Bishop

Bishop is a charming Eastern Sierra town of about 3,800 people that punches far above its weight in outdoor recreation. Located 1.5 hours north of Ridgecrest on US-395, Bishop sits in the Owens Valley — the deepest valley in the United States — with the Sierra Nevada rising to over 14,000 feet to the west and the White Mountains reaching nearly as high to the east. This dramatic setting makes Bishop one of the premier outdoor destinations in California.

Bishop is world-famous in the climbing community for the Buttermilk Boulders and the Volcanic Tablelands — two world-class bouldering areas that draw climbers from around the globe. The Buttermilks feature hundreds of classic boulder problems set against a stunning Sierra backdrop, while the Volcanic Tablelands offer unique climbing on welded tuff with pocket-style holds. The area hosts over 2,000 documented bouldering problems, from beginner-friendly slabs to the most challenging V-grades in the sport.

Beyond climbing, Bishop offers exceptional trout fishing on the Owens River, access to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains (home to the oldest known living organisms on Earth), and proximity to the high Sierra backcountry. The annual Mule Days Celebration on Memorial Day weekend is the largest mule and packing event in the world, drawing thousands of visitors for parades, rodeos, and mule shows. The town itself has excellent restaurants, a vibrant brewery scene, and a welcoming mountain-town atmosphere that makes visitors feel at home immediately.