What to Do in the Owens Valley during Stormy Weather in the Mountains

You

Everyone Else

Bishop

Indoors:

Paiute-Shoshone Cultural Center – Beautiful exhibits that showcase the lifeways of our region’s indigenous people. 2300 West Line Street in Bishop. Open Tuesday – Saturday 10am-4pm, http://www.bishoppaiutetribe.com/cultural-center.html.

Laws Railroad Museum & Historic Village (indoors & outdoors) – Eleven acres of indoor & outdoor exhibits propelling you back in time to the Pioneer Days of the Owens Valley. Ten minutes north of Bishop on Highway 6.  Open daily 10am-4pm.  www.lawsmuseum.org

C5 Studio Community Arts Center – Art & Crafts Gallery.  Gift Shop.  210 S. Warren Street.  Open 10am-5pm Monday & Tuesday.  https://www.c5studios.org/

Inyo Council for the Arts – Bishop’s original art gallery.  See local artisans’ work.  150 Willow Street.  Open 10am – 5pm – Monday through Friday.  https://inyo.org/

Independent Project Press – A cool local gallery you might enjoy located in Bishop. http://www.independentprojectpress.com/

Back Alley Bowl & Grill – Great fun for the entire family. Very popular restaurant as well.  649 N. Main Street behind Cielo Motel.  https://www.thebackalleybowlandgrill.com/

Arcade Inside Bishop Pizza Factory – Dozens of arcade games, fun for kids of all ages. 970 N. Main Street. https://www.pizzafactory.com/bishop/

Historic Bishop Twin Theatre – Current evening movies with matinees on Saturday/Sundays.  237 N Main Street.  https://bishoptwintheatre.com/

Outdoors

Bishop Murals City Tour – (Can be viewed by motor vehicle or on foot).  Find the 15 murals throughout Bishop depicting its history on walls.  Pick up the brochure at the Bishop Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau.

Keough’s Hot Springs Resort – Bring your swimsuit and take a relaxing & refreshing soak or swim just 15 minutes south of Bishop.  800 Keough’s Hot Springs Road.  Hours vary by season.  Closed on Tuesday. There are two pools — a warm and hot pool.  The hot pool has a cover above the pool while the big warm pool does not.  http://keoughshotsprings.com/

Wildlife Viewing – (Can be viewed by motor vehicle or on foot) – Check out the Round Valley Mule Deer Wintering Area about 20 minutes northwest of Bishop.  Also check out the Laws Birds of Prey Area just north of Laws Historic Site. Look for wintering shorebirds at Owens Lake a little over an hour south of Bishop.

Wildcare Eastern Sierra – Meet Spirit, an injured red-tailed hawk, who was rehabilitated to full health at this unique native wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center.  This facility mends the wounds of injured and orphaned native wildlife.  Animals that cannot be adapted back to their native habitat are kept at the center for educational purposes.  Located at 800 Keough Hot Springs Road, #17B.  Look for the Wildlife Center signs.  To visit this menagerie of rehabilitated native wildlife requires a reservation.  Please call (760) 872-1487 to make a reservation.  https://www.eswildcare.org/

Bishop Creek Canyon – Snowshoe, cross-country ski or snow play in this area if conditions permit.  This is a higher altitude venue but if the weather is acceptable, it can be an enjoyable experience.

Volcanic Tableland – Hike to Happy Boulders/Sad Boulders or motor tour the Volcanic Tableland to add to your hike. Immediately north of Bishop.  Pick up the brochure at the Bishop Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau.

Owens River Gorge – Hike into the Owens River Gorge.  Immediately north of Bishop.  Pick up a brochure at the Bishop Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau.

Lower Rock Creek Canyon – Hike in this narrow canyon immediately north of Bishop. Pick up a brochure at the Bishop Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau.  Hiking Trails Link

Bishop Canal Walks – Stroll endlessly along the many canals surrounding Bishop. Pick up a brochure at the Bishop Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau. Hiking Trails Link

Buttermilk Country – Wander among the amazing rock formations just west of Bishop.

Big Pine

Owens Valley Radio Observatory (Outdoors) – A cool place to check out celestial-like towers.  30 minutes south and east of Bishop.  https://www.ovro.caltech.edu/

Tinnemaha Scenic Wildlife Overlook (Outdoors) – Hike or drive to this overlook about 0.75 miles in length one way to an isolated hilltop peak in the Poverty Hills.  Overlooks the Big Pine Volcanic Field, Tinnemaha Reservoir, the Owens Valley and the High Sierra.  Pick up a brochure at the Bishop Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center.  Hiking Trails Link

Independence

Eastern Sierra Wildlife Interpretive Center inside the Historic Mt. Whitney Fish Hatchery – 45 minutes south of Bishop in Independence.  This is an often-overlooked gem!  Open Thursday through Monday, 10am-3:30pm. https://mtwhitneyfishhatchery.org/

Eastern California Museum in Independence (both indoors/outdoors) – 45 minutes south of Bishop.  Large collection of Native American basketry exhibits on area history including mining, mountaineering, agriculture, LADWP aqueduct and much more. Open daily 10am-5pm. 155 Grant Street.  http://www.inyocounty.us/ecmsite/

Independence Walking Tour – Visit historic architecture scattered throughout Independence.  Pick up your guide at the Eastern California Museum at 155 Grant Street.  http://www.inyocounty.us/ecmsite/.  

Mary Austin Historic Home – Visit this iconic local author’s home in Independence.  Outside only.  253 Market Street.  Mary Austin Home Info

Manzanar National Historic Site – (both indoors/outdoors) Learn about the 10,000 Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II.  Wonderful emotionally moving exhibits include living quarters, dining hall and a film featuring people who actually lived there.  50 miles south of Bishop (between Independence & Lone Pine). Open daily 9am-4:30 pm. https://www.nps.gov/manz/

Lone Pine

Indoors

Museum of Western Film History in Lone Pine – see real movie props, costumes and artifacts from some of the 400+ movies that have been filmed in the area. Get a movie location map and take a drive through the Alabama Hills to see the sights in person. One hour south of Bishop in Lone Pine.  Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm.  https://www.museumofwesternfilmhistory.org/

Eastern Sierra Visitor Center – Regional information, books, gifts, etc.  Jct of Hwys 136 & 395.  https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recreation/recarea/?recid=20698

Outdoors:

Alabama Hills – Hike to the Mobius Arch or the Eye of the Needle Arch. One hour south of Bishop, west of Lone Pine.  You can also tour the Alabama Hills by vehicle and add to your hike.  You may be able to arrange for a horseback ride through McGee Creek Pack Station.  https://www.mcgeecreekpackstation.com/

Cottonwood Charcoal Kilns – Check out the “beehive” shaped kilns used to make charcoal for the smelter furnaces at the Cerro Gordo Mining Camp during the late 1800s.  Located east of Hwy 395 between Olancha and Lone Pine.

Regional Eastern Sierra Opportunities

Historic Monuments Road Tour – (Can be done in an auto).  Check out numerous historic monuments — many located near roads and highways.  Pick up a Treasure Map at the Bishop Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center.

Hidden Stories of the Eastern Sierra – (Indoor Activity on Your Digital Device) Explore this cornucopia of digital links to stories about the Eastern Sierra via videos, slide shows, cinematic films, podcasts, and documents immersing you into the area’s natural history on a grand scale.