Exploring the Town of Lone Pine
One of many views in Lone Pine
While there is no shortage of dog-friendly towns in California, Lone Pine is…a bit less so. But what there is for you to enjoy together is pretty dang great.
Getting Grub with Your Dog
Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of nearby dog-friendly Lone Pine trails, some hotels and motels, campgrounds, and even a dedicated dog park in town, but for dining—you aren’t going to find a lot of options beyond takeout. We usually book a vacation rental on our travels so we can have the extra space and an easy way to take our dog out as needed (and even though I LOVE the outdoors, I am not a camper). So, we don’t mind grabbing things to go and taking them back to the rental. But if you’re staying in a hotel/motel/camp, you should at least be aware and plan accordingly, as it’s a small town with limited food choices.
You can’t really come to Lone Pine and not hear someone, or several someones, tell you to eat at the Alabama Hills Cafe. It’s one of the best-reviewed places in town to eat, though YMMV, and it has surprisingly good bread for sale from the bakery. Seriously, getting a loaf of bread here is a worthy reason to stop. However, don’t be fooled by the outdoor seating, the café does not allow dogs. Luckily, they do offer takeout, so you can hit them with plans to take your food with you for a picnic with your pup on the road.
Inside the Alabama Hills Cafe
A pic from one of our few visits sans dog.
There are a few other eateries in town that I’ve heard are dog-friendly and are on my list for future visits, but I haven’t yet had a chance to personally try them. As with any establishment, I’d check with them in advance just to make sure their policies haven’t changed.
The Grill - 446 S Main St Lone Pine, CA 93545
Merry Go Round - 212 S Main St Box 208 Lone Pine, CA 93545
Totem Cafe - 131 S Main St Lone Pine, CA 93545
And if you are looking to take a longer drive up the 395, which is always beautiful, Copper Top BBQ in Big Pine has tasty food and is incredibly welcoming to dogs. The last time we went, they even asked if they could give Archer some free tri-tip—he was thrilled! Just check their hours because they are closed on certain days.
Zoey’s Dog Park
As mentioned, there is a dog park in town with a dedicated side for both large dogs and small. On the day we went, Archer was the only one in the large dogs yard the entire time we were here. There are a few picnic tables along the back, near the treeline, but most of the park is without any shade.
View from the big dog side
Archer enjoyed having the park to himself.
It can be a little confusing regarding where the dog section is if you’re unfamiliar with the layout. The dog park is located in Spainhower Park, which has a tennis court in the center that separates the human park side from the dog park side. The parking lot is right off of the 395 in front of the tennis court, where you should park. You’ll see the dog park next to it on the northern side of the park.
Quirky Stop in Lone Pine
Oddly enough, one of the few businesses you can take your dog inside is The Museum of Western Film History right on Main Street. Highly recommend checking it out as many films and TV shows have used Lone Pine and the Alabama Hills as a backdrop. From Gladiator to Tremors, you’ll discover a lot of recognizable titles and props. Why are they dog-friendly? No clue, but as long as your pup is on a leash, they’re welcome to tour the place with you.
Tremors at the Museum
Don’t miss the Graboids!
For years, we thought of Lone Pine as a good stopping point on our way up to Mammoth or Tahoe (more on those and the 395 in future posts). Only recently did we start making it a destination spot for exploring what the area has to offer. We already have return trips booked for 2024!
The town itself is a throwback to the old West, which you’ll definitely notice as you drive through. Even the McDonald’s sports a Western motif. I didn’t time it, but I can’t imagine it takes more than a few minutes to pass through. Did I mention it’s small?
View of the Sierras in summer from behind the Museum of Western Film History on the 395
Hiking and Scenery in the Alabama Hills
The surrounding areas around town are the places to do your outdoor exploring. I’m keeping this post to what is closest to town, mostly because we haven’t had a chance to go deeper into the Sierras from here. There are so many trail options that I’d probably need multiple posts to cover them all properly, and I do hope to add them in the future.
The Alabama Hills are dog-friendly for exploring with your pup. Keeping with the movie theme, a great drive with lots of dog-friendly stops is the Alabama Hills Movie Road. Grab a self-guided tour map for some movie history, refer to your GPS-powered map of choice to keep from getting lost, hold on to this detailed brochure with trail map and guide, and keep your eyes open for places to pull off and hike.
One of the trail views from the Alabama Hills Movie Road
Some of the most famous sights in the area are Nightmare Rock (visible from Whitney Portal Road), Shark Fin, and Mobius Arch, but the entire drive is scenic with multiple trailheads and places to park. Whitney Portal Road takes you right to Movie Road/Movie Flat Road. When we went, part of Whitney Portal Road was closed due to storm damage, so we had to take a longer way around.
The rocks can be a bit challenging to navigate, so I strongly recommend having a trail map and compass with you depending on how far from the road you plan to go. Looks can be deceiving, and a few times, we had to stop to reorient ourselves when we got deep into the rocks. I’d also recommend bringing more water than you think you need, even if it’s not a hot day. And if it is hot, remember to check the temps on the trails themselves so your dog isn’t at risk of burning their feet.
