The White Mountains themselves are pretty spectacular as they are over 14,000 feet in elevation but are not as well-known as other mountain ranges of the same height in the United States. The trails are easy to moderate hiking and dogs are permitted when leashed. Bristlecone Pine and Limber Pine are protected, no collecting.
Bristlecone Pines (Pinus longaeva) is a long-living species of trees that can be found in the higher mountains in the southwest of the United States.

This page will guide you on when, where, and how to see the world’s oldest living things. The rangers and staff at the Schulman Grove Visitor Center present interpretive programs at 11am and 2pm in the summer. The ancient bristlecone pines have adapted to the soil alkalinity and have developed a low need for nutrients and moisture, and a high need for light. All three species are long-lived and highly resilient to harsh weather and bad soils. This tree would have been about 3,000 years old when the English language began to evolve.Many of the individual trees that live in this forest are over 4,000 years old. No bicycles on trails. It’s commonly ranked as one of the top 5 most difficult climbs in California. The trees and natural history are fascinating. Nothing like getting out in nature to clear your head and put things in perspective."

Your hike begins at Schulman’s Grove on the 4.5 mile Methuselah Trail loop. Follow the road for 13 miles then turn left onto White Mountain Rd. Lots of plaques with interesting information.This is a must do visit if you are in or going through the area. This steep, rugged road requires a low range, 4-wheel drive, high clearance vehicle with an experienced OHV driver at the wheel. Not many people will ever have the opportunity to visit them in person. Programs are presented on weekends during spring and fall, weather permitting.Spread a blanket in the forest or set up a picnic on the tables in the visitor center grounds.


Turn right to reach Schulman Grove, 3 miles south, or turn left to get to the Patriarch Grove, 10 miles the north.Motorcycles are another way great way to get up here. No camping or campfires in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. The white, rocky soil, for which the White Mountain range is named, is dolomite – a type of limestone with a very high alkalinity. It’s also accessible on a side-by-side or quad. One of the three species, Pinus longaeva, is among the longest-lived life forms on Earth. At this elevation, temperatures range from around 55 deg F in summer to 0 deg F in winter. The paved road option is well suited to sport, cruiser, and touring motorcycles. Notwithstanding that fact, the species is on the Better to visit with a car you are good to take on dirt roads.End of June. Traffic is light and the road surface is very good.For the equally adventurous, but more mechanized folk, the OHV drive up Silver Canyon Rd is another way to reach these ancient trees. The bristlecone chronologies raised questions relating to the widely respected field of radiocarbon dating (C-14) methods and have subsequently been used to recalibrate the C-14 process.This is the reason these trees are said to have rewritten history!From Bishop drive south on US Highway 395 for 15 miles and turn left onto State Route 168 East. It is amazing here -Stay in Bishop, grab pastries/sandwiches at Schat’s Bakery and then drive an hour on a deserted road in to the forest. No other non-clonal species has living individuals that have seen more time on this earth.This healthy and growing forest is located high in the White Mountains above Bishop. The mountains where these ancients live are rugged, steep, and largely inaccessible to humans. While closed to vehicles, this is a popular route for cross country skiers and snowshoes. 70 reviews of Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest "This is a beautiful park, I come here to relax and decompress.