Eastern Mojave Vegetation California Highway 270  
 

Tom Schweich  

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Cinnabar Canyon
 California Highway 270 (SR 270), also known as Bodie Road, is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. It is a spur route off of U.S. Route 395 south of Bridgeport in Mono County, leading into Bodie State Historic Park.

The route connects U.S. Route 395 with Bodie State Historic Park. About 3.5 miles (5.6 km) before entering the park, the road becomes unpaved, and is maintained by the California Department of Parks and Recreation (California State Parks) instead of being officially part of the state highway system maintained by Caltrans.

SR 270 is not part of the National Highway System, a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration.

Other articles:
• U. S. Highway 395:   at CA Hwy 270;  

Junction: US Highway 395
  California Highway 270 follows Clearwater Creek

 

 

 

Literature Cited:
- Bureau of Land Management, 2003.
- Chesterman, Charles W., 1968.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  26 June 2007;

Locations: Big Alkali. Cinnabar Canyon.  

Cinnabar Canyon

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Entrance to Cinnabar Canyon
Road north. Appears to be best way to Big Alkali.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   21 Jun 2012;  

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Sheep in lower Mormon Meadow
Sheep at the lower end of Mormon Meadow

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  26-Jun-07 at Mormon Mdw;  

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Mormon Meadow looking northeast from the lower end.

Other articles:
• Coyote Springs Road:   at California Highway 270;
• Field Notes:  26 June 2007;  

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Coyote Springs Road at CA Hwy 270 in Mormon Meadow
Junction: Coyote Springs Road, south into the Mono Lake basin by way of Bridgeport Canyon. This is the former route from Bridgeport to the Mono Lake basin.

 

 

Literature Cited:
- Wedertz, Frank S., 1978.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  26-Jun-07 at Mormon Mdw;

Locations: Mormon Meadow.  

Mormon Meadow

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Mormon Meadow
Named for Col. Thomas J. Moorman, an 1850's resident of the area.
  Mormon Ranch

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  26 June 2007;  

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Upper end of Mormon Meadow
Looking southwest, downstream on Clearwater Creek, at the upper end of Mormon Meadow.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  26 June 2007;  

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Upper end of Mormon Meadow
Looking northeast, upstream on Clearwater Creek, at the upper end of Mormon Meadow.

Literature Cited:
- Messick, T. H., 1982.

Locations: Mount Biedeman.  

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Mount Biedeman from the north side.
Road to Mt Biedleman.

Mount Biedeman is within the area covered by Messick's (1982) flora of the Bodie Hills.

Other articles:
• Unknown Forest Road, Mono County, California:   at CA Hwy 270;  

Junction: Unknown Road, into uppermost Cottonwood Canyon drainage.

Locations: Mono Basin.  

Clearwater Creek (East Walker River) Basin above …
Pass
Mono Lake basin (Cottonwood Canyon) below …

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   25 Jul 2010;  

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Small lightning set fires in the Bodie Hills.
View north of the highway towards some small lightning-set fires. This was the Potato Fire.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   25 Jul 2010;  

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Antelope in the Bodie Hills
Antelope south of California Highway 270.

Other articles:
• Forest Road 01S27K:   in Big Sand Flat;
• Field Notes:   25 Jul 2010;  

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Small exclosure in Bodie Hills.
Small exclosure alongside the road.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:   Coll. No. 688;   Coll. No. 689;  

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Potentilla biennis, Coll #688, Bodie Hills
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Horkelia fusca ssp. parviflora, Coll #689
Cross Creek

 

 

Literature Cited:
- Chesterman, Charles W., 1968.
- Messick, T. H., 1982.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  20070626560;
• Mono Lake Basin Flora:   at Cottonwood Cyn;

Locations: Murphy Spring.  

Murphy Spring

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Murphy Spring -- Full O' Cows
Type locality of the Murphy Spring Tuff Breccia.

While Annie Alexander and Louise collected here, this trip it was full of cows and not very inviting for botanizing.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  20070626550;  

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Upper Cottonwood Canyon from CA Highway 270
View of Cottonwood Canyon from California Highway 270.

Other articles:
• Field Notes:  20070626540;  

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Mount Biedeman from pass west of Bodie
View of Mount Biedeman with Tioga Crest in background.

Locations: Mono Basin.  

Mono Lake basin (Cottonwood Canyon) above …
Pass
Rough Creek (East Walker River) Basin below …

Other articles:
• Cottonwood Canyon Road:  near Bodie;  

Junction: Cottonwood Canyon Road
  Bodie State Historic Park entrance station.
  Bypass Road

 

 

Literature Cited:
- Anders, George, 2006.
- Billeb, Emil B., 1968.
- Browne, J. Ross, 1863.
- Wasson, Jos., 1878.
- Wedertz, Frank S., 1969.

Locations: Bodie.  

Bodie

Union Street
  Bypass Road

Other articles:
• Nevada Route 3C:   near Bodie;  

Junction: Nevada State Route 3C
If you have a question or a comment you may write to me at: tomas@schweich.com I sometimes post interesting questions in my FAQ, but I never disclose your full name or address.  


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Date and time this article was prepared: 8/1/2026 2:54:14 PM