Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Bishop Creek Buttermilk Country
Transcription
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Bishop Creek Buttermilk Country
O we GERKIN RD Fork Owens Valley Radio Observatory Warren Lake ke HIGH MEADOWS . ^. p RD REYNOLDS E DOW EA McMURRY M e n l McMURRY MEADOWS Crater Mtn. EL. 6,055 Fish Springs State Fish Hatchery Red Mtn. EL. 5,188 Red FL EY LL VA S Tinemaha Reservoir Creek TABOOSE CR ABERDEEN STATION RD e s oo b Ta GOO DAL E Aberdeen C CREEK RD ER WILDERNESS Indian Paintbrush DG reek BA Mazourka Peak EL. 9,413 G N CREEK Scotty Spring DIVISIO p . sion Creek Black Rock State Fish Hatchery SA Sawmill Pt. EL. 9,416 TA RI CANYON Creek ill Sawm N T Santa A FL Rita AT Spring CR Y R I S TA DG L E SAWMILL CREEK RD Colosseum Mtn. EL. 12,450 INYO RD Divi Mt. Perkins EL. 12,591 Rudon Spring TINEMAHA N N A RK M RO YO U ZO AR ST N MA Mt. Pinchot EL. 13,495 CA AT dale Goo Side Hill Spring FL SKY T Seeley Springs AT MUIR Goodale Mtn. EL. 12,790 Striped Mtn. EL. 13,160 ©1999 LONDIE G. PADEL FLA Spring Charlies Butte p . R Wild iris in Round Valley, below Mt. Tom SS RD Red Lake KE Golf Course KLE SKY n tai un Mo EC Mine or Quarry PARK Fishing Access k ST TABOOSE PASS EL. 11,500 NATIONAL HAR Mule Spring v . Cree JOHN Cardinal Mt. EL. 13,397 VALLEY N ©1999 LONDIE G. PADEL Spring Boat Launching Ramp YO VALLEY POVERTY HILLS Springs k Cree Tinemaha Lake Split Mtn. EL. 14,058 N DEVILS GATE Fish Springs Creek Tinemaha Wildlife Viewpoint A N AT I O N A L Birch Mtn. EL. 13,655 Mt. Bolton Brown EL. 13,538 AD C INE River The Thumb EL. 13,388 Ranger Station Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway Kiosk RO L L itt i eP Birch Lake Point of Interest D ens k Birch Pack Station KE SAL NA Cr ee S RD LODG GLACIER Bi g P ine Creek MIDDLE PALISADE GLACIER Trailhead Parking OO STEWART LN Kid Mtn. EL. 11,896 Picnic Area CR RD Creek Brainerd Lake Middle Palisade EL. 14,040 DEATH Ow rk Pine Fo Cr ee k NORMAN CLYDE GLACIER N McMurry Spring BARTELL RD Willow Lake YO R IE LD Edith Mendenhall Park k CA PALISADE North GLACIER Palisade Elinore EL. 14,242 Lake SO Zurich (site) c . C Spring Uhlymeyer Spring N A r Big Pine Lakes Mt. Agassiz EL. 13,893 Wilkerson Springs NE Sam Mack Lake rth RD PI No W Klondike Lake Recreation Area A TG ES RD SS PA G Black Lake WILDERNESS 168 Klondike Lake Spring Cr EP Toll House (site) FISH SPRINGS RD East Fork South ON M O U N TA I N Buckhorn Springs Batchelder Spring 395 ee Ba Grouse Spring Ruwau Lake NG RI SP p Bi sh o OW PIPER RD h Bi rc M O U N TA I N TA B L E E R ID G PSON AD Bog Mound Spring AT ME ON FL ER CANY Deep Springs Lake Blank Mtn. EL. 9,083 N Sugarloaf EL. 11,026 NG ON R SH N AN YS WESTGARD PASS EL. 7,271 CE Baker Lake Saddlerock BISHOP PASS EL. 11,972 Round Mtn. EL. 11,188 PA DE Creek ERS RD ED POW k Cr ee c . DA Creek Antelope Spring BI Long Lake Deep Springs College k Sierra View Overlook Y WA THOM POLETA-LAWS RD N YO N A C Y RR BE ER D v . ON BY YO N ©1999 JOHN DITTLI Slough GORGE RD k ee Pin e EL BARLOW W H E E L E R Fish C R E S T ROCK Rock Cr BROCKMAN LN Creek CREEK t on Hil Creek Creek NY Black Canyon Spring S Chocolate Lakes Cr CANYON RD Creek Morgan Ga ble CA G DIN ON Warm Springs N SA Locked Gate k . TA NY E Treasure Lakes Gate . ^ A Hidden Lake National Park Boundary . v D CA W Parchers Resort Weir Lake Mt. Johnson Lake EL. 12,868 Mt. Goode EL. 13,092 Wilderness Boundary O Mt. Gilbert EL. 13,103 Hiking Trails Spring LAKE k COLLINS RD ion On Mt. Powell EL. 13,356 LE PO RE E Echo Lake rk Fo DG Hungry Packer Lake Unpaved Roads p . Creek RI Moonlight Lake c . White Mtn. Research Station Spring c . . k p Green Lake . SOUTH ee ee CLOSED IN WINTER C . ^ Tyee Lakes Cr GROVE e TE George Lake West Birch c SCHULMAN . Pinon Bishop Creek h . White Mountain City (site) WARM SPRINGS RD 2 Lookout Mtn. EL. 11,261 k Bishop YO Midnight Lake POLETA RD 1 Bishop Country Club CO k . . p Mt. Darwin EL. 13,830 Bishop Airport ee Creek Visitor Center REED F L AT yot Bishop