US-395 N · EASTERN SIERRA · LAKE TAHOE LOOP
Polished volcanic-basalt gorge, "Mars" terrain. ~1 mi dirt access (GS-ok), ~10-min walk. Best early light; brutal midday. Stop 20 min.
| Depart | 05:00 Eastvale |
| Arrive | 07:28 Fossil Falls |
| Leg dist | 160 mi |
| Cml | 160 mi |
| Tank used | ~160 mi on tank |
| Fuel here | NO — next Lone Pine |
| Stop | 20 min |
| Terrain | 700→3,300 ft · Cajon 4,190 |
| Surface | slab → ~1 mi dirt |
| Hazard | heat · spotty cell |
Arch frames Mt Whitney — #1 shot of US-395. ~20-min loop; budget 40 min. Fill tank in Lone Pine first (no services on Movie Rd).
| Depart | 07:48 Fossil Falls |
| Arrive | 08:30 Lone Pine |
| Leg dist | 45 mi |
| Cml | 205 mi |
| Tank used | 205 mi (tightest) |
| Fuel here | FILL — Lone Pine |
| Stop | 40 min |
| Terrain | 3,300→4,500 ft |
| Surface | slab → graded gravel |
| Hazard | tricky turns · dust |
Owens Valley supply hub, but this McD is slow & poorly-rated (frequent wrong orders) → grab coffee/snack only. Optional fuel top-off.
| Depart | 09:10 Lone Pine |
| Arrive | 10:05 Bishop |
| Leg dist | 60 mi |
| Cml | 265 mi |
| Tank used | just filled L.P. |
| Fuel here | optional top-off |
| Stop | 20 min |
| Terrain | 3,700→4,150 ft flat |
| Surface | paved highway |
| Hazard | town speed traps |
Paved roadside overlook — whole lake + tufa + Sierra in one frame. True 15-min stop (no detour into South Tufa). Lee Vining fuel pricey — skip.
| Depart | 10:25 Bishop |
| Arrive | 11:16 Mono Lake |
| Leg dist | 55 mi |
| Cml | 320 mi |
| Tank used | 115 mi since L.P. |
| Fuel here | NO (Lee Vining pricey) |
| Stop | 15 min |
| Terrain | 4,150→Sherwin 7,000→6,400 |
| Surface | paved · big climb |
| Hazard | cold up top · cell gaps |
Priciest gas on the route ($5–6/gal) — splash only enough to reach Carson (~90 mi), fill cheap in NV. Grab something hot. (Also Valero, 377 Main St.)
| Depart | 11:31 Mono Lake |
| Arrive | 12:17 Bridgeport |
| Leg dist | 50 mi |
| Cml | 370 mi |
| Tank used | 165 mi since L.P. |
| Fuel here | SPLASH — to Carson |
| Stop | 10 min |
| Terrain | 6,400→Conway 8,138→6,460 |
| Surface | paved · summit grade |
| Hazard | cell dead-zone · grade |
Arrive over Kingsbury Grade · the rider's "eat in Tahoe" main meal. Eat efficiently — loop starts ~16:00 to land the east-shore sunset. Top-off gas optional before the loop.
