CROWLEY LAKE GUIDED TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Saddle Through Silver‑Screen Country: A Guided Ride of Alabama Hills Filmsets
A 2.5‑hour guided trail ride through the Alabama Hills led by Western film historian Douglas Grieve, tracing classic movie locations and dramatic scenery.
Saddle Through Silver‑Screen Country: A Guided Ride of Alabama Hills Filmsets.
McGee Creek Pack Station leads a guided trail ride through the sculpted rock corridors of the Alabama Hills, where Western film historian Douglas Grieve points out iconic shooting locations and the landscape that framed countless classic movies. The outing pairs horseback travel with film history, moving through terrain that has been a backdrop for titles from RAWHIDE to THE GREAT RACE while returning riders to the Mobius Arch Trailhead where the day began.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Alabama Hills: geological stagecraft
Ride among the rounded boulder fins and open ridgelines that give the Alabama Hills its cinematic silhouette — the same geology that directors have used to stage Westerns and comedies alike.
A historian in the saddle
Western film historian Douglas Grieve guides the ride, identifying filming sites and layering anecdotes about productions that used the hills as a backdrop.
On‑trail film locations
Stops along the route visit locations used in classics such as RAWHIDE, THE TALL T, RIDE LONESOME and THE GREAT RACE, linking landscape and screen history.
What the day feels like
What the ride feels like
Over roughly two and a half hours you move at horse pace through a patchwork of arches, boulder fields and open vistas, listening as the guide points out the exact frames and sequences shot in these locations. The combination of riding, close inspection of sites, and historical commentary makes for a compact, interpretive outing that returns to the original trailhead at the end of the loop.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this ride suits — and who should consider alternatives.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
No specific gear requirements were listed in the supplied information; contact McGee Creek Pack Station or the operator for recommended clothing, footwear, and any equipment details.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the trail ride?
The ride is approximately 2.5 hours long.
What is the minimum age to participate?
Participants must be at least 8 years old.
Where do riders meet for the tour?
Riders meet and depart from the parking area of the Mobius Arch Trailhead; check‑in is 45 minutes before the ride start time.
Who leads the guided commentary on the ride?
Western film historian Douglas Grieve provides the film history and commentary during the ride.
Which films' locations will we see on the ride?
The ride visits many movie locations along the trail, including RAWHIDE, THE TALL T, RIDE LONESOME, HELL BENT FOR LEATHER, THE GREAT RACE, and BAD DAY BLACK ROCK, among others.