Creek Lodge Creekside RV Park Cardinal Village Resort Lake Sabrina Boat Landing Blue Lake VISITORS BUREAU City Park EAST LINE WEST LINE ST Izaak Walton Park SCHOBER LN Cerro Coso Community College Springs C Co INTAKE 2 NORTH LAKE Dingleberry Lake SCALE IN MILES z . k k LAKE SABRINA c . HWY ee . ^ . p 5 Montenegro Spring Aspendell For Lamarck Lakes Entrance Station White Mtn. Bishop Area Chamber Ranger Station of Commerce and Paiute Palace Casino Cr North z . SIERRA Spring Cr Roberts Ranch Beer Rocking K e re 168 Ancient Bristlecone Pine Cedar Spring Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest DIXON LN 168 Grouse Mtn. EL. 8,067 d ke oo Cr IL Millpond Park LS CANYON River FIVE BRIDGES Owens LONGLEY MEADOW DUTCH JOHNS MEADOW Mt. Emerson EL. 13,225 Wyman NATIONA L k WILDERNESS r SCEN IC ST k PIUTE PASS EL. 11,423 Paved Roads and Highways ISTLECONE BR CH EN Starlight Mt. Humphreys EL. 13,986 L E G E N D G Blanco Mtn. EL. 11,278 Goat Spring n Horton Lakes County Line Hill EL. 11,229 nte Gu S I LV E R rto Ho Longley Lake 5 N BIG SAGE HEN PROSPECTOR FLAT MEADOW Creek RD RD H Buttermilk Country Mt. Tom EL. 13,652 TU N Crooked Creek Laboratory PINE 3 ee 4 Station Peak EL. 10,316 BLUFF BLUFF NOR TH McG 3 T IEN ee Four Gables EL. 12,691 AN RD SO ROU ND V A LLEY Basin Mtn. EL. 13,240 2 CHALK ALK D MUIR PINE CREEK PASS 1 CREEK RD Pleasant Valley Reservoir R Cr Pine Lake PATRIARCH GROVE 6 N K . ^. p ey JOHN Harry Birch Springs V RD A S LO FORT RD Cree k RAD DG E VA L LEY Seven Pines GRAYS MEADOW Eastern California Museum dence Y RD LLE Indepen N O ILL RD FOOTH Coyote Spring VA 395 ek Cre AD Pin LRO yon ee Cr RAI k e Cre MAZOURKA CANYON RD k ONION O NI GRA DE University Peak EL. 13,632 MANZANAR REWARD RD es mm Mt. Bradley EL. 13,289 Sy WILDERNESS Creek O ENY -LO Fork NE s er rge o CH RA N AT Owenyo (site) French Spring RD MOFF Wi lli Ge Mt. Williamson EL. 14,375 Mt. Tyndall Lake Helen EL. 14,018 of Troy Mt. Versteeg EL. 13,470 Trojan Peak EL. 13,950 Cr ee k RD CK A GB HO M O V I E Alabama Hills Recreation Area RD k RA NC H ee Lone Pine Airport LE TT RD k . Diaz Lake 136 To Dea th V alle y» D S T ER O S Beverly & Jim Rogers Museum of Lone Pine Film History IN AD OLIV A . Mt. Whitney Ranger Station z P NE ek Cre W Tuttle D D LO Cr RD ER UG GA O- c . Lone Pine Lake PORTAL k Cree LONE PINE N A R RO Y EN p . WHITNEY Pine Lone Pine Park E E M Mt. Whitney EL. 14,494 Lone F L AT OW Mt. Russell EL. 14,086 Whitney Portal EL. 8,371 In yo Tunnabora Peak EL. 13,565 Lone Pine Station W ack C R E EK R Hogb RD Mt. Barnard EL. 13,990 IE MOV on ek Cre FOREST am s Riv MAHOGANY Cr FLAT D ER PIN Bair HOR S E S H O 888-395-3952 690 N. Main Street, Bishop, CA 93514 • 760-873-8405 www.BishopVisitor.com rth No OW ek Cre rd he k ee SHEPHERD PASS Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau ens Junction Peak EL. 13,888 Ow p . p . ep Sh Mt. Keith EL. 13,977 servoir Bishop Creek Canyon's Intake Two Re Bee Springs Kearsarge (site) OLD Big Pothole Lake Matlock Lake Dehy Park AQUEDUCT KEARSARGE PASS EL. 11,823 A RO Oak Golden . ^ p . L RAI e Cr rk Dragon Peak Trout EL. 12,995 Lakes Kearsarge Peak EL. 12,598 M O U N TA I N S OLD LI E TTL Independence Airport ek Fo LEY N VA L S South LE FISH HATCHERY RD O ONI Winnedumah Paiute Monument EL. 8,369 GE AN Camp Independence (site) Diamond Peak EL. 13,126 Parker Lakes Spring Y th Nor McGann Springs E p . Oak Fo L Thibaut rk BAXTER PASS EL. 12,320 Black Mtn. EL. 13,289 www.TheOtherSideOfCalifornia.com KA MAZOUR k Cree Mt. Baxter EL. 13,125 U ©1999 JANE DOVE JUNEAU / BACCVB L Horseback riding at North Lake Gordon Spring Grover Anton Spring Sawmill Lake SAWMILL PASS ©1999 JIM STROUP 0 CY Rovana rn GRANITE PARK IM LC Bi CH MIL Bear Creek Spire EL. 13,720 SLOUGH BIR PINE CANYO AT E R COLDW T A B L E L A N D INYO Tungsten Mine Piute E Mt. Dade c . Sheep Mtn. EL. 12,497 Creek RG Upper Morgan Lake COTTONWOOD BASIN C GO Mt. Abbot EL. 13,704 Chalfant Valley V O L C A N I C Round Valley Peak EL. 11,943 LAKES VALLEY Long Lake