Best Place to Visit In Winter? Bishop Adds Up to More Fun
Where do crisp, snowy mountain mornings and sunny, warm high desert afternoons add up to the perfect winter getaway? In Bishop, of course!
Follow freshies at Mammoth Mountain with afternoon fishing on the Lower Owens River. Add a vertical component to your morning cross-country ski tour by going rock climbing or bouldering in Bishop. Double up on downhill with a backcountry ski run and a front-country bike ride.
It’s simple mathematics. Add one for more fun.
Drive a snowmobile through a snow-packed alpine forest then drive a 4×4 out across the rugged desert. Go for a sunlit day hike followed by a moonlit snowshoe tour. Build a snowman and build a sand castle. Most of it’s all within a 40-minute drive or less and perhaps the only driving you’ll want to do more of is on the golf course. This winter let Bishop add warmth, hospitality and adventure to your snow vacation. It’s calculated to add up to more than you imagined.
Fish the Lower Owens River
If you’re an angler you know that California fishing season runs from the last Saturday in April to November 15th, but did you know that fishing on the Lower Owens River is legal all year long?
Escape the cold and enjoy the warm sunshine of a Bishop winter afternoon. Let the sun thaw your body as you cast your line for a variety of warm water fish. Carp, bass, bluegill, and catfish, along with trout, will challenge your angling skills and deepen your appreciation for the sport. Miles of canals, large reservoirs, and protected ponds in the Owens Valley are largely untouched by anglers. Some even offer handicapped-accessible fishing piers. These waters promise exciting winter fishing with fly, lure, or bait.
Perhaps you need a little guidance to get you started or show you places that are new to you. Go with a guide service or pop into a local outfitter and get the latest news on what’s biting where and with what. Sign up for a class or book a drift boat trip. Check out these great local guides and stores: Bishop Fly Fishing, Reagan’s Sporting Goods.
Ride a Bike
Winter in Bishop is one the best times of year for bike riding in the Eastern Sierra. The days are frequently warm and sunny, the back roads carry little traffic, the mountain bike trails are firm and the scenery is awe-inspiring.
You’ve decided to go for a bike ride. Ask yourself 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? Can I arrange a shuttle ride? The answers always point to the perfect ride for the moment. So bring your road bike, mountain bike, or fat bike and get out there and ride.
Road Ride
Depending on your answers to the questions above, there are a variety of winter bike rides that will keep you coming back for more. If it’s your first time visiting, try the Pleasant Valley to Round Valley road loop. The route is just over 16.5 miles of quiet country lanes and a relaxing ride along the shores of the reservoir. The course features uphills and downhills, sharp corners, and sweeping bends. It offers a little of everything in just the right balance. You will work hard enough to stay warm, but not so hard that you cannot lift your head and admire the scenery. It really is a very “pleasant” ride (pun intended).
The Laws Poleta – Warm Springs road loop is an excellent smooth ride out across the Owens Valley. With minimal elevation change, it can serve as a warm-up or cool-down by keeping up an easy cadence or it could be your own personal time trial by putting your head down and going at it hard. Either way you can’t miss the views as you roll across the river and ride along the base of the White Mountains.
Mountain Bike
There are mountain bike 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.
Give the Big Buttermilk – Tungsten Loop a go. 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.
Take a leisurely bike ride along the banks of the Owens River. In summer this life-giving river creates a verdant path in a hot and arid landscape that nourishes the fauna and flora of the high desert. In winter it offers a reprieve from the chilly mountaintops and blustery canyons that flank this expansive valley. Between the 2.5 miles of straight line distance between Poleta Rd (East Line St) and Warm Springs Rd is a sinuous section of the river where a bike ride on a typical winter day in Bishop is simply stunning.
Did you know there’s slickrock riding in Bishop?
Yup! Not only that, but it’s an incredibly interesting piece of Owens Valley history. Ride the Wagon Wheel trail from Swall Meadows to Paradise. This historic track was cut into the Bishop Tuff by mule trains hauling mineral-rich ore from the mines almost 100 years ago. It’s a short 2.5-mile stretch of rough and rocky trail with a good measure of sand thrown in for an exhilarating downhill run.
If you need help with your bike, gear or just want to have a great chat about biking in Bishop go visit the folks at Aerohead Cycles. You can also read out page on Mountain Biking Near Bishop.
Drive the Desert
We know, it is all about the snow. But is it really? The Inyo National Forest is also famous for its fantastic off road vehicle roads and trails. Do you have a 4×4 vehicle? Did you bring your dirt bike? Have you heard of the Poleta Open Area? Kick off your adventure by exploring our guide to off road and auto touring in winter. And even if you don’t own a 4×4 or have never ventured beyond paved roads, it might be the perfect time to dive into the unknown with the Bishop Big Loop Auto Tour.
A legal system of roads and trails for motorized vehicles was designated here in 2009 following many years of inventory and analysis. This included public involvement to balance the needs for recreational opportunities and to protect the unique character of our public lands. The result is an extensive network of 2,200 miles of OHV trails and roads providing access through almost one million acres of the Inyo National Forest.