| Depart | ≈12:27 Bridgeport |
| Arrive | ≈15:00 South Lake |
| Leg dist | ≈118 mi |
| Cml | ≈488 mi |
| Tank used | fill Gardnerville |
| Fuel here | FUEL 3 — cheap NV |
| Stop | meal + fuel |
| Terrain | 6,460→Daggett→6,230 |
| Surface | paved · Kingsbury twisties |
| Hazard | grade · basin traffic |
| # | POI | Light | Lens (native → eq) | Drone | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tallac / Kiva Beach1 Heritage Way, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 | late aft | 12–25 → 24–50 | NO | cabins + Mt Tallac; first stop on CA-89 |
| 2 | Emerald BayInspiration Point overlook, CA-89 | aft / golden | 12 → 24 · 50–100 → 100–200 | NO | Fannette Is. + Vikingsholm; CPL essential |
| 3 | Eagle FallsEagle Falls Trailhead, CA-89 | afternoon | 25–50 → 50–100 | NO | falls; Live ND slow shutter 0.25–2 s |
| 4 | D.L. Bliss / Rubicon9881 CA-89, South Lake Tahoe | afternoon | 12–35 → 24–70 | NO | clearest water; Balancing Rock ~35mm; fills early |
| 5 | Sugar Pine Pt7360 W Lake Blvd, Tahoma | afternoon | 12–18 → 24–36 | NO | pier leading line; less crowded |
| 6 | Tahoe City400 N Lake Blvd, Tahoe City | evening | grab shots | N/A | food; turn E onto CA-28 for north shore |
| 7 | Kings BeachKings Beach SRA, CA-28 | evening | 12–18 → 24–36 | N/A | quick; E ▸ Crystal Bay ▸ NV-28 S |
| 8 | Memorial PtNV-28, Incline Village (NV SP) | golden | 12–35 → 24–70 | NO | free 24h; reliable if Sand Harbor full |
| 9 | Sand Harbor2005 NV-28, Incline Village | sunset win | 12–20 → 24–40 · 40–100 → 80–200 | NO | iconic boulders; reservation/fills |
| 10 | Bonsai RockNV-28 pullout, Sand Harbor area | SUNSET ~20:25 | 12–25 → 24–50 · 70–100 → 140–200 | NO | bonsai-on-boulder; bracket HDR, f/8 sun-star |
| 11 | Chimney BeachChimney Beach Trailhead, NV-28 | sunset/dusk | 12–35 → 24–70 | NO | optional; ~0.6 mi hike — only if time/energy |
End of Day 1. Over Spooner Summit on US-50 E, descend to Carson, then to the Airbnb. Drop bags and rest — Day 2 closes the SE shore to Monterey.
| Depart | ~21:00 Spooner |
| Arrive | ~21:30 Carson |
| Leg dist | ≈12 mi |
| Cml | ≈540 mi day |
| Tank used | ample · short hop |
| Fuel here | Carson — Day 2 prep |
| Stop | arrive · rest |
| Terrain | 6,230→Spooner→4,700 |
| Surface | paved · summit descent |
| Hazard | dark · deer · fatigue |
| Time | Mi | Waypoint | Action | Seg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05:00 | 0 | Eastvale | Depart · full tank · I-15 → 395 | — |
| 07:28 | 160 | Fossil Falls | Photo · drone GO | 01 |
| 08:30 | 205 | Alabama Hills | Fuel 1 + Photo: Mobius (permit) | 02 |
| 10:05 | 265 | Bishop | Snack / coffee | 03 |
| 11:16 | 320 | Mono Lake Vista | Photo · NO drone | 04 |
| 12:17 | 370 | Bridgeport | Fuel 2 — splash (pricey) | 05 |
| ~13:40 | ~440 | Gardnerville | Fuel 3 — fill cheap NV + bite | 06 |
| ~15:00 | ~488 | South Lake Tahoe | Arrive via Kingsbury · main meal | 06 |
| ~16:00 | ~490 | Loop start (Tallac) | Begin clockwise loop | 07 |
| ~16:40 | ~495 | Emerald Bay ★ | Photo · afternoon / golden | 07 |
| ~18:30 | ~505 | D.L. Bliss ★ | Photo · turquoise water | 07 |
| ~20:20 | ~525 | Bonsai Rock ★ | Photo · SUNSET ~20:25 | 07 |
| ~21:30 | ~540 | Carson Airbnb | Spooner → US-50 E → rest | 08 |
| Plan | Mi | Location | Odo | Gal | $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start full | 0 | Eastvale | ______ | ______ | ______ |
| Fuel 1 fill | 205 | Lone Pine | ______ | ______ | ______ |
| Fuel 2 splash | 370 | Bridgeport (pricey) | ______ | ______ | ______ |
| Fuel 3 fill | ≈440 | Gardnerville (cheap NV) | ______ | ______ | ______ |
| Top-off opt | ≈488 | South Lake (pre-loop) | ______ | ______ | ______ |
| Spot | Status | Authority | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fossil Falls | ✓GO | BLM Ridgecrest | FAA Part 107/rec · 100 m from wildlife · check TFR |
| Alabama Hills | ⚠PERMIT | BLM Nat'l Scenic Area | permit applied for in advance (BLM Bishop) |
| Mono Lake | ✗NO | CA State Reserve | 200 m no-disturbance · bird habitat |
| Tahoe shoreline (loop) | ✗NO | CA/NV State Parks | Emerald Bay / Bliss / Sand Harbor / Bonsai — ground photo only |
| Bishop / Bridgeport / Carson | —N/A | town + airports | don't fly in town; ride to open BLM/USFS (avoid wilderness) |