Piute Mtn. EL. 12,564 Campito Mtn. EL. 11,543 395 Paradise Estates Tamarack Lakes LITTLE Ruby Lake TRES PLUMAS FLAT N ER p . MONO Mosquito PASS Flat EL. 12,000 Springs Geskes Springs RIV ROCK CREEK LAKE k p . Cree . ^ r Rock Creek Rock Creek Lodge YO N S 4 . ^ Rock Creek Lakes Resort OWEN we Swall Meadows A C SACRAMENTO ck Ro Mt. Huntington EL. 12,405 Lo RD Hilton Creek Lakes Sherwin Summit EL. 7,000 r K EE CR Mt. Stanford EL. 12,851 Creek Birch Ri CANYON STRAIGHT ve CK RO Davis Lake ITALY PASS EL. 12,300 ns ER Red Mtn. EL. 11,472 Mt. Morgan EL. 13,005 Mt. Mills EL. 13,451 E LAK DR. LOW p . LEY Rawson CRO W Hilton Creek To White Mountain Peak » Casa Diablo Mtn. EL. 7,912 FISH . ^ McG ee Creek Crowley Lake Ruins of the mine are still clearly visible, but for years now, the Cardinal Resort has operated in place of the old mine, even utilizing some of the original mining cabins for lodging. Another reservoir created to harness hydroelectric power along Bishop Creek, Lake Sabrina is dwarfed by an amphitheater of glacierdotted spires. Along with boating and fishing at the lake, you can hike up several fairly steep trails that access Emerald Lakes, Blue Lake and countless smaller lakes. For a relaxing day, have lunch at the Lake Sabrina Boat Landing Café and take a leisurely walk along the shore. A nearby pond and the meandering waters of Bishop Creek are great spots to find a priceless fishing hole. North Lake, off in its own private corner of the Sierra, is reached by a narrow, winding, one-lane road. Not suitable for trailers or RVs, the road heads right from Hwy. 168 just before Lake Sabrina. The view from the road is spectacular, with vistas from Owens Valley to the White Mountains. In April and May, snow may prevent auto travel altogether up the road, providing an opportunity for a scenic two-mile walk to North Lake—a splendid time to see the waterfall below North Lake at its fullest and catch some great early-season fishing. There are no stores or resorts at North Lake, which keeps things quiet even in the height of the summer season. A pack station offers day rides and extended pack trips into the high country, and a small campground serves fishermen and backpackers. If you want to stretch your legs, there is a marvelous wildflower walk around the back of the campground at the beginning of the Lamarck Lakes trail. In midsummer, this just might be the greatest show of easy-to-reach wildflowers this side of the crest. Lake Sabrina, Bishop Creek Canyon as they perch grandly on the hillside, each taking on a personality of its own. Across the road from the boulders, a narrow meadow meets the rocky base of Grouse Mountain, skirted by a brisk little creek. The main gravel road follows the creek’s course a short distance around the north side of the solitary mountain before dwindling to a more difficult and narrow track. For low-clearance vehicles, this is a good place to turn around. It’s also a good spot to walk up the creek a ways to a surprising little waterfall, another gem of a spot to picnic and explore. If you have extra time, you can walk up the track and around to the west side of Grouse Mountain. The meadows here are now a deer preserve, and faint roads throughout the basin provide good walking trails. This is a gorgeous spot; you’re high enough now to find aspen groves and stands of Jeffrey pine along the flanks of Grouse Mountain, and never absent is the jaw-dropping vista across the rising plain to Basin Mountain and Mount Tom. The narrow, rutted road swings west across this vast, high meadow, and there are two extended trips in this direction—a hike up to Horton Lake or a loop trip (four-wheel-drive only) around the basin and back to Hwy. 168. Most visitors, however, just plan on returning down Buttermilk Road the way they came, treasuring the free feeling of wide open spaces and a vista of Owens Valley and lofty White Mountains on their way back to Bishop —a fitting finale to a day worth remembering. lk Boulders Every