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Inyo National Forest
Hiking - Bishop Creek
As the Bishop Pass summit neared, the sky blackened and the wind blew icy droplets from a distant cloudburst. We hurried onward, slipping across a cratered snowfield, anxious to reach Dusy Basin before the opening heavens turned us back. We passed into Kings Canyon and rounded the slope blocking the horizon. A strange planet strewn with bouldered sculpture appeared ahead, undulating forward to meet a jagged wall extending thousands of feet into the sky and stretching across the full panorama. Sleet sharp as razors began pelting downward.
That scene more than compensated our drenched slog back to the trailhead at South Lake. It was matched on subsequent days by the serene beauty of the basin above Lake Sabrina and by the glaciated canyon stepping upward from North Lake to Piute Pass. These trails rank Bishop Creek as a premier entrance to the John Muir Wildnerness, for either day-trips or extended treks along the Pacific Crest. - Bill Greer.
SOUTH FORK TRAILS
(Map)
From Hwy. 395 in Bishop, turn west on Line St. (Hwy.168 west) and continue approx. 23 mi. to South Lake. Day use and overnight parking is located at the roads end. (9,760'). Trails beginning at South Lake lead to Green Lk., Treasure Lks., Chocolate Lks., and Bishop Pass. Fishing enthusiasts enjoy the many lakes available within a few miles of the trailhead.
1. Brown and Green Lakes - A 6 mile trail roundtrip, rising to 11050'. The Green Lake trail begins at the east end of the parking lot and follows a stock trail upward through a conifer forest where it joins with the main trail on up to Green Lake The trail levels off into a lush mountain meadow below Brown Lake. Above this lake the trail moves upward along a bench, where Green Lake lies amidst gnarled, old Whitebark Pines. Rainbow trout are found in these lakes.
2. Bishop Pass - An 11 mile trail to the top of the pass (11980'). Go another half-mile for the spectacular view of Dusy Basin (or keep going for miles and miles). The trailhead is at the south end of the parking lot. It ascends along the east side of South Lake, through a forest of Aspen Trees and Lodgepole Pines. Majestic views of Hurd Pk., Mt. Thompson, and Mt. ,Goode, can be seen from the trail. The area gives great opportunities to observe many effects of glacier activity such as glacial cirques, glaciated granite, and glacier 'erratics" (large boulders). Also evident are the effects of elevations on plant life, as Whitebark Pine replaces Lodgepole and then disappears above timberline, where only a few herbaceous annuals are seen. The trail reaches Long Lake at 2.0 miles and Saddlerock at 3.5 miles, both outstanding destinations in themselves. It enters King's Canyon National Park at the pass, then winds down through Dusy Basin to hit the Pacific Crest Trail at Le Conte Canyon in another 10 miles.
3. Treasure Lakes - The trail branches off from the Bishop Pass trail, both above and below Long Lake (allowing you to avoid backtracking if you make a sidetrip to them). The lakes are located in a beauriful granite basin surrounded by high Sierra peaks. Fishing is good with Rainbow, Brown, and Golden Trout.
4. Chocolate Lakes - The trail branches off the Bishop Pass trail below-Long Lake and rejoins it near Ruwau Lake. ..This trail is less maintained. Bull and Chocolate Lakes are along the base of the jagged Inconsolable Range. This loop offers interesting geology and fishing.
5. Tyee Lakes - An 8 mile roundtrip to Table Mountain at 11400'; miles to the lakes at 11000'. The trailhead for Tyee Lakes is located 4.4 miles up the South Lake road and begins at the footbridge that crosses Bishop Creek. The trail is named for a famed brand of salmon eggs. Although steep with many switchbacks, it offers good fishing (Rainbow and Brown trout) and highly scenic qualities. The trail becomes a bit indistinct over Table Mtn., before it drops down to George Lake' and Lake Sabrina. View of Mt. Thompson, Mt. Aggisiz, Mt. Gilbert and the Inconsolable Range can be seen from Table Mtn.
MIDDLE FORK TRAILS
(Map)
From Hwy. 395 in Bishop, turn west on Line St. (Hwy. 168) and continue approx. 18 mi. to Lake Sabrina. Day use parking is at roads end. Overnight parking is located at turnout near North Lake turnoff. (9,125')
1. Sabrina Basin - A 12 to 14 mile roundtrip to the farthest lakes (Midnight and Hungry Packer. The Sabrina Basin trail leads into a basin of 13,000' granite peaks surrounding a number of alpine lakes. Fishing is abundant and good for Rainbow, Brown, and Brook Trout. Intermediate destinations include Blue Lake at 3.3 miles (10400'), with fabulous views of the Thompson Ridge, and Dingleberry Lake at 5.0 miles (10490').
The main trail leads to Blue Lake at 3.3 miles (10400'), a beautiful spot for photography with the rugged Thompson Ridge reflecting in the clear waters of the lake.
The right fork beyond Blue Lake leads through a forest of Lodgepole Pine with glacial erratics scattered about (boulders carried by ice for a distance that came to rest where, ice has melted). It reaches Dingleberry Lake at 5.0 miles (10490'), then on to Hungry Packer and Midnight Lakes. The backdrop of these lakes is magnificent with the jagged peaks of the Sierra Crest being dominated by Mt. Darwin and Mt. Haeckel.
A path marked 'with cairns beyond Blue Lake (left fork) will lead to Donkey and Baboon Lakes. These lakes are seated below the glaciated ramparts of Mts. Powell (13,360') and Thompson (13,440').
2. George Lake - A 6 mile roundtrip, reaching 10700'. The trail switchbacks up a steep path off the main trail leads. You can continue up and over Table Mtn. to Tyee Lakes. The path over Table Mtn. is a bit obscure but the views are remarkable.
NORTH FORK TRAILS
(Map)
Follow trailhead directions for Lake Sabrina, only turn right at North Lake turnoff. Trailhead parking is by North Lake, near the pack station. The actual trailhead is about 1/2 mile farther in the North Lake campground. NO PARKING is allowed in the campground for hikers. (9500')
1. Piute Pass - The Piute Pass trail eases up through. a forest of Lodgepole Pine and Quaking Aspens before following the North Fork of Bishop Creek. Paintbrush, Columbine and Penstemon, flank the trail as one climbs higher near the rusty cliffs of the Piute Crags and Mt. Emerson. Entering the high country above Loch Leven, the glaciated canyon is floored with smooth granite small alpine meadows. Yellow-bellied Marmots can be seen sunning on rocks or dashing into the shadows. Over Piute Pass (11,423') the trail drops into Humphreys Basin, loaded with many high alpine lakes.
2. Lamarck Lakes - The trail begins in the campground and heads south across 2 footbridges through a grove of Aspen trees. From the upper part of the trail, views of Mt. Emerson and the reddish Piute Crags are seen. This country is rugged and rocky with sheer cliffs of granite and rough bolder slopes. Lower Lamarck Lake lies in a small granite basin. Cross the stream and outlet and follow the trail to the upper lake.
 Move on to Trail Finder: Inyo National Forest
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