A Highway 395 Road Trip Through Bridgeport and Twin Lakes
Highway 395 is one of the great road trips in the American West, and the stretch around Bridgeport might be its best-kept secret. It runs along the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada, past sagebrush flats, farm fields, and mountains that seem to rise straight out of the desert. In early December 2025, I took a detour off it with Kristin and our dog, Chestnut, and came home with a rope swing story and a photograph of a short-eared owl. Here is how I would spend a day around Bridgeport.
Road tripping Highway 395, I took a side road to Twin Lakes. Along the way, birds. Lots and lots of birds, but nothing of note. However, on the way back, after the coldest swim of my life, an owl sat upon a fence post.
Pulling out my Tamron 150-500mm lens, I spent an hour locking eyes with this owl.
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Start in Bridgeport itself. It sits in Mono County, and it is the kind of small Eastern Sierra town where you fill the tank, grab something warm to drink, and get your bearings. From there, Twin Lakes is a short drive west. The road climbs toward the Sierra, and the scenery changes fast. Keep your camera within reach. On my drive, birds sat on fence posts all along the road. It was bright daylight, so I kept going, but a morning or evening drive here could easily turn into a wildlife stop.
Twin Lakes is the highlight. The water sits below tall peaks, and it is the sort of place where you want to walk slowly and look around. It was early December when I visited, and it was cold. A rope swing hung over the water, and I jumped. It was the coldest swim of my life, and I would not tell anyone to copy me lightly. If you get in cold water, keep it short, have warm dry clothes and a warm vehicle close by, and do not go alone. Conditions change with the season, so check road and weather updates before you go, especially in winter, when snow can affect the drive.
After Twin Lakes, we headed for Travertine Hot Springs, which lies just south of Bridgeport off 395. The geothermal pools are a classic reward after a cold day. Rules, access, and conditions can change, so check current information from the local land managers before you go, and treat the place with care.
The drive back is where things got interesting for me. Beside a farm field, I spotted a short-eared owl on a post. I swapped to my Tamron 150-500, and when I stepped outside, the owl flew off. We drove a little farther, found it again, and this time I stayed in the van and photographed it from the window at about 50 to 80 feet. The sun had set, the light had faded to a gentle glow, and the whole scene turned to browns. That image became Owl Eyes.
If you plan a trip like this, a few things help. Go in the shoulder hours, at sunrise or sunset, when wildlife tends to be active and the light is kinder. Bring layers, because the temperature drops quickly after sunset. Keep a long lens or a good pair of binoculars in the car, and stay inside your vehicle if you want animals to stay relaxed. Fill your tank whenever you can, since towns are spread out along this route.
What I love about this stretch is how much happens between the stops. I did not plan on meeting an owl. I planned on a swim and a soak. The best part of a road trip is often the thing you did not plan.
If the story appeals to you, the Owl Eyes print is a small piece of that drive. It comes in seven sizes on paper, metal, or canvas, starting at $26.95, and it ships in about 5 to 10 days.
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About the Author
Dalton Johnson is a photographer, writer, and filmmaker who tells stories about real people pushing themselves in the outdoors, from the High Sierra to the far reaches of every continent. He has shot and written for brands, tourism boards, and editorial outlets, including Nike, Patagonia, Four Seasons, PBS, GoPro, and Ford, with more than 160 campaigns and hundreds of published articles to his name. Off assignment, he bikepacks, trail runs, swims open water, chases big waves, and rock climbs.