stop on your tour of discovery offers something for both families and the solitary visitor—kids and adults alike love exploring desert rock formations and ambling along a tumbling creek or lakeshore, looking for the flash of a trout, the sparkle of gold beneath the water. The treasures change with the seasons, a rainbow of summer wildflowers giving way to the rustling of golden autumn leaves, a rare summer shower unlocking the heady fragrance of sage in the valley floor, a winter’s storm leaving a dazzling hush of snow. The natural treasures of the Eastern Sierra are complemented by an array of fine museums, where you can relive the mining and ranching era and learn about the native Paiute peoples and how they adapted to the varied Eastern Sierra environment. Visitor centers and shops offer a wealth of local guidebooks to help you choose your next route of exploration, whether you’re searching for bighorn sheep, the best fall color or that special fishing hole. Trout fishing along the Owens River U.S. 395 stretches 60 miles between Bishop and Lone Pine to the south, passing through Big Pine and Independence on the way. This is the heart of Owens Valley, still prime ranching and grazing land as it has been for over a century. The meandering, tree-lined Owens River runs from Bishop to Lone Pine, and can be reached in a number of locations by driving east from U.S. 395. The river here is open for fishing year round, and it’s a good place to cool your heels on a warm summer day. An unusually fun stop just eight miles south of Bishop is Keough’s Hot Springs. This historic retreat has recently undergone a revival as a public swimming and hot springs resort. The town of Big Pine is located 15 miles south of Bishop, serving as a jumping off point for hiking, camping and fishing in Big Pine Canyon to the west and the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains to the east. Heading south from Big Pine, you soon come upon Tinemaha Reservoir and the Wildlife View Area for Owens Valley’s tule elk herd. A species that was nearly extinct in the 1870s, about 500 tule elk live here in Owens Valley, where they Monument at were first introduced in the 1930s. Continuing south, it’s time for a refreshing break at the historic Mount Whitney Fish Hatchery, just two miles north of Independence. It’s definitely worth a stop to see the hatchery’s landmark Tudor mansion, which dates back to 1917. The graceful structure, oddly at ease in the desert, is surrounded with immaculate lawns and towering shade trees, just right for a picnic. The next stop is the town of Independence, peppered with historic homes of gracious design. You can take a walking tour through Independence, stopping by the Commander’s House, a structure built in 1872 (open to the public on weekends during summer). Built in 1863, the Edwards House at 124 Market Street is the oldest Commander’s House in Independence building in Owens Valley, and the Mary Austin House, 253 Market Street, is where famed author Mary Austin wrote her first book, “Land of Little Rain” (1903), a classic in desert literature. The Eastern California Museum, located in Independence at the intersection of Center and Grant streets, three blocks west of U.S. 395, is a delightful surprise, jam-packed with more than a century of local memorabilia exhibited side by side with displays featuring local wildlife, flowers and minerals. The finds here range from Native American basketry, arrowheads and petroglyphs to mining implements, ranching memorabilia and an intriguing collection of photographs and items from the 1940s Japanese Relocation Camp at Manzanar. Leaving Independence and heading toward Lone Pine, you’ll come to SKY ©1999 LONDIE G. PADEL ©1999 JOHN DITTLI T he story of the Eastern Sierra is a story of treasure seekers—lonely prospectors plodding the mountainsides in the late 1800s looking for that lucky strike, ranchers driving their cattle up the Owens Valley to rich grazing land, and early 20th-century