Methuselah Road — White Mountains Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Loop
Oldest trees on Earth. Bring your humility.
The White Mountains don’t mess around. You leave Bishop on Highway 168, climb the steep switchbacks of White Mountain Road, and by the time you’re threading through the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest at Schulman Grove, you’re above 10,000 feet and looking across at the Sierra Nevada like you own something. The road itself is a well-maintained gravel and dirt corridor managed by Inyo National Forest — but the altitude, the exposure, and the brutal afternoon thunderstorms in summer will remind you this isn’t a highway. The Methuselah Trail sits right off this route, home to the 4,789-year-old Methuselah tree, exact location kept secret to protect it.
This is a high-clearance route but not a rock-crawler. A stock 4WD truck or capable AWD SUV with decent clearance handles it fine in dry conditions. Snow closes the upper reaches well into June and can return by October, so your window is tight — late June through September is your sweet spot. No fuel above Bishop; fill up before you climb. Water is scarce up top. Dispersed camping is available in the Ancient Bristlecone area. Bring layers — it’s cold up here even in August. The Owens Valley views and the sheer age of what’s growing around you make this one of the more quietly mind-blowing drives in all of California.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 24 mi / 38.6 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 11400 ft |
| Best season | Late June–September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance recommended |
| Nearest town | Bishop, CA |
| Land manager | Inyo National Forest — Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | fs.usda.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Log in to post a condition report.
Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle Methuselah Road, or do I need a lifted rig?
A stock Tacoma, 4Runner, or similar high-clearance truck handles this fine under normal conditions. The surface is graded dirt and gravel — no rock crawling, just a few rougher washboarded sections. A lifted rig buys you comfort, not necessity.
When does the road actually open after winter, and is snow a real concern?
The upper portions typically open late June, sometimes July if it was a heavy snow year — call the White Mountain Ranger District in Bishop before you go. Snow can linger at 11,000 feet well into early summer, and afternoon thunderstorms are common July through August.
Do I need a permit to drive or camp up here?
No permit required to drive the loop. Dispersed camping is allowed within Inyo National Forest boundaries — stay 200 feet from water sources and previously established sites. The Schulman Grove day-use area has a small fee if you park there.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The stretch above 10,000 feet on the north side has the roughest washboarding and a few exposed shelf-road segments with minimal guardrails and steep drop-offs. Nothing technically demanding, but narrow lanes and altitude-induced slow going mean it feels more serious than the difficulty rating suggests — take it at 15 mph and stay right.
How far is the nearest gas from the trailhead, and is there any water on the route?
Bishop is your last fuel stop — roughly 25 miles from the Schulman Grove entrance on White Mountain Road. There is no reliable water on the loop itself, so carry everything you need; at 11,000 feet you'll burn through it faster than you think.
Trail track
No GPX track for this trail yet. If you've driven it and have a track, contribute below.
Log in to contribute a GPX track.