INTRO
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Cycling White Mountain
#41 US
18.1 miles gaining 5,115’ at 5.1% average grade.
The first of two segments of this climb begins at Highway 168 adjacent to “The Elephant” which is an appropriately named hill formation that is in the middle of the photo above (trunk extending to the road and the head to the left). Segment 1 is 8.1 miles gaining 2,110’ at 4.9% average grade. This climb overlaps Westgard Pass - they share the same start and Westgard Pass is just a quarter mile from the turn off from Hwy 168 to White Mountain Road.
Start
A mile from the start on a VERY straight road!
The first part of this bike climb are through a canyon on Hwy 168.
The second segment of the climb begins at White Mountain Road (9.5 miles, 3,029', at 6.2%).
Turn off Highway 168 at mile 8.2
No charge for entering on a bike.
Aerial drone view from Serra View Overlook at mile 16.
View of Eastern Sierras across Owens Valley (Bishop center left)
Last 2 miles of the climb.
Serra View Overlook center right; Schulman Grove center left (cannot be seen from this photo)
The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest on White Mountain Road --
home to the oldest trees in the world, bristlecone pines.
National Park Service - Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
The second highest paved road in California at 10,119’ (114’ lower than Rock Creek).
End of the line . . .
. . . unless you brought your mountain bike! White Mountain Peak.
The climb ends about 0.3 miles south of the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center, home to the world's oldest living tree, and there are some breathtaking views of the Eastern Sierras to the west as you near the summit. The lower portion of the climb is arid and desert-like, as you would expect for a ride that begins at Death Valley Road, but it gives way to a more high sierra alpine setting as you climb into the Inyo National Forest.