developers drawing upon a wealth of water resources sent flowing down a mighty aqueduct to Southern California. Today’s visitors take advantage of a new sort of treasure hunt, one in which a vast array of natural wonders lie waiting to be discovered. The Eastern Sierra is an abrupt wall reaching two miles above the floor of Owens Valley, encompassing everything from desert scrub and alkali springs to lush alpine meadows and jagged mountain summits dotted with glacial ice. Whether you find yourself admiring a delicate desert wildflower, stopping to watch a herd of deer or surprising upon a sparkling lake along a trail, there’s something new at every turn, more riches to discover with each visit. Plan on a full day for traveling into the White Mountains to see the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, a hauntingly beautiful and barren landscape dotted with the oldest and most picturesque trees on earth. This trip takes you to a million-dollar view across Owens Valley to the Sierra crest, past two groves of ancient and wildly sculpted bristlecone pines, and on to a gate and turnaround five miles south of White Mountain Peak’s sky-high summit (14,246 feet). There are no services available in the White Mountains, so be sure to have enough fuel in your car, a warm jacket, and food and beverages for the day. To reach the White Mountains from Bishop, take U.S. 395 south 15 miles to Big Pine and turn left (east) on Hwy. 168 toward Westgard Pass. Stay on Hwy. 168 for 13 miles, then turn left onto the Ancient Bristlecone Pine National Scenic Byway. Eight miles up the road, you come to Sierra View Overlook, one of those stops you won’t want to miss. A short path around a knobby hill next to the parking lot brings you to an observation point with an extraordinary view, encompassing over 100 miles of the Sierra range, from Mount Whitney to Yosemite National Park. It’s another two miles to Schulman Grove, the first of two main bristlecone pine areas in the White Mountains. Schulman Grove is home to the world’s oldest known specimens of bristlecone pine, with trees boasting ages well above 4,000 years. The grove features a visitor center, picnic area, ranger talks and two self-guided interpretive trails— the mile-long Discovery Trail and the 4.5-mile Methuselah Trail Loop. Both trails lead you through a barren, moonlike landscape that is home to these ancient, gnarled pines. The secret to the bristlecone’s longevity is its adaptation to this unique environment—the ability to survive with only a short growing season each year, a pattern of slow growth amounting to only an inch in diameter every 100 years, and a root system that anchors it tenaciously to dry, rocky slopes where it is exposed to high winds and freezing temperatures much of the year. From Schulman Grove, continue on a dirt road another 11 miles to Patriarch Grove, where you’ll find the most picturesque trees. Among them is the Patriarch, the largest known bristlecone pine, measuring more than 36 feet around. The road ends about 4.5 miles north of Patriarch Grove at a locked gate. The summit of White Mountain Peak—the third-highest mountain in California—lies 5 miles beyond the gate, a very strenuous hike at this elevation, even for those in excellent physical condition. ©1999 JANE DOVE JUNEA U/BACCVB ©2010 CRAIG CANNON ©1999 JIM STROUP pot Mount Whitney Fish Hatchery Manzanar National Historic Site. Here, over 11,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry were interned during World War II. Lone Pine, 60 miles south of Bishop, is the farthest destination on this Owens Valley tour. This is the gateway to Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the “lower 48,” at 14,494 feet. The Alabama Hills are situated west of Lone Pine off Whitney Portal Manzanar Cemetery Road, which continues another 10 miles past the Alabama Hills to the trailhead for Mount Whitney. The easiest area to explore is along Movie Road (dirt), which leads off to the right (north) about