Ancient Bristlecone Scenic Byway (Route 168) 168
Ancient Bristlecone Scenic Byway (Route 168) is a National Forest Scenic Byway in California. Within California it covers roughly 60 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Ancient Bristlecone Scenic Byway (Route 168) with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
This byway climbs into the White Mountains east of Bishop to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, home to gnarled trees that are the oldest known living single organisms on earth — some more than 4,000 years old. The road rises above 10,000 feet into a stark, high-desert alpine zone with long views across the Owens Valley to the Sierra crest. The bristlecones' twisted, weather-polished wood is unlike anything else.
- Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
- trees 4,000+ years old
- White Mountains
- Owens Valley views
- above 10,000 ft
Plan a drive on Ancient Bristlecone Scenic Byway (Route 168) →
What is a National Forest Scenic Byway?
National Forest Scenic Byways are routes designated by the U.S. Forest Service that thread through the mountains, canyons and old growth of America's national forests and grasslands.