Bishop Creek Canyon is a Year-Round Playground
Bishop Creek Canyon is one of the biggest and best year-round playgrounds in our beautiful big backyard. Situated about 20-miles west of Bishop along CA‑168 W. (W. Line St.), it is a magnificent area of about 30-square-miles in the majestic Sierra Nevada where perennial creeks flow into large, high-altitude lakes surrounded by evergreen and deciduous forests laced with hiking trails.
Every season has its own special magic.
Summer is the best cool getaway. Bring the whole family (furry family too) and drive up the good, paved roads to access trailheads, boat ramps, campgrounds, cafés and resorts, pristine beaches and rocky shores, wheelchair accessible fishing piers, and so much more in the wonderful wilderness regions beyond.
Fall is a color sensation and feast for the camera. Everywhere you look is a scene worth photographing. Did you know this is one of the most photographed regions in the country?
In winter, when the snow falls thick and heavy on the crests and deep into the canyons, Bishop Creek Canyon becomes a playground for family-friendly snow play and energetic snow sports.
In spring it’s an enchanting land of wildflowers and waterfalls. Our guests tell us they are awestruck by the beauty and calming influence of the sights, sounds, and sensations when experiencing this natural environment.
The Three Forks of Bishop Creek Canyon
Bishop Creek Canyon is made up of three forks—south, middle, and north fork of Bishop Creek. Along each fork, between the elevations of 9,000- and 10,000-feet, lies a large lake: South Lake, Lake Sabrina, and North Lake.
This magnificent, high altitude set of canyons and basins was carved by glacial action during the ice age. Thousands more natural lakes lie higher up in the Sierra Nevada, which scientists tell us are the result of a recent ice age when massive glaciers carved down the mountain and left innumerable lakes at all elevations when they retreated as the climate warmed.
This glacial staircase of connected lakes has produced an environment of ever-flowing water, lakes and ponds, cool forests, sun dappled meadows, deep canyons, and craggy mountain peaks that is today one of the most diverse wilderness regions in the country.
Experiences in Bishop Creek Canyon
These lakes are easily accessible in summer for fabulous for fishing, paddling, or boating. Use your own gear or rent equipment from nearby outfitters. There are places to picnic and establishments for casual dining, drinks, or a quick house made snack. Find a campground or book a cabin. Take a hike, go trail-running, or book a mule pack trip. Fall color spotting is incredible if you catch it just right. Be sure to review our Fall Color page and current color report in season. Winter is wonderful in the canyon with ice-skating, sledding, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing available when conditions are good. There’s always holiday fun with Santa at Cardinal Village.
There’s so much to do. Look at this comprehensive guide we’ve created about the many great activities available in Bishop Creek Canyon.
