What do you do after two-plus weeks on foot through the Sierra Nevada? If you're hiking the John Muir Trail, chances are you head for Lone Pine, California — a small town at the foot of the eastern Sierra that has quietly become a favourite rest-and-resupply stop for long-distance hikers.

One backpacker's recent 'zero day' there, documented on The Trek, reads like a masterclass in small-town recovery. The itinerary: breakfast at the Alabama Hills Cafe, where fellow diners spotted a Pacific Crest Trail tattoo and struck up conversation; a wander around town; a nap (non-negotiable); the Museum of Western Film History; repeated soaks in a Jacuzzi; and a pizza dinner. Add a grocery run for watermelon, microwave popcorn and gluten-free Oreos, plus an episode of Ted Lasso, and you have the hiker's perfect day off.

The film museum is the sleeper highlight. The Alabama Hills — the wave-like rock formations just outside town — have doubled for the American West, the Middle East and even distant planets in countless Hollywood productions going back nearly a century. Even seasoned film fans are often surprised by just how many movies were shot there.

For trail users, Lone Pine works because it sits at the junction of practicality and charm. It's the standard jumping-off point for the Mount Whitney Portal, the eastern terminus of the John Muir Trail and the highest summit in the contiguous United States. That means outfitters, motels, hearty cafes and a community that understands — and celebrates — dirt-covered travellers. The casual encounters, like strangers recognising a trail tattoo over pancakes, are part of the appeal.

But you don't need a 211-mile hike behind you to enjoy the town. Travellers driving US Route 395 between Reno and Los Angeles will find it an easy and rewarding detour: scramble among the Alabama Hills arches at sunrise, browse the film museum, then point your car up the dramatic road to Whitney Portal. It also pairs well with trips to nearby Manzanar National Historic Site or Mono Lake further north.

Who is it for? Thru-hikers planning their resupply strategy, road-trippers along the Eastern Sierra, and anyone chasing that odd, lovely mix of Old Hollywood history and high-altitude scenery — ideally with a slice of pizza and a hot tub at the end of the day.

Story via The Trek.