Puite Pass Road — White Mountains to Benton Hot Springs via Volcanic Tablelands
White Mountains solitude, hot springs finish.
Most people drive past the White Mountains on US-395 without ever turning east. That’s their loss. Puite Pass Road climbs out of the Owens Valley floor near Rovana, gaining serious elevation through sagebrush benches and juniper woodland before cresting into open volcanic tableland above 7,000 feet. The track skirts the edge of the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest buffer zone and drops toward Benton Hot Springs on a loose-gravel shelf road with long exposure on the east face — the kind of road where you don’t want to meet a rancher’s truck coming the other way around a blind corner.
This is high-clearance territory, not technical rock-crawling, but the road surface deteriorates fast after any weather and several wash crossings can get sloppy in spring runoff. A stock 4WD with all-terrain tires handles it fine in dry conditions. Best season is June through October — snow closes the upper reaches without warning in shoulder months. No permits required. Carry your own water; Benton has a small store but don’t count on it. The payoff is total solitude, wide-open basin-and-range skies, and a natural hot springs soak at the end of a long dusty day.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 38 mi / 61.2 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7400 ft |
| Best season | June-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4WD high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Bishop, California |
| Land manager | Bureau of Land Management — Bishop Field Office |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | blm.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle Puite Pass Road without modifications?
Yes — a stock 4WD high-clearance rig is the minimum and will get through under normal conditions. Lifted rigs have more margin on the rougher rocky sections near the pass, but factory clearance is workable if you pick your lines.
When does Puite Pass Road typically open after winter, and is snow a real concern?
The route is generally passable June through October. Snow can linger at elevation into late May and can return by November — the upper sections near 7,400 ft close first. Check with the BLM Bishop Field Office before any shoulder-season attempt.
Do I need a permit to drive or camp on this route?
No permit required. The route crosses BLM land managed by the Bishop Field Office, and dispersed camping is allowed under standard BLM rules — 14-day stay limit, 300 feet from water sources and roads, pack out everything.
What's the hardest section of the trail and what should I actually expect?
The climb toward Puite Pass is the crux — loose rock, shelf road exposure, and some embedded boulders that demand deliberate line choice. It's not technical rock crawling, but it's unforgiving if you're moving fast or have low clearance.
Is there any water available on route, and how far is the nearest gas from the trailhead?
There are seasonal water crossings on the route but treat anything you collect — don't count on it as a reliable source. Fuel up in Bishop before you leave; there's no gas between Bishop and Benton, and you're looking at roughly 60+ miles of remote driving with zero services.
Trail track
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