Mobius Arch Loop
Cappie’s Scoop: This is a great stop to stretch your paws. I always jump out of the car and get ready to hike the loop trail. I get so excited because I know there are lots of boulders to climb on and that’s my favorite part. There are two arches on the trail, a big hooman sized arch and a doggy sized arch. They are near each other so keep your eyes open for both of them. Don’t hesitate to add YOUR scoop in the comments below!
Tips: In addition to visiting this cool arch with a spectacular view of Mount Whitney under it (go before the sun starts to set so it doesn’t obstruct your view), this is an incredible area to visit! Alabama Hills is under the BLM and you can camp for free and there are some really cool spots to camp around all the boulders. Also Mount Whitney portal/trailhead is nearby and it’s a gorgeous area to hike. Just remember if you want to hike to the peak (highest point in the lower 48 at 14,505 ft) you will need a permit and be in great hiking condition. Alabama Hills has been a filming location for a bunch of movies, mostly westerns. It’s worth the stop!
Directions: Take Hwy 395 to Lone Pine. Turn west (at the stop light) onto Whitney Portal Road, drive 2.5 miles to Movie Road, turn right. After 1.5 miles you will come to a “Y” in the road. Go right and pull into the dirt parking area immediately on your left. You will see markers on both on the left and right sides of this parking area. You can begin your arch walk at either trail head.
| Mileage (round trip) | 0.6 |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Gain (in feet) | 42 |
| Trailhead | 36.611318, -118.125030 |
| Hike Time (in hours) | 1 |
| Exposure | Sunny |
| Scenery | Mountain Views, Boulders |
| Facilities | Port-a-potty near the trailhead. |
| Fees/Permits | As of 10/1/21, a 3-year management plan took effect and includes making the west side of Movie Road “day use only.” Expect to see “no camping.” Eventually dispersed camping will be limited to certain areas. Visit the BLM site for a map. A permit will be required for those spots but it’s an “information permit only.” It will not be a permit that gives you a reservation. The permit will be similar to the free California Campfire Permit, watch a video with a short quiz, with the end goal being “to learn about how to ‘Leave No Trace’ and camp in Alabama Hills.” BLM is not sure when the system will start. |
| More Info | https://sierranevadageotourism.org/entries/alabama-hills-natural-arch/cb733c1a-5660-41ab-a574-4b93a55d9e37; https://www.blm.gov/visit/alabama-hills |
| Last Hiked | 4/1/2021, 5/6/2022, 2/17/2023 |