three miles west of town. Ambling among formations of weathered, golden granite, it’s easy to see why these dry hills and boulders, backed by the snowy Sierra, have attracted movie crews since the film industry’s earliest days. Kids like to scramble around on the rocks and hunt for lizards and horned toads, imagining a bandido hiding behind every boulder. Be sure to visit the Beverly & Jim Rogers Museum of Lone Pine Film History on U.S. 395. Depending on your inclination, you can return to Lone Pine and U.S. 395 the way you came into the Alabama Hills, or you can continue six miles along Movie Road and Moffatt Ranch Road to the junction with U.S. 395 just south of Manzanar. ©2012 Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau / Design, illustration and cartography by Laura Patterson Design / Copywriting by Sue Irwin / All rights reserved Mt. Whitney and Lone Pine Peak tow er over the Alabama Hills ©1999 JOHN DITTLI A favorite half- or full-day excursion from Bishop is a visit to the Buttermilk Country, a rising upland of meadows and boulder fields situated beneath impressive Mount Tom and Basin Mountain. Named for the dairy farms that once drew stagecoach travelers for a refreshing drink of buttermilk and a break from their dusty travels, Buttermilk Country is now best known for recreational opportunities provided by “the Buttermilk,” a diverse population of weathered granite formations and giant, solitary boulders just perfect for exploring and climbing. You can relax for hours in the boulders’ warmth in spring or fall, or relish their shade during hotter summer days. From Bishop, drive toward the Sierra on Hwy. 168 for about seven miles, then turn right on Buttermilk Road, a wide, well-graded dirt and gravel road that runs due west for about four miles. Within the first mile, the road skirts around the south end of the dry, stony Tungsten Hills, where several old mines are located on the north side of Buttermilk Road. The barren-looking hills soon give way to a lush strip of Longley Meadow, and sizeable boulders begin to dot the landscape on the right. You can stop and play in the rocks at any point, but the biggest boulders and outcrops are about three miles up the road from the highway—and you can’t miss them. These boulders seem to survey the countryside Buttermi #9 at Laws Railroad Museum and De the main road climbs past a pack station and ends at Mosquito Flat, the trailhead for hikers and backpackers entering Little Lakes Valley, part of the John Muir Wilderness. Mosquito Flat is a fun place for kids and grown-ups alike to dabble in the creek, which meanders through a narrow, grassy meadow adjacent to the parking lot and restrooms. Those looking for a dramatic but easy hike in the High Sierra need look no farther. The main trail from Mosquito Flat wanders up the canyon past a string of mountain lakes, each rivaling the last for beauty and views. The trail is rarely steep, but the elevation of over 10,000 feet can be demanding. Returning to Bishop, head down to Tom’s Place and begin driving south on U.S. 395. Within less than a mile, turn right on Lower Rock Creek Road (the old highway). This route follows the course of Lower Rock Creek through stands of aspens studded with gigantic Jeffrey pine. A delightful trail follows the creek here too, a favorite route for mountain bikers. Turnouts yon Can ek Cre k Valley, Roc allow room for a few cars to park along this section of the creek, also well-valued by trout fishermen. After two miles or so, the road steeply climbs the side of the canyon above Rock Creek Gorge, a wild and steep cut through volcanic rock deposits. Above the gorge, you top out and begin a winding descent to scenic Round Valley. Sporting deep green meadows studded with wild iris and giant cottonwood trees, Round Valley sits peacefully below Wheeler Crest and Mount Tom, one of the richest and most dramatically situated ranching areas of the Eastern Sierra. ©1999 JOHN DITTLI South Lake, the highest and