On July 9-10, 2026, Steve Kochie is leading a field trip to the Bristlecone Pine Forest. We will plan on getting to the Schulman Grove Ranger Station at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 9th to take some late afternoon photos of the Ancient Bristlecone Pines and scope out where we want to set up.
Be aware - there will be no cell service.
At dusk we will start taking some astrophotography images of those same beautiful 4,000 to 5,000 year old trees. with some lightpainting, milky way, and star trails in the images. The moon (almost new moon) does not rise until 1:04 a.m., so the skies will be dark.
It takes about 3-1/2 hours from Lancaster to reach the Ranger Station where the trees are located. If you are coming from Big Pine, it takes about 45 minutes to the Ranger Station, which is about 9,500 feet in elevation. The park charges $3.00 cash per person or $6.00 per car. Children under 18 are free and America the Beautiful Passes are accepted for fee entry. You can check into your hotel and then head up the mountain. There are 3-4 motels in Big Pine, so make your reservation soon to ensure a room. There is also Grandview Campground 5 miles from the Ranger Station if you are into camping.
Be sure to bring warm clothes, flashlights, tripod, a chair, sunscreen, mosquito repellant, snacks, and water, since there is not much available at the trees. The park closes at 10:00 p.m., but they keep the gate open, so we can be there as late as we want, before heading back to the hotels in Big Pine for some rest. The next morning, we will grab breakfast and discuss possibly stopping at Alabama Hills or Whitney Portal on the way home for some extra photos if there is interest (and temperatures cooperate).
If you have any questions, call Steve at (720)436-9094 or Kathy at (661)317-1884.
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