Bishop Has Something to Offer Every Adventurer

By Ashley Beebe, For Scenic 395

Whether it’s relaxing and taking in the small-town atmosphere, exploring the landscape on a hiking adventure in the Eastern Sierra or fishing in the area’s clear creeks and alpine lakes, Bishop has something to offer every adventurer.

Aside from the city’s big “backyard,” where many like to visit to participate in various recreational activities, Bishop is unique for its year-round opportunities.

Fishing is legal year-round in many parts of the area, as Bishop is well-known for its world-class trout fishing. Anglers also flyfish and bait fish in the Eastern Sierra, with chances to win prizes and meet other anglers at the Bishop Trout Rodeo in February or the Blake Jones Trout Derby in March. The last Saturday in April is known as “Fishmas,” which marks the opening of the sport fishing season.

Anglers flock to the region in the summertime, but the fun doesn’t stop there as fishing in autumn and winter offers its own challenges in the upper and lower Owens River and Pleasant Valley Reservoir.

“It’s really just about getting out there on the water and the camaraderie of being with people that enjoy the same activity,” said Tawni Thomson, Bishop Chamber of Commerce executive director.

The hiking, backpacking, rock climbing and bouldering opportunities are other reasons people choose to visit Bishop all year. In the spring, guests hike to waterfalls in the High Sierra. Hikers explore Bishop Creek Canyon in the summer, which offers access to the Pacific Crest Trail and John Muir Trail. As the landscape transforms in the fall and winter, hikers can enjoy colorful views and snow-capped mountains as they hike among the hills and around the valley floor.

“The contrast of the dry desert floor with these big, tall snow-covered mountains in the backdrop, that’s my favorite view of the year,” Thomson said.

Bishop’s climbing areas are also growing in popularity. Climbers are encouraged to visit Buttermilk Country, the Owens River Gorge, the Volcanic Tablelands, the Druid Stones and Pine Creek Canyon. These spots cater to different abilities and routes, each offering a unique experience for climbers and boulders to enjoy.

Scenic photographers and art enthusiasts are inspired by Bishop’s natural beauty, visiting to get a glimpse of the area’s wildlife or capture the essence of the Eastern Sierra. Bishop gives photographers and artists the opportunity to capture a lifestyle and scenery that reflects the landscape and the community so many have grown to love and cherish.

A climber scales the rocks at Druid Stones outside of Bishop. PHOTO BY MICHELLE R. JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY VIA BISHOP CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

A newly established commercial service offers flights to Bishop from San Francisco and Denver from December to March. This gives travelers direct access to Bishop and everything it has to offer, while allowing locals to fly commercially without having to go to LAX. It also makes traveling to Death Valley and Yosemite quicker and easier.

“It’s a lot easier than going to LAX, less traffic and (travelers) can have a more enjoyable trip to the airport instead of a stressful trip,” Thomson said.

Tourism is important to Bishop’s local economy, according to Thomson, and the commercial air service is a great way to get visitors to the area.

“We like to say that we are inviting people over to our house to enjoy all of the things that we locals enjoy, but that also comes with a certain standard of respecting our locals and respecting our landscape,” she said.

For more information regarding the area or the activities available in Bishop, visit bishopvisitor.com.