Manzanar National Historic Site

Independence · 5001 Hwy 395 Independence CA 93526

Location Details

Visual Character

“WWII Japanese American incarceration site, recreation hall, guard tower, stone lantern, Eastern Sierra Nevada backdrop, high desert”

About this location

Nantahala National Forest's Tusquitee Ranger District offers pristine southwestern North Carolina wilderness ideal for mountain and forest cinematography, featuring the dramatic Chunky Gal Trail and remote Fires Creek Wildlife Area with dense canopy coverage and rugged terrain. This expansive outdoor location in Clay/Cherokee provides authentic Appalachian landscapes perfect for adventure, survival, and period pieces, with varied elevations and naturalistic settings requiring permits for film production. Filmmakers will find boundless exterior shooting opportunities across this protected forest land, from intimate woodland scenes to sweeping mountain vistas without developed infrastructure interference.

Where you'll be