WELCOME to Caltrans' Cultural History Tour of Scenic Highway 395, your opportunity to travel through time, experiencing the rich, beautiful cultural and natural heritage of Inyo and Mono counties, California - without getting behind the wheel. Following what was first a trade route for California Native Americans and then a wagon trail, Highway 395 is the main route through Inyo and Mono counties. With its modern paving and many four-lane sections, it now serves mostly as a tourist route.

At first glance it appears that the sands of time have erased all traces of the past, but a closer look reveals a dynamic cultural history. What look like two dusty stripes in the desert are the remains of the old highway that once connected farming and mining communities. Beneath that old road lies a timeworn path that linked Native American villages and camps. Travel with us along the valleys of Inyo and Mono counties and discover for yourself the hidden past. A vital part of Caltrans' project planning and management is consideration for historic and prehistoric resources and for sites with traditional cultural values. These resources embody the heritage and history of our nation and state. While we encourage you to explore the past, we ask that you consider the importance of preserving the unique cultural and natural resources that lay before us.