largest reservoir in the Bishop Creek system, is set like a sapphire deep in a glacial basin about six miles from the junction with Hwy. 168. Surrounded by granite peaks and jagged ridges, the lake invites you to stay awhile, enjoying the mountain scenery and a boat ride out to the island. South Lake is also the location of a major trailhead for backpackers traveling over Bishop Pass (5.5 miles, 11,972 feet) deep into the wilderness. You can also day-hike the Bishop Pass trail up to Long Lake, or loop around Chocolate Lakes. If you don’t feel like hiking, it’s great to picnic at the trailhead tables and take in the view. The South Fork of Bishop Creek Canyon has more to offer than the lake at road’s end. You can fish and hike along the creek, camp, explore side trails, check out the waterfall across from Bishop Creek Lodge, and enjoy horseback riding from the pack station. Sit a spell at either Bishop Creek Lodge, Creekside RV Park or Parchers Resort, all of which offer a restaurant and cabin rentals. A favorite trail along the creek takes you from Willow Campground to Parchers, with plenty of great picnic areas and fishing spots along the way. Fly fishermen especially prize Weir Lake, not far from the road’s end. The canyon is a real find in autumn, with blazing fall color igniting the landscape. The road to Lake Sabrina, heading straight at the fork to South Lake, continues west about three miles along the Middle Fork of Bishop Creek. Just above the fork, it passes the old Cardinal Mine, touted as the World’s Greatest Gold Mine after it was opened by millionaire Gaylord Wilshire in 1906. While the Cardinal never lived up to the boast, it did yield over $1.5 million in gold during the 1930s. For great year-round fishing or a fun family outing, head north eight miles on U.S. 395 to the Pleasant Valley Reservoir turnoff, and then loop back toward Bishop following Chalk Bluff Road (dirt). Here, the Owens River winds lazily, its lush banks shading many a favorite fishing hole. Continue along Chalk Bluff Road to Five Bridges Road and Hwy. 6, then head south back to Bishop. Laws Railroad Museum—a fascinating destination for railroad buffs, families and anyone interested in Old West ranching history—is located four miles north of Bishop on Hwy. 6. The site of the original Bishop Station, Laws grew up around the depot for the Carson and Colorado narrow gauge railroad, which ran from Owens Lake to Nevada in the 1880s. The museum, open daily, brings the old days to life with its steam Engine #9, engine house and a number of historic buildings, including homes, a newspaper office, a dentist office and farm buildings packed with treasures from a century ago. If you’re seeking pristine mountain lakes and an easy walk through the high country, don’t miss out on the loop trip to Rock Creek Canyon. A quiet destination for cross-country skiers during the winter months, Rock Creek Canyon is a beehive of activity in summer, a place treasured by many repeat visitors. Fall is a favorite time to visit the canyon, which is ablaze with gold, red and orange aspen groves. Drive north from Bishop on U.S. 395 for about 25 miles to the Tom’s Place turnoff (left). Tom’s Place itself is well worth a stop for food or refreshments in a genuine old-time setting with lots of local flavor. Continuing up the canyon road, you wind through the “narrow,” flanked by steep mountainsides that channel the waters of Rock Creek, which tumbles noisily down the granite boulders from the winter snowfields high above. The winding road takes you past several campgrounds on its 10-mile course up the canyon, which widens near East Fork Campground. Here the creek slows into eddies perfect for trout fishing, and the road offers a dynamic glimpse of Sierra peaks ahead. About two miles above East Fork is the entrance to Rock Creek Lodge, offering cabin rentals, a store, gear rentals and food service. Little Lakes Just beyond Rock Creek Lodge, the canyon broadens into a beautiful meadow