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Natural History & Outdoor Attractions

There are few places in the world where evidence of the natural history of a region is more obvious and interesting than in the Eastern Sierra. The forces that have shaped our world have produced an astonishing assortment of observable characteristics that give us insight into the creation of this part of our planet.

Photo @baldwin courtesy of Inyo County Photo Shootout

Wild & Diverse

The Eastern Sierra, unlike so many other primordial lands of the world, remains relatively untouched by human interference. It is still wild and diverse, with massive mountains and deep valleys. This guides you through the history of the land and some of the best places to catch fall colors, night sky, sunsets, waterfalls, and wildflowers. It's breathtakingly beautiful 🤩 🙌

Solo Adventure Video
glacier formed lakes

Natural History

Highlights

  • The Eastern Sierra is a vast and unspoiled region that offers exceptional opportunity for recreation and discovery.
  • A staggering 99% of land in Inyo County and 93.6% of Mono County is designated as public land; this adds up to an incredible amount of beautiful and diverse land for adventure and exploration.
  • Glaciers, volcanoes, water, and wind have shaped this landscape for eons, see features like geometrically shaped rock columns, massive sand dunes, natural rock arches, blast craters, tufa towers, and the oldest living beings on the planet.
  • The Eastern Sierra ranks as one of the most photographed regions in the USA; come see why!

Resources

Natural History of the Eastern Sierra

There are few places in the world where evidence of the natural history of a region is more obvious and interesting than in the Eastern Sierra. The forces that have shaped our world have produced an astonishing assortment of observable characteristics that give us insight into the creation of this part of our planet. These distinctive features present an opportunity to view, firsthand, the results of these forces.

Aspects of nature that seem improbable and unexpected are wondrous and beautiful. Elements of geography and topography that appear inconsistent and disrupted have logical explanations. Everything here has happened for a reason and we are witness to the wonder of nature.

The Eastern Sierra is a vast and unspoiled region that offers exceptional opportunity for recreation and discovery. Whether you are trekking along the John Muir Trail or wandering among the ancient Great Basin Bristlecone pines (the oldest living beings on our planet) or watching the Milky Way arc brilliantly across the sky on a dark moonless night, there’s a story there that goes back to the dawn of history.

The rocks tell stories of the upheavals of the earth, and the valley shows where the Earth’s crust has stretched and dropped while the mountains rose to shelter it from storms. Tiny fish and wild bighorn sheep, a million-year-old lake and the planet’s oldest living things, all endemic to this region, survive, protected by their stewards, so that we can learn about our past and perhaps secure our future.

A Land Before Time

This land, before time was measured and records were kept, was very different to what we see today. What is now the western USA was once separated from what is today the eastern USA by a massive inland sea. Huge marine reptiles swam in this ocean and their fossil remains can be viewed at a nearby Nevada State Park, the Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park.

As the region dried, and the earth lifted and dropped and exploded, it developed into what we see today. It continues to crack, and warp, and shape our landscape. The Eastern Sierra, unlike so many other primordial lands of the world, remains relatively untouched by human interference. It is still wild and diverse, with massive mountains and deep valleys.

Excitement & Exploration

Many regular visitors to our region spend time in the same places and report that it is very rewarding to find consistency in our natural world. Others are committed to exploration and challenge; the extensive opportunities here provide a constant supply of fresh landscapes and hidden treasures to seek out. All who venture into the known and unknown say it is exciting and rejuvenating.

Whether you are a frequent guest or first-time visitor, this page can guide you to the places that excite you most. It may offer something new or confirm a feeling you have for a special place that you know and love. It might just open a window to a whole new experience that you’ve never considered before.

Wherever this takes you, we encourage you to find out more by following the links and reaching out to us.

Natural Events & Attractions

Fall Colors

Fall happens here too!

Fall color spotting is accessible and magical for folks of all ages and abilities. Good, paved roads wind up into the mountains of the Eastern Sierra, where deciduous trees line the roadway and large groves spread out along the mountainside. Trails add an opportunity to get up close and personal with the foliage of the forests. Some are easy and others require a little more time and effort, but all are greatly rewarding.

Look at our Fall Color Spotting Guide here.

A person walks along a road surrounded by vibrant yellow trees during autumn in Bishop, California's stunning Eastern Sierra. visit bishop
A child sits in a forest full of autumn leaves near Bishop, California, wearing a leaf crown and smiling joyfully amidst the vibrant colors of the Eastern Sierra. visit bishop

Night Sky

The night sky has captured the human imagination from time immemorial. The Eastern Sierra still has incredibly dark, clear skies and it is perfectly situated for a brilliant night sky experience. Not only is the canopy of stars dazzling, but this landscape has spectacular natural beauty to complement this stellar experience.

Look at our Night Sky Guide here.

A starry night sky with the Milky Way over the rocky landscape of Bishop, California; a natural stone arch is visible to the right in the Eastern Sierra. visit bishop
Twisted ancient tree under a starry night sky, with the Milky Way visible in the background, near Bishop, California in the heart of the Eastern Sierra. visit bishop

Waterfalls

A glacial staircase of connected lakes produces countless waterfalls and cascades, many are worthy of viewing and easily accessed. Our waterfalls exist in one of the most scenic parts of our country and the most photographed region in California. This is where waterfalls are born.

Check out our Waterfalls guide here.

A waterfall cascades over a rocky cliff surrounded by trees, with sunlight streaming through in the background, capturing the serene beauty of Bishop, California in the Eastern Sierra. visit bishop
A waterfall cascades over rocks surrounded by autumn-colored foliage and trees in the picturesque setting of Bishop, California, within the Eastern Sierra. visit bishop

Wildflowers

Wildflowers bloom abundantly here every year from early March to late September. It is an experience to be enjoyed by the whole family.

What sets the Eastern Sierra apart from many other desert wildflower regions is its extremes in elevation combined with a diverse geologic environment. It is also the intersection of three major biotic provinces – the Mojave, Great Basin, and Sierra Nevada – with the result that this region has a wide variety of vegetation communities. Thousands of species occur here and many are unique to the Eastern Sierra.

Find out more on our interactive Wildflowers guide here.

Tall purple wildflowers in the foreground with a mountain lake and rocky peaks under a partly cloudy sky in the background, capturing the serene beauty of Bishop, California in the Eastern Sierra. visit bishop
Field of purple wildflowers with a backdrop of snow-capped mountains under a blue sky near Bishop, California. visit bishop

The Other Side of California

The Eastern Sierra is a pristine and diverse landscape of deserts and sand dunes, huge mountains and alpine forests, meandering rivers and tumbling waterfalls, spectacular sunsets, spring wildflowers and fabulous fall colors. It ranks as one of the most photographed regions in the USA.

It lies on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada mountain range that divides much of central California into the wetter western side and the drier eastern side. The region is made up primarily of two counties, Inyo and Mono. Inyo County, the second largest county by area in California, and its northern neighbor Mono County (pronounced moh-no) are two of the least populated counties in California.

Together these two counties cover just under 10% of the total land area of all of California. A staggering 99% of land in Inyo County and 93.6% of Mono County is designated as public land. This adds up to an incredible amount of beautiful and diverse land for adventure and exploration.

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