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Bishop Visitor's Center

Welcome to Bishop, California

Small Town with a Big Backyard

Welcome to Bishop, California

Small Town with a Big Backyard

REQUEST a FREE Bishop Visitor Guide

Start planning your trip to Bishop!

FREE Bishop Visitor Guide

Start planning your trip to Bishop today!

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Bishop Hotel

Downtown Bishop Lodging

Whether on a relaxing fishing trip, outdoor adventure, or just passing through, Bishop is a wonderful place to stay. Find a room at a downtown Bishop Hotel, Hostel, Inn, Bed & Breakfast or venture up to Bishop Creek for a wonderful cabin experience.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Be sure to check current weather and road conditions.  In winter months, desert passes may be flooded, snowy roadways may be closed or require traction devices to travel north of Bishop. All motor vehicles, including AWD and 4WD must carry traction devices in winter. Tioga Pass (120 to Yosemite) is typically closed November – May.

Check California Road Conditions (Hwy 395) | Check Nevada Road Conditions If you have hotel reservations, please take the time to check on Covid regulations, wildfire smoke conditions,highway conditionswebcams, Eastern Sierra avalanche forecasting, Bishop climbing ranger reports, Fred’s fly fishing report, closures, business hours and safety guidelines. Feel free to give us a call if we can help in your planning process.


Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery

>> READY INYO COUNTY 
>> READY MONO COUNTY

Upcoming Events

Bishop Blake Jones Trout Derby Catch 2022

Blake Jones RESCHEDULED

The 2023 Blake Jones Trout Derby registration is now open for May 13th.

Bishop California Hotel Lodging

Where to Find Wildflowers?

We have prepared some easy and quick directions for you to find great wildflowers in Southern California’s deserts and mountains.

Pick your Path

IT’S TIME TO CHOOSE YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE: Travel Tips & Blog Stories

Family Winter Vacation in Bishop

Family Winter Vacation in Bishop

Bishop in winter offers the perfect family getaway. Get out of the big city and into the mountains where the snowy peaks rise up on either side of this broad, beautiful valley. The nights are chilly, the days are often warm, the air is clear and crisp, and our big backyard is a natural playground. We’ve created a suggested 5-Day adventure itinerary so you don’t need to figure it out. Just follow the links in this blog and make your bookings for your 5 days of fun.

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A Smorgasbord of Love on Valentine’s Day in Bishop

A Smorgasbord of Love on Valentine’s Day in Bishop

Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love. Especially the love shared with a cherished partner. It’s a day to set aside time to spend with your partner and indulge a little, or a lot, in things that make you both happy. Bishop offers a unique experience for locals and visitors from near and far a chance to reconnect. It’s a wintertime playground for lovers of all ages and abilities to connect, not only with each other, but with nature. We’ve put together a Valentine’s Day itinerary for leisurely lovers and amorous adventurers of food, activity, relaxation, and gift giving. Take a look. You’ll love it!

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How to Tie Fishing Knots: 10 Easy Knots to Get You Started

How to Tie Fishing Knots: 10 Easy Knots to Get You Started

Fishing knots are created and used everyday by many anglers worldwide. There is a variety of fishing knots, each has a different role, from attaching a line to a hook or swivel, attaching a line to a lure, to connecting and joining lines. If you have the right fishing...

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10 Perfect Places for Spring Camping around Bishop

10 Perfect Places for Spring Camping around Bishop

You’re getting the itch to go camping in the Eastern Sierra, but unless you’re the hardy winter camping sort it’s a little too early to head up into the high country. Perhaps you bought some new gear recently or you need to dust off the old stuff and get things...

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Only One Tank Away… Or None At All

Only One Tank Away… Or None At All

Maybe because it’s situated within a hundred miles of the highest AND lowest points in the contiguous points. Or that Bishop is in one of the least populated counties in the Golden State. For whatever reason, Bishop has one-of-a kind attractions that most zip by. Take a tour of the giant telescopes from the movie Arrival at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory. Learn about a chapter in the nation’s history unknown by many at the Manzanar National Historic Site. See the natural phenomena of the “sailing stones” in Death Valley that kept scientists baffled until 2014.

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Transportation

Bishop is located in the very middle of California, where Highways 6 and 395 intersect and also offers public transportation and shuttle options. Whether you’re traveling from Southern or Northern California, or a major city in Nevada, you’ll drive 4 1/2 to 5 hours to reach Bishop. We hope you enjoy your journey!

Elevation

At 4,150 ft (1,260 m) above sea level, the natural environment of Bishop changes quickly from the high desert sage and arid climate of the wide open Owens Valley floor to an alpine wonderland of pine forest, rushing streams and gorgeous deep-blue lakes surrounded by the mighty mountain peaks of the Eastern Sierra.

Population

The “greater Bishop area,” which includes unincorporated nearby neighborhoods such as West Bishop, Meadow Creek-Dixon Lane, Wilkerson Ranch, Rocking K, Mustang Mesa and Round Valley includes an additional 11,000 residents.

Climate

If you need to warm your back, Bishop is a welcomed retreat with much (much) warmer weather than Mammoth. With 5.18″ average yearly precipitation and only 6 inches of snow, Bishop makes the perfect combo vacation – ski, golf, fish and bike year-round.