Most of this larger network comprises double track native surface road, but on the eastern side of the Owens Valley about 50 miles consists of single-track and ATV trails interspersed within the system. All vehicles are required to stay on designated roads … except for the Poleta Open Area, which is designated for cross-country and open motorized vehicle travel.
Trail Maps and Responsible Off-Roading
Excellent maps have been produced by the California Trail Users Coalition and are available free of charge at many of the trailheads and, of course, at the Bishop Visitor Center.
Please obey posted signage and make sure that all OHVs have a California green or red sticker or be street legal. All vehicles must be equipped with a Forest Service approved spark arrester. Tread Lightly! has an informative guide to responsible dirt biking.
Rock Climbing and Bouldering
Bishop is a world-class climbing destination in any season but winter is when it shines. There are thousands of boulder problems, hundreds of sport climbing routes, limitless trad routes plus local knowledge and services to help you get started or improve your skills. Find out more about rock climbing near Bishop here.
The Owens River Gorge is unsurpassed for winter sport climbing in California. There are moderate climbs and difficult climbs and with the right gear and assistance it is a great place to start out.
Buttermilk Country is the place to go for bouldering. Massive boulders provide some of the most accessible and diverse bouldering in the country with routes that offer everything from fun scrambling to highly technical ‘problems’ that challenge even the world’s best climbers. Read more about the Happy and Sad Bouldering areas, and Buttermilk Country bouldering here!
Do your research and plan your rock climbing adventure to get the most out it and stay safe. Check out the books on sale and ask the locals who know what’s what at these fine stores and guide services: Eastside Sports, Sierra Mountain Center, Sierra Mountain Guides.
Hike
In the summer, visitors head for the high elevations, but in winter, the focus shifts to exploring the lower areas. The air is warm, and the sun is bright, offering countless hiking opportunities, including some easy winter trails. The Tungsten Hills are especially beautiful at this time of year. You can walk across the sagebrush and climb onto the rocky outcrops, enjoying the quiet landscape. The hills are easily accessed from the Horton Creek Campground, which is closed for camping in winter. You can park your car and take either a short walk or a longer hike around this fascinating geological feature. The hills are named for the tungsten that was mined here until the late 1940s. They are primarily made of granite and quartz diorite, and rock hounds still find red garnet crystals in the area.
Exploring the Owens Valley Waterways
Hiking along the waterways of Owens Valley involves little elevation change, but it offers nearly endless miles of diverse open terrain and solitude. Between Pleasant Valley Dam and Tinemaha Reservoir, the Owens River twists and turns for 55 miles. Tracks and trails run alongside the river, winding over grassy banks, through tall reeds, and across sand dunes. You can make this adventure as energetic or leisurely as you like. Birdlife is abundant, and the fishing is excellent. A walk along the shores of Pleasant Valley Reservoir is easy and peaceful. The road here is closed to vehicle traffic, making it an ideal spot for an early morning or late afternoon stroll.
Nature’s Sand Castle
The Eureka Dunes are the tallest sand dunes in California. The dunes lie in the northwest section of Death Valley National Park. They stretch three miles in length and one mile in width. Nestled in an enclosed basin, they rise 3,000 feet above sea level. Hiking to the top of these dunes, also called the Singing Sand, is more challenging than it appears. The slopes are steep, and the loose sand shifts underfoot as you climb. The singing sound occurs when the sand is completely dry and slides down the steepest slope of the tallest dune, producing a deep note reminiscent of a pipe organ
Daytime temperatures can be warm, while nighttime temperatures often drop well below freezing. The drive from Bishop is about 65 miles and takes roughly two and a half hours, winding through a mountain pass and some of the most remote and rugged terrain in the West. The last 10 miles are on graded dirt, which can be slow going due to the rough washboard surface. This adventure is best treated as a full-day trip, so be sure to bring enough fuel, food, water, and warm clothing for everyone. In winter, snowfall can sometimes close the pass, so check the latest road and weather conditions before you go.
The Sum Total
If you’re in the Eastern Sierra for a winter snow adventure add to the equation with some high desert activities. Bishop has some of the best hiking, biking, fishing, rock climbing, and off-highway driving in the country. Plus there’s a great 18-hole golf course, the Bishop Country Club, to keep you up to scratch. It’s open all year-round so Bishop is where you want to be to multiply your fun.
Stop in at the Bishop Visitor center for details, directions, maps and more at 218 S. Main Street.
Written by:
Gigi de Jong
Gigi is “crazy mad in love with Bishop.” Since moving here in 2006 she has made it her mission to participate in as many of the outdoor activities as possible. She learned to snowboard, improved upon her very average climbing skills, took long hikes, has driven up and down innumerable mountain roads and 4x4 tracks, cycled and occasionally tumbled down mountain bike trails, taken to the roads on a bicycle or motorcycle – sometimes for fun and sometimes to commute, and successfully completed her first attempt at a triathlon. She spent 10 months touring the western US and Canada on a bicycle and after 4,000 plus miles returned to Bishop – for the beauty of the place and the spirit of the community. “My soul belongs here,” she says.
