6 Great Winter Mountain Bike Rides around Bishop

Winter in Bishop is one the best times of year for mountain biking in the area. The days are frequently warm and sunny and now as we edge toward spring the daylight hours are getting longer and longer.

There are trails and tracks that challenge skill, fitness and even courage. There are leisurely rides and strenuous rides. Some are long and some are short. There are routes that need a shuttle ride and routes that loop you back to where you started.

Whenever I have a chance to go for a bike ride, I ask myself a couple of questions. How much time do I have? How hard do I want to work? Am I going alone or with a friend? And … you know what? The answers always point to the perfect ride for the moment. Then I grab the right bike for ride; mountain bike, fat bike, road bike or touring bike. Yup, there’s more than just mountain biking around here, but for now let’s just focus on the MTB rides.

Here are six of my favorites that can each be done in just a few hours.

The Big Buttermilk – Tungsten Loop

Route type: Loop
Length: 11.4 Miles
Elevation Gain: 1,996 feet
Download the Big Buttermilk-Tungsten Loop GPX here

Overview

At 11.4 miles long you’ll get all sorts of road, trail, grade & terrain challenges. It’s not highly technical, but there are a few rocky spots where speed changes everything. The faster you ride the more technical it is, but at a slower pace the line appears less demanding. This is a loop ride so you can go it alone or with bike buddies.

Points of Interest

Along the ride, you’ll find:

• Great viewpoints
• Old mine sites
• Tracks and trails that could lead you astray
• Stop now and then, take in the sights, snap photos, and just breathe it all in.

Getting There

Head west out of Bishop on Highway 168, then turn right onto Buttermilk Road. At precisely one mile along Buttermilk Road, take a right turn toward the creek and park in the clearing to your left.

Make sure you have a good stash of snacks and water, and dress in layers.

Warm-Up: The “Paying-Your-Dues” Section

Set out on your bicycle west along Buttermilk Road. This section is a bit of a slog along the washboard, but it serves as a great warm-up. At the Buttermilk Boulders, cross the cattle guard and turn right. Cycle past the climbers’ parking area.

First Reward: Fast, Fun Downhill

After the climb, enjoy about 2 miles of fun, fast, somewhat technical downhill. The trail skirts the western base of the Buttermilk and Tungsten Hills, offering fabulous views of Mt. Tom.

The Single Track Adventure

At mile 4.3, take the fork to the right for a short climb. Then, watch for USFS road marker 31E307. Look to your left for the single track that’ll get you rockin’ and rollin’ around the hill. This trail leads to a dual track road that opens up to a great overlook. Spot another single track heading east off the turn-around and enjoy a speedy 1.5 miles weaving around the hills.

Tungsten Loop and Climb

Keep looping toward your right and follow Tungsten Road until mile 8.9. This is the lowest point along the ride.  Here, take a sharp right and climb over the eastern side of the Tungstens back toward Buttermilk Road. The climb is steady but fun, with several zigs, zags, and dips. You’ll eventually return to your starting point, but first, cross a wet, chilly, and possibly icy creek. If it’s too deep, look for a narrower section to leap across.

Final Notes

This is a fairly strenuous ride and requires good mountain biking skills.

Intake II Pipeline Downhill

Route type: Shuttle
Length: 10.4 Miles
Elevation Gain: 844 ft (Mostly downhill – 4,270 ft)
Download the Intake II Pipeline trail GPX here

Overview

This is my “whoo hoo” ride – about 10 miles of mostly downhill mountain biking starting just off Highway 168 near Aspendell. During big winters, consider bringing a fatbike. This route is ideal for fatbikes because:

• You may cut tracks in snow near the top.
• You’ll hit deep, soft sand toward the end.

It can be done on a regular mountain bike if you enjoy sliding – whoo hoo!

Getting to the Start

This route starts opposite Intake II and you may need a 4×4 vehicle to get you to the start point if there’s snow on the ground. Remember to dress in layers. You should also bring a friend along who isn’t keen on the bike ride to drive the vehicle back to the end point. It’s a gorgeous drive with marvelous views and everyone will have a good time.

Here’s the plan. Head east out of Bishop on Highway 168 toward Aspendell. Drive 14.5 miles and just when you see the lake and parking lot down to your left … slow down! … and look to your right for a dirt road heading up onto the moraine. Turn right and follow the road for about 500 feet and park in the clearing to your right.

Warm-Up: Climbing the Moraine

Pile out of the car, hand the keys to your designated driver, offload your bikes, and start cycling up the road as it continues up the moraine beyond the clearing. The climb is a real leg and lung buster, but the fun waiting on the downhill is well worth it.

