The Tablelands

Rugged Beauty. Recreational Opportunity. Profound Tranquility.

The Tablelands offer a diverse range of recreational activities, a chance to connect with nature, and an opportunity to witness the awe-inspiring beauty of the night sky. Whether you’re a seasoned climber, an avid hiker or biker, birdwatcher, flower enthusiast, or simply seeking a moment of peace and tranquility, the Volcanic Tablelands provide an unforgettable experience, a journey into the heart of ancient fire and modern adventure.

Stewarding an Ancient Landscape

The story begins in the Long Valley Caldera, roughly 25‑miles northwest of Bishop. A massive magma chamber, unable to contain its immense pressure, ruptured the Earth’s crust. The resulting eruption unleashed a pyroclastic flow, a superheated torrent of ash and gas that surged across the landscape. This incandescent avalanche cooled and solidified, forming the soft rock we now call Bishop Tuff, the very bedrock of the Tablelands. Over millennia, the Owens River and seasonal water flows carved the Tuff, creating the deep Owens River Gorge and the myriad canyons that define the area. The dramatic escarpment, known as Chalk Bluff, with its distinctive pinkish-white hue, stands as a stark reminder of this volcanic past.

Walking through these time-honored landscapes offers a unique healing experience. The ancient stones, the peaceful mountains, and the trails that once echoed with the footsteps of Native stewards remind us of the land’s enduring story. Recognizing the deep connection and care Indigenous communities have held for this place, we are invited to reflect on how the land once was and continues to be.

Seeking Solace in the Stars

For those seeking a contemplative experience, the Tablelands offer a sanctuary of peace and tranquility. The pristine natural environment, with its vast open spaces and sweeping vistas, provides a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life. The sheer expanse of the sky, unpolluted by light, transforms the Tablelands into a stargazer’s paradise. Bishop boasts incredibly dark skies, and the Tablelands, with their unobstructed views, offer unparalleled opportunities for celestial observation. Here, under the vast, star-studded canopy, one can truly appreciate the immensity of the universe. Identifying constellations, tracking their movement across the night sky, and simply marveling at the sheer number of stars becomes a deeply immersive and unforgettable experience. Find out more about our Night Sky here.

Happy Climbing

Three easily accessible areas of the Tablelands are part of what makes Bishop the one of the best bouldering and rock-climbing venues in the world.

The Owens River Gorge, a deep, steep-sided canyon about 10‑miles long, on the western edge of the escarpment, is a favorite destination for sport climbing. It is California’s most concentrated sport climbing area with nearly 1,000 bolted sport climbing routes featuring perfectly in-cut handholds, edges, pockets, and cracks. Find more details here about the Gorge and how to get there.

About midway along the face of the escarpment are two narrow canyons filled with perfect boulders. Here the Bishop Tuff has been sculpted, cracked and pockmarked to provide an endless variety of bouldering opportunities. Known as the Happy and Sad boulders these canyons are a magnet for climbers of all abilities. The Happy Boulders, warmer and sheltered, provide a welcome respite during winter, while the Sad Boulders, with their narrow, catacomb-like channels, offer cool relief on hot days. Climbing on the Tablelands offers physical climbing on positive holds, a perfect transition from gym climbing to the outdoors.

Run, Ride, and Drive

Beyond climbing, the Tablelands offer a wealth of recreational opportunities. Hikers and trail runners revel in the expansive network of trails, enjoying breathtaking panoramic views of the Owens Valley and the majestic Sierra Nevada.

When you feel the need to stretch your eyes and your legs the Tablelands will provide sweeping vistas and long, undulating roads for a rhythmic run. Of the routes available some skirt the protected wetlands of Fish Slough, or wander through indigenous alkali meadows that comprise much of this plateau. Others curve in and around the rock formations that are sculpted in the Bishop Tuff from which this plateau is created. The area offers a variety of rolling high desert running on graded dirt roads and well-worn trails with few obstacles. Get more details on our dedicated trail-running page here.

The Tablelands conceal a treasure trove of gravel grinder biking routes. Between Chalk Bluff Rd. that curves along the base of the plateau, and Chidago Canyon that slices through the Tuff in the center of the plateau there are numerous combinations of routes to be made up from the network of tracks and trails that traverse the Tablelands. Read this blog for more details on these and other rides.

Dirt bikers and OHV enthusiasts will find ample space too, to explore this rugged terrain, testing their skills on the challenging dirt roads and trails. Download this great guide on Backroad Tours in the Eastern Sierra.

Connect with a Living Desert

Fish Slough, a riparian wetland and one of the richest wetland floras in the Great Basin, lies on the eastern edge of the Tablelands. With over 125 plant species, including eight rare species, Fish Slough is an extravagant find for flower enthusiasts. The diversity of species will deliver a greater variety of color and size. Blossoms of cream, yellow and magenta will carpet the slopes bordering the slough. Check out these links to our wildflower tutorial page and interactive map tour.