A visitor center at the junction of US-395 and State Route 136, about a mile south of Lone Pine. It is staffed by the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and Sierra Forever, and gives out visitor information on camping, hiking and backpacking, plus highway and weather conditions for the Eastern Sierra. Visitors can also get permits, including Mt. Whitney zone permits, and plan trips to places like Death Valley. Inside are interpretive displays, a native plant garden and the Sierra Forever bookstore, which carries maps, guides and books about the region. The center also hosts occasional community events, such as a Meet the Author talk on the deep geologic time of the Mono Lake Basin. Mt. Whitney can be seen from the grounds.