Alternate Start (If Snow Is Too Deep)

If the snow is too deep, you can start at one of the pipeline access points along Highway 168. Ride up the road alongside the pipeline, then head up onto the moraine crest and follow the main route from there.

Downhill Fun: Sandy Canyon

Be careful when crossing Highway 168 to reach the last leg of the trail, which goes down a sandy canyon. This is the really sandy section, perfect for sliding and speed – whoo hoo! The ride ends at the junction of Highway 168 and E. Bishop Creek Road.

Points of Interest

At the end of the ride, you’ll find the Bishop Creek Battleground Historical Landmark, where you can pause, catch your breath, and learn more about the area’s history.

Owens River Meander

Route type: Loop
Length: 7.66 Miles
Elevation Gain: 295 ft
Download the Owens River Meander GPX here

Overview

Take a leisurely bike ride along the banks of the Owens River. In summer, this life-giving river creates a verdant path through a hot and arid landscape, nourishing the flora and fauna of the high desert. In winter, it offers a welcome reprieve from the chilly mountaintops and blustery canyons that flank the expansive valley.

Many people know that fishing is allowed year-round along the 40 river-miles from Pleasant Valley Dam to Tinemaha Reservoir, but fewer know that this stretch also has miles of undulating trails and tracks along the riverbanks that are perfect for bike riding.

The Route

Between Poleta Road (East Line Street) and Warm Springs Road, a 2.5-mile stretch of the river winds sinuously through the valley. On a typical winter day in Bishop, a bike ride along this section is simply stunning.

This ride is ideal as a relaxation ride or when hosting family or friends who prefer a gentler experience. There’s minimal elevation change, making it a pleasant and fun ride for the whole family. Riders should have a reasonable level of fitness and basic bike-handling skills, as the trail can get a little energetic in spots. Fat bikes make this route easy, while a regular mountain bike will provide a bit more of a workout.

Terrain and Sights

The route offers diverse terrain, including soft sand, short grass, hard-packed dirt, paved road, and even a sand dune. It skirts the beautiful Buckley Ponds, providing scenic spots to stop, rest, and enjoy a snack. Keep an eye out for red-tailed hawks soaring above the plain and great blue herons rising lazily from the tall reeds along the banks.

Final Notes

This ride is one that restores the soul and lifts the spirits. Its gentle pace, natural beauty, and peaceful river views make it a perfect escape from the everyday. Ah … this is a ride that restores my soul and lifts my spirits.

Starlite Loop

Route type: Loop
Length: 2.33 Miles
Elevation Gain: 394 ft
Download the Starlite Trail GPX here

Overview

With so many excellent and easily accessible trails nearby, there’s always time to squeeze in a bike ride before dinner. The Starlite Loop is not too long but packed with features that will get your body warm, your blood pumping, and your legs working.

I love this trail for its twisting, undulating single track. Along the way, you’ll enjoy commanding views of Buttermilk Country, Mt. Tom, the Tungsten Hills, and the tablelands. The boulders are big, the sand is soft, and the Pinyon trees offer a hint of forest among the high desert landscape.

Getting There

Take Highway 168 west out of Bishop and turn right onto Buttermilk Road. Drive 1.7 miles to the intersection with Starlite Drive, turn left, and park just off the dirt road. Remember to avoid crushing the brush while parking.

The Ride

Start with a short, sweet climb up the hill toward Starlite if you like a little kicker to get going. In 0.4 miles, just as you crest the rise and see Starlite up to your left, you’ll notice the single track veering off to your right. Take it! Follow this undulating trail for 1 mile, then turn right at the junction with an obvious dual-track. From here, you’ll head downhill, looping back to where you started.

Final Notes

The Starlite Loop is a great go-it-alone ride that doesn’t take too long, just enough to work up a little appetite for dinner while enjoying some classic high desert single track fun.

With so many excellent and easily accessible trails nearby there is plenty of time to get in a bike ride before dinner on any given day. The Starlite Loop is not too long and has super features that will get your body warm, your blood pumping and your legs working.

Wagon Wheel Trail

Route type: Shuttle (can be done as an out-and-back)
Length: 2.33 Miles
Elevation Gain: 63.3 ft (Mostly downhill – 1,681 ft)
Download the Wagon Wheel Trail GPX here

Overview

Did you know there’s slickrock riding in Bishop? Yup—and not only that, it’s an incredibly interesting piece of Owens Valley history to boot.