with a gem of a trail—great for families and wildflower enthusiasts. Rock Creek Lake, eight miles up the road from Tom’s Place, is a showy introduction to upper Rock Creek Canyon and Little Lakes Valley two miles beyond. The deep sapphire lake is a trout fishing paradise, known for its huge fish and relaxed campgrounds. There’s great picnicking near the creek inlet by the main parking lot, and an easy trail leads around the “back” of the lake from here. A trip to Rock Creek wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Rock Creek Lakes Resort, well-known for its boat rentals, comfortable cabins, cozy dining counter and, best of all, delicious homemade pie. Above the lake, ©1999 JIM STROUP Bishop Creek Bureau ©1999 JIM STROUP ©1999 JIM STROUP Bishop Creek Canyon lies about 15 miles west of Bishop, and nowhere along the Eastern Sierra do auto travelers get a better sense of the vastness —both the height and length—of this mountain chain. Three main drainages of Bishop Creek—the North, Middle and South forks—combine to create a wide-ranging complex of streams and canyons that together comprise Bishop Creek Canyon. Driving up any of the three routes, travelers come up against the impassable ramparts of the High Sierra, and it’s no stretch to imagine the physical and psychological barrier these mountains presented to early California settlers arriving by covered wagon. But yesterday’s challenges are today’s treasures, and the wilderness areas of the Sierra Nevada are of inestimable value in the modern world. Bishop Creek Canyon is located up Hwy. 168, which begins as West Line Street in downtown Bishop. The climb of over 5,000 feet is gradual over the 18-mile drive into the mountains. As you ascend along the banks of Bishop Creek, you might notice several electric powerhouses on the way; whatever wealth the area brings us in natural wonders is mirrored by the value of electric power generated here since the beginning of the 20th century. You can go fishing and take a walk around one of these stations, Intake 2, located 16 miles up the highway, just past the fork that heads left to South Lake. Bishop Chamber of Commerce and Vis itors ©1999 JANE DOVE JUNEA U/BACCVB ©1999 JIM STROUP The largest town in the Eastern Sierra, Bishop is well known by vacationers as a place to stock up on information and supplies for fishing and camping getaways, rock climbs, ski weekends, bike rides and field trips. Named for rancher Samuel Bishop, the town dates back to the 1860s, when the Owens Valley was being discovered by cattlemen and miners. Today, Bishop retains an old-fashioned charm while providing a host of services and destinations, including visitor centers, museums, outdoor outfitters, guide services, an airport, gift shops and restaurants. On warm summer nights, a peaceful stroll around town, maybe stopping for ice cream and an evening concert in the park, brings back treasured memories from a not-so-distant past. Central Bishop, with its quaint old-style architecture and dramatic mountain backdrop, is home to dozens of shops and services, all within walking distance of one another along Main Street (U.S. 395) or a few Bishop City Park steps down a side street. A recent addition to the town is a series of colorful murals depicting the area’s Western tradition. Located right downtown, the White Mountain Ranger Station and nearby Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau are useful resources for trip ideas, lodging information and books and brochures of local interest. Bishop City Park is a great place to relax and let the kids run around to their hearts’ content. A stream, duck pond, playground, tennis courts, broad lawns and public swimming pool all invite you to kick back. Across Main Street, the famed Erick Schat’s Bakkery serves up pastries, sandwiches and fresh-baked breads worth their weight in gold. Continuing north on U.S. 395, Meadow Farms Country Smokehouse offers world famous Eng ine mahogany smoked meats and jerky.