California 270


California 270 connects U.S. 395 with Bodie State Historical Park via Bodie Road; the last few miles before entering the park are unpaved. The state park preserves an old ghost town in Bodie.

California 270 east
Leaving the U.S. 395 intersection, eastbound California 270 (Bodie Road) begins its journey toward Bodie State Historic Park. The first ten miles of the state highway are paved, and the final three miles are unpaved yet groomed for most vehicles to use. An unpaved parking lot awaits at the end of the unpaved segment of Bodie Road. Snow is not removed from the highway during winter months. Photo taken 07/09/07.
Amid the volcanic rock on either side of the highway, a warning sign advises that the next ten miles of highway are winding with curves. This is not a high-speed highway similar to U.S. 395. Photo taken 07/09/07.
Bodie State Historic Park is the most common destination for traffic on eastbound California 270. In 2007, the park was open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; however, the state budget crisis might have altered hours of operation since then. Check the California State Park webpage to verify open hours. Photo taken 07/09/07.
No motorist services (food, gas, lodging) are available in Bodie State Historic Park. The abandoned town is left preserved as it was when the park was established in 1962. Visitors can walk through the remains of the former mining town, which was founded by Waterman S. Body (William Bodey) in 1859. The population grew to nearly 10,000 people after the discovery of gold in 1875 and purchase of the mine by Standard Company in 1877. A gate at this spot allows for closure of California 270 east of here during inclement weather or significant snowfall. The state route can be used by snowmobiles during winter, thus allowing visitation in winter months. Photo taken 07/09/07.
At the 1.00 postmile is a welcome sign for Bodie Hills. This is also the first indication that this road is California 270, since there are no eastbound reassurance shields. Photo taken 07/09/07.
This series of photos follows California 270 east through the Bodie Hills. The highway is a narrow, two-lane highway with several curves along the way. Photos taken 07/09/07.
Descending into valley adjacent to a creek, a mileage sign provides the distance to the end of the state highway (California 270), six miles and Bodie State Historic Park, nine miles. The distance is also provided in kilometers, which is uncommon today for California highways. Photos taken 07/09/07.
Pulling away from the creek, California 270 continues east toward the state park. The highway gains elevation as we approach Bodie, which sits at an elevation of 8,379 feet. This biome contains mostly sagebrush and sees precipitation (rainfall and snowfall) of about 13 inches a year. Bodie can be among the coldest spots in California during winter months (along with nearby Mammoth Lakes and Bridgeport). These pictures were taken during the summer of 2007, when several wildfires burned simultaneously between the Eastern Sierra and Lake Tahoe Basin, making for unusually smoky and hazy skies. Photos taken 07/09/07.
A beat-up sign warns of the end of California 270 at the point where the pavement ends. A gravel road continues for the final distance to the state park. Photo taken 07/09/07.
Bodie State Historic Park is three miles ahead via the unpaved road. On the left side of the highway is a final California 270 shield that probably is missing an end banner. Photo taken 07/09/07.
With the end of state maintenance of the paved section of roadway, the final three miles of Bodie Road feature a graded gravel road. Due to the narrow roadway, watch for oncoming traffic. Views of the now-distant Sierra Nevada can be seen from the highway as it winds its way uphill. At the top of the hill, Bodie Road enters the state park (at the cattle guard). Photos taken 07/09/07.
Upon entering the state park, Bodie Road begins to lose elevation for the remaining distance into Bodie. The remnants of the town are visible in the distance as the roadway continues east into town. At the entrance to the park is a fee station for visitors to Bodie State Historic Park. Photos taken 07/09/07.
Bodie Road comes to an end at the parking lot for Bodie State Historic Park after the state park fee station. Visitors may park in this gravel lot and walk to the various building preserved within Bodie. Photo taken 07/09/07.
California 270 west
Now leaving Bodie State Historic Park, we begin on the unpaved stretch of Bodie Road. This section of highway covers about three miles, then reverts to Caltrans maintenance. Photo taken 07/09/07.
Stunning views of the Sierra Nevada can be seen as Bodie Road continues west. Photo taken 07/09/07.
This "gate ahead" sign is the only sign along Bodie Road before we reach the paved segment of California 270. Photo taken 07/09/07.
The first westbound California 270 reassurance shield assembly is posted on the gravel segment just prior to the transition onto a paved surface. Photo taken 07/09/07.
A series of signs warns of the winding, narrow road for the next ten miles and downgrade from here to U.S. 395. Photo taken 07/09/07.
This series of photos follows California 270 west from the unpaved/paved transition point toward the intersection with U.S. 395. Photos taken 07/09/07.
A final California 270 postmile is located one-half mile prior to the U.S. 395 intersection. No U.S. 395 shield assembly or end California 270 shield is posted along westbound. Photo taken 07/09/07.
During winter months and whenever the highway to Bodie is closed, these gates are shut and locked to prevent entry. Photo taken 07/09/07.
A "stop ahead" sign is posted prior to the U.S. 395 intersection. Photo taken 07/09/07.
Westbound California 270 reaches its terminus at U.S. 395. Turn left to follow U.S. 395 south to Lee Vining (18 miles), Bishop, and Los Angeles. Turn right to follow U.S. 395 north to Bridgeport (seven miles), Carson City, and Reno-Sparks. Photo taken 07/09/07.
California 270 scenes
This series of photos shows the various buildings kept in a state of "arrested decay." The church, mining facilities, and buildings mostly date back to the 1870s and 1880s, the heyday of Bodie. Some of the buildings can be visited on foot, while others are in ruins. The former mine area is closed for unsupervised visitation. Photos taken 07/09/07.

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Page Updated April 18, 2010.

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