Adventure Outdoors Magazine Fall 2016 | Page 150

& TRAVEL EXCURSIONS High ball classics - world class bouldering at the buttermilk - 15 minutes from Bishop. Photo by Jeff Deikis. Bishop, CA Bishop is located in the heart of the Eastern Sierra where Highway 395 meets U.S. Route 6. At 4,150’ elevation, the climate is considered high-desert. An hour drive east or west will take you to 8,000’ in the Sierra or White Mountains. Known as the “Small Town with a Big Backyard,” popular activities include hiking, biking, climbing, bouldering, fishing, skiing, backpacking, OHV/ATV adventures, horse riding and mule packing. Bishop is a terrific place to call “home” while exploring the Eastern Sierra. Lodging establishments abound, with about 850 rooms ranging from quite luxurious to clean and quaint. Public and private campgrounds are abundant. You’ll find restaurants to suit any taste, several art galleries and unique retail shops. It’s a small town with modern amenities including free Wi-Fi downtown. To thoroughly enjoy Bishop, take a side trip off Main Street. Try Line Street (aka Highway 168). Travel east to access the Owens River and west to find glorious mountains, lakes and streams of Bishop Creek Canyon. In summer, Lake Sabrina, South Lake and North Lake offer world-class trout fishing. In fall, Aspens and Cottonwoods turn fiery colors of yellow, orange and red. Photography buffs from around the world visit the canyon in hopes of capturing just a shot or two of the splendor. Pleasant Valley Reservoir, Owens River and Buckley Ponds offer fantastic year-round fishing. Buttermilk Recreation Area, Owens River Gorge and Chalk Bluff are famous climbing venues and less than half an hour from downtown. Other nearby “must sees” - Laws Railroad Museum, Downtown Murals, Paiute-Shoshone Cultural Center, Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest and Keough’s Hot Springs. The Bishop Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, 690 N. Main, is open year-round with friendly and knowledgeable staff. Stop in for free maps & brochures to help make the most of your Eastern Sierra adventure. Visit online at www.bishopvisitor.com or call toll free 1-888-395-3952. 148 Fall 2016 Adventure Outdoors Solitude on Bishop Creek Trails - wildflowers peak in July and August Bishop - California - photo by Jeff Deikis