• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

California Through My Lens

California Travel, Food, Hiking & Road Trips

  • Start Here
  • Explore
    • Beaches
    • Bizarre
    • Caves
    • Food
    • Hikes
    • Historical Structures
    • Natural Wonders
    • Waterfalls
  • Drive
    • El Camino Real
    • Highway 395
    • LA to Las Vegas
    • Pacific Coast Highway
    • Route 66
  • National Parks
    • Channel Islands
    • Death Valley
    • Joshua Tree
    • Lassen Volcanic
    • Pinnacles
    • Redwoods
    • Sequoia & Kings Canyon
    • Yosemite
  • Cities
    • Los Angeles
    • Palm Springs
    • Sacramento
    • San Diego
    • San Francisco
  • Resources
    • Day Trip Ideas
    • Road Trip eBooks
    • Hotels
    • My Favorite Travel Products
    • Travel Videos
  • Browse By …
    • Map Of Locations
    • Cities
    • Counties
    • National Parks
    • State Parks

Cottonwood Charcoal Kilns on Highway 395

Last Modified: May 3, 2020

10shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

While driving up Highway 395, you have probably seen the historical marker sign for the Cottonwood Kilns, south of Lone Pine in the Owens Valley. These kilns used to sit on Cottonwood Creek, which dried up when the water from the lake was diverted, and now they sit in relative disarray, as a memory from a lost time. I got a chance to visit them, and it was a great little detour that I recommend, here is all the information.

cottonwood kilns-2

Details

  • 1-mile dirt road
  • Time needed: 10 minutes
  • This information is from my visit in 2016

Getting There

cottonwood kilns-1

North of the town of Cartago and Olancha, keep your eyes peeled for a historical marker sign for the Cottonwood Kilns. The road then heads off to the east for one mile before you arrive at the kilns. You can park in the dirt there in front of the kilns.

The Kilns

cottonwood kilns-3

These kilns were at one time used to provide the charcoal needed for the profitable Cerro Gordo mine. In the late 1800s, there was even a sawmill built here that they used to process the wood that was cut down to keep the kilns at the mine operational.

cottonwood kilns-5

Today there are only two kilns still in existence, and both are not whole, but they are still a great piece of history that you can explore.

highway 395 update-2

When I arrived at the kilns, they were surrounded by a fence with razor wire at the top; however, the door to the fence was completely open, so I walked right in to see the kilns. I am not sure what happened to the door but interesting to see the kilns up close. I imagine if you visit the door will be locked.

cottonwood kilns-4

The two kilns were both a lot bigger than I anticipated, standing at probably 20 or so feet tall. After exploring the kilns for 5 minutes, I headed back out to the road. They are an interesting stop along the Highway 395, and I recommend you check them out if you are in the area (be sure to check road conditions when you get there though, as the road is dirt). Let me know if you have been in the comments.

Filed Under: Central California, Highway 395, Historical Structures Tagged With: Inyo County

Interested in supporting this blog?

This blog is simply a hobby and labor of love for me. If you have enjoyed the posts consider sharing it with your friends. I want as many people as possible to explore this state and you can help by letting them know about all of the great spots!

Join the Newsletter

Subscribe for the four day welcome series and to get the latest content every month.

    We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

    About JoshMc

    Thanks for checking out the blog, I am happy to be sharing my adventures with you! You can get to know me by reading my about me, which includes a video and additional information on the site, myself and my full disclosure. Also, follow along on Twitter here or read all of my posts on this blog here.

    Primary Sidebar

    About

    Josh from California Through My Lens I'm a travel junkie strapped down to one state, focused on seeing as much of it as I can and encouraging others to do the same. More about me.

    Popular Posts

    The Big List of Strange, Fun & Unique Attractions in Southern California
    Pacific Coast Highway: Where to Stop on Your Road Trip
    Top Hiking Trails in Southern California
    Fun Stops on the Drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas
    24 Things to do in Downtown LA
    17 Things to do in Lake Tahoe
    Donner Pass, Summit Tunnel Hike: Old Abandoned Railroad

    Categories

    Other Resources


    Footer

    Search the site

    Additional Information

    Privacy Policy

    About Us

    Copyright © 2021 · Metro Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

    Coronavirus January 2021 Update: Please note that some information in the posts may have changed and some places may be closed.