.081676

A RoostAtlas lead near the Zion-to-Nevada transition.

Agency: Bureau of Land Management
Original information year: 2023
Fee: Free
Vehicle access: Passenger vehicle
Tent camping: Yes
RV camping: No
Elevation: 3677 ft
Water: No
Toilets: No

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dispersed · Death Valley

Death Valley NP-Lee Flat

CA · 36.487404, -117.641800

A RoostAtlas lead on the return toward the eastern Sierra.

Agency: National Park Service
Original information year: 2022
Fee: Tent & RV camping: Free
Vehicle access: Passenger vehicle
Tent camping: Yes
RV camping: Yes
Elevation: 5372 ft
Water: No
Toilets: vault/pit
Reservations: No
Stay limit: 30 days
Open season: all year
Telephone: 760-786-3200

Vault/pit toilet

RoostAtlas notes

Generator 40

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dispersed · Lone Pine

Alabama Hills - Movie Road

Lone Pine, CA · 36.604938, -118.122129

A RoostAtlas lead before returning to the coast.

Agency: Bureau of Land Management
Original information year: 2023
Fee: Free
Vehicle access: Passenger vehicle
Tent camping: Yes
RV camping: Yes
Elevation: 4613 ft
Water: No
Toilets: No
Telephone: 760-872-5000

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