Cyclops (Skull) Arch

...If you're ever in the Alabama Hills area, this arch is a "must see"!  

Although Alabama Hills has so many other amazing attractions worth exploring, this arch I barely found out about a year or so ago. When I tried looking for the arch the first time, I couldn't find it. But to be fair, I was a little less prepared...lol. This time around I had the tools I needed to properly get there. 

There are a few ways you can get there, but I'm going to give you the directions I took coming from the small turnout parking area closer to Boot Arch. Once you make that left turn coming from Movie Rd., you'll park in the first small turnout to your right. You'll take the foot beaten path trail, which will take you 0.1 miles to Boot Arch. When you're done checking out Boot Arch, if you start walking southwest (as if you're walking towards Mt. Whitney) on a continued foot beaten path, you'll slightly see Cyclops Arch from a distance. It's a little hard to tell at first, because of how it's angled, but the closer you get, you'll be able to spot it. It's only another 0.3 miles from Boot Arch, so 0.4 miles one way, but the hike through the other boulders and fresh scent of sage make the journey that much more fun!

Once you get there, enjoy the views and even climb inside the arch! Not sure how it got its name cyclops, but I see the skull for sure. It almost kind of looks like an alien skull...lol. One of the photos I shared is a shot from inside the arch with Mt. Whitney and the High Sierras in the background. When you're all done, you can either take the same route back you came or continue to explore the area. If you keep walking around, you will eventually see the road that will take you back to where you parked.

As always, leave no trace and keep exploring!