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Lone Pine - South
Owens River just south of Lone Pine, accessed from HWY 136
(Keeler/Darwin/Death Valley Rd just east of Lone Pine).
To reach this area of the Owens:
From Lone Pine, head east on Hwy 136 (turn off is at Hwy 395 and the
Inter-Agency Visitor Center). Roughly 2 miles along, you will pass over
the bridge that goes over the Owens River. Continue about a minute
further, when you see Dolomite Loop Road (paved, and on your left), look
immediately to the right and there is a dirt road opposite Dolomite Loop Road.
Turn south on dirt road.
Distance from turnoff at HWY 136 to put-in site is about 0.9 to 1 mile
(depending on your vehicle's odometer accuracy). Slight current, best to
head upstream (north) to begin paddle. A shuttle car is not needed, this
is a gentle Class 1 run. Great views of Mt. Whitney and the Eastern
Sierra!
Visit our shop in Lone Pine for a free map for the lower Owens south of
Lone Pine!
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Lower Owens Paddle on 18 July 2009
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Lower Owens Paddle on 4 January 2009
This is the area just south of Lone Pine south of the Highway
to Death Valley. It was cold. Ice on some quieter areas where the current is
negligible. Winter features dead Tule reeds, but since those reeds are "down"
for winter, great views of the Sierra with snow.
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Looking west. Lone Pine Peak and Mt. Whitney are in clear view.
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Yes, that is ice along the surface of the river, off from the primary flow.
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Lower Owens - photos for the gallery below taken May 10, 2008 and show
what is truly the lower Owens as it heads south from the Hwy 136 bridge (i.e.
the Lone Pine to Death Valley Road), to the pump station that represents the end
of the river before it is diverted back to the LA Aqueduct. While we did not
kayak this portion of the river on this trip, it appears passable, at least for
smaller craft.
To reach the northern area of this run, head east from Lone Pine on Hwy 136.
Go past the bridge over to Owens, and start looking for Dolomite Loop Road on
the left (roughly 2.5 miles from the turn at Hwy 395). Opposite Dolomite Loop
Road, on south side of highway, there is a dirt road - that road will take you
to the put-in shown below. Note there is very little current along this stretch
of the river, so you can paddle both upstream and downstream from the put-in,
you do not need a shuttle.
The dirt road continues towards the pump station. You can access Hwy 395
through a wide dirt road just to the south of the pump station - it leads you to
the Boulder Creek RV Park. There are cattle guards on the roads, but no gates
to open and close.
UPDATE TO THESE PHOTOS WRITTEN JULY 2009 - As I compare
the photos below to the more current ones above, it is striking the changes that
have occurred in such a sort time. Things are now MUCH greener, the river
flows better, etc.
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Looking downstream, with Sierra on right. |
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Looking upstream, northwesterly, with Sierra on left. |
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Sierra in background looking upstream. |
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A suitable put in location. Road access up to water. |
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Another look at potential put in location. |
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Dirt road runs alongside the river a fair ways. |
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End of the Owens River, looking north. |
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End of the Owens River, looking south at the pump-out station. For lack of a better word, one might call this a "forebay" of Owens Lake. |
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