The Wagon Wheel Trail runs from Swall Meadows to Paradise along a historic track cut directly into the Bishop Tuff by mule trains hauling mineral-rich ore from the mines nearly 100 years ago. The main section is a short 2.5-mile stretch of rough, rocky trail, with a healthy dose of sand mixed in, making for an exhilarating downhill run.

Extending the Ride

You can extend the ride by starting above Swall Meadows and weaving down a narrow, sandy canyon for about a mile. Be especially careful at the road crossing before emerging onto a wide bluff that drops more than 1,000 feet over 2.5 miles of technical terrain. From there, hop onto the old Sherwin Grade Road and coast the final 0.5 miles to the Lower Rock Creek trailhead.

All told, this makes for a fabulous 4-mile ride that anyone with a reasonable amount of mountain biking experience can enjoy at an easy pace. That said, it’s most fun when ridden fast, and that requires solid technical skills and a small measure of courage.

A Lesson Learned

I once learned a valuable lesson on this ride: don’t finger the brakes. Whoops.

Here’s how it went. I was charging down a section of slickrock steps on a fat bike, which incidentally bounces like a beach ball on hard surfaces, when a particularly good bounce knocked my feet off the pedals. Instinct kicked in, my hands grabbed the brakes, and suddenly everything went into slow motion.

“Don’t squeeze the brakes,” my brain yelled.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” my hands yelled back.

The front wheel locked, the back wheel lifted, and I launched over the handlebars, executing a less than graceful forward somersault while the bike cartwheeled behind me. Somehow, thanks to long ago gymnastics training, I even stuck the landing. No harm done to either me or the bike, but lesson learned. Always wear a helmet.

Final Notes

Despite that little episode, this trail is still my absolute favorite on a fat bike. In fact, it’s the ultimate favorite of my favorites.

One final tip: you may want to arrange a shuttle to the top. I’ll admit I usually ride this one with a friend. Climbing the trail uphill is arduous at best, and I much prefer saving my energy for the descent—or riding the road on a road bike instead.

If you want, the next natural step would be to assemble all these rides into a cohesive Bishop-area riding guide, with consistent tone, flow, and maybe a short “why ride this” intro for each one. This is already reading like a seriously good local’s handbook.

East Line Foothill Loop

Route type: Shuttle (can be done as an out-and-back)
Length: 4.17 Miles
Elevation Gain: 668 ft
Download the East Line Foothill Loop GPX here

Overview

Winter in Bishop is true to form this year and thoroughly unpredictable. Still, most days are warm and sunny, with highs fluctuating between the 60s and 70s, making it perfect weather for a quick mountain bike ride to keep you in form for just about anything.

This ride features a short, punchy single track east of Bishop at the base of the White Mountains below Silver Peak. It’s an ideal option when you want to get out, spin the legs, and still be home in time for whatever the day brings.

Getting There

From the center of Bishop, head east on East Line Street for about 4.3 miles to reach the ride’s starting point. After crossing the Owens River and passing the White Mountain Research Station, the road begins to curve right. At this bend, turn left and park in the clearing to your right.

The Ride

Once you’re on your bike, continue up the road for about 500 feet, then turn left to head due north. A few feet farther along, look to your right for a trail heading northeast in a fairly straight line. This single track climbs steadily up the alluvial fan toward the base of the foothills.

At mile 0.83, you’ll cross an intersection of several trails. Keep the sloping alluvial fan to your left and the rippling foothills to your right, maintaining a generally northward bearing. Climb another 150 feet or so, then let it rip as the trail turns you back toward the dry canal for an easy, flowing cruise back to your car.

Trail Notes

This area is also used by dirt bikes, so be sure to listen for motorized riders and watch for dust plumes ahead. The trail includes some significant whoops, not quite a pump track but enough to give you a solid workout and keep things lively.

Final Thoughts

This is a short, energetic ride that makes the most of Bishop’s unpredictable winter weather. It’s quick, fun, and just challenging enough to leave you smiling and ready for the rest of the day.

Ride guides and GPS tracks

Finding the trails and tracks around Bishop can be a little confusing. There are many resources such as online sites, general area maps and bike stores with knowledgeable folks to help. However, there’s no central resource and it requires a little investigation to know what’s available and where to go.

This is of course not an exhaustive list and I’m working on more routes in the nearby area and further (higher) afield. Oh boy, oh boy … there’s so much more out there.

A last note! Be careful. Always dress in layers. Tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to be back. Please keep to existing trails and roads. Most important of all … have fun!