Bishop California Day Trips Points of Interest

Bishop, California, is a small town in Inyo County with a rich history. With a population of just under 4,000, it was initially named Bishop Creek and remains the most populous place in Inyo County.

Bishop, California, is famous for hosting Bishop Mule Days, a week-long festival that has taken place annually for seven days around Memorial Day since 1969.

Many ideal rock climbing spots near Bishop attract people from all over the world. But even if you’re not into climbing or mules, there’s still plenty to see and do in and around Bishop.

Bishop is west of the Owens River at the end of the Owens Valley. The town is named after Bishop Creek, which flows out of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Samuel Bishop was one of the earlier settlers in the Owens Valley.

Laws Railroad Museum

Railfans will enjoy a visit to Laws Railroad Museum. Laws Railroad Museum displays narrow gauge rail cars from Southern Pacific, including an oil-fired steam engine.

Oft times, docents will play the part of a station agent and provide information about the importance of the railroad before the building of modern roads-pre 1950-when the only transportation other than horseback and foot was the railroad.

Also, as a part of the museum, there are old buildings from early downtown Bishop including a schoolhouse and a church.

Above the city of Bishop, the Bishop Piute Tribe has its federal reservation. Established in 1912, it covers approximately 875 acres and is home to over 1,400 tribal members. The Indian reservation itself is on the lower slopes of the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains.

While there are plenty of historical facts to feed your head relating to the town of Bishop, there are also great places in Bishop to feed your tummy, as well ~ and these places have history.

Erick Schat’s Bakery Bishop

A must-stop in Bishop is Erick Schat’s Bakery. The best bread ever comes from Erick Schat’s Bakery. It’s Dutch style with no preservatives.

All loaves are handmade and baked in stone ovens, as they have been since 1907. How fresh is fresh? Even the yeast is homemade. The current output of this amazing bakery is some 25,000 loaves per day.

Mahogany Smoked Meats Bishop

As it was once said, “Man does not live by bread alone.” It just as well because right there in Bishop is Mahogany Smoked Meats. This smokehouse was established in 1922, only 19 years after the city of Bishop incorporated it.

This small business began by smoking meats with 300-year-old mahogany wood for locals. As word spread, demand grew among travelers on both railroads and modern roads.

Get a sample, then pick up some jerky for your hike, car ride home, or someone back home who would be worthy of something this special.

If you intend to spend some time in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains, be sure to carve out some time to take in all that Bishop has to offer. It’s easy to find, and the pace is easy to enjoy.

Bishop is a perfect place to stay while exploring California’s High Sierra. In town, there are plenty of hotels and restaurants to choose from. If camping is on your vacation list, there are plenty of public and private nearby campgrounds.

Owens Valley Paiute-Shoshone Cultural Center

No trip to Bishop would be complete without a stop at the Owens Valley Paiute-Shoshone Cultural Center. Before settlers and gold miners came to the Owens Valley, the indigenous people lived there for thousands of years. The Cultural Center preserves the history of the original inhabitants of the Owens Valley. The center is located at 2300 W. Line Street, Bishop, California.

Easy Day Trips From Bishop

Keough’s Hot Springs Resort

Keough’s Hot Springs Resort, located eight miles south of downtown Bishop, California, features a large swimming pool and a smaller heated pool. The resort is fed by over one million gallons of hot 127-degree mineral water daily, cooled to about 90 degrees for the pool.

Convict Lake

Convict Lake is situated east of the Sierras, just south of Mammoth, and is surrounded by towering granite peaks. Visitors can enjoy fishing, hiking, and sightseeing. The lake is located 41 miles from Bishop.

Mammoth Lakes

The Mammoth Lakes Basin boasts five stunning lakes just a ten-minute drive from town. After the winter snow melts, visitors can enjoy Mammoth Mountain’s hiking, mountain biking, and scenic gondola rides. The resort is located 45 miles from Bishop.

Bristlecone Pine Forest

Located between 10,000 and 11,000 feet, the forest offers stunning views of the Sierra Nevada and surrounding areas. The Bristlecone pines, the world’s oldest trees, are also remarkable. It is situated 45 miles from Bishop, California.

Getting to Bishop California

Bishop is on U.S. Route 395, the main north-south artery through the Owens Valley. U.S. Route 395 then connects Bishop to Los Angeles through State Route 14 through Palmdale.

Manzanar Historic Site Highway 395

San Luis Obispo California