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INYOCOUNTYINYOCOUNTYVISITOR’S GUIDE TO

11TH EDITIONwww.TheOtherSideOfCalifornia.com

INYOCOUNTY • 11th Edition 3

Bishop Chamber of Commerce &

Visitor Center690 N. Main St.

Bishop, CA 93514760-873-8405

1-888-395-3952760-873-6999

[email protected]

Death Valley Chamber of Commerce

118 Highway 127P.O. Box 157

Shoshone, CA 92384760-852-4524760-852-4144

www.deathvalleychamber.org

Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce

124 Main StPO Box 749

Lone Pine, CA 93545Ph: 760-876-4444Fx: 760-876-9205

[email protected]://www.lonepinechamber.org

Chamber of Commerce of

Inyo County

Direct Results Media, Inc.

Jerry ElfordSales Associate

6000 Bel Aire WayBakersfield, CA 93301

Cell: [email protected]


Rodney PreulSales Associate




Robert AsianianSales Manager



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Government Agencies:

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)760-872-4881

County of Inyo760-878-0366

Death Valley National Park760-786-3200

Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitors Center

760-876-6222

Inyo National Forest-Supervisior760-873-2400

Mt. Whitney Ranger Station760-876-6200

White Mountain Ranger Station760-873-2500


Jerry ElfordSales Associate




Rodney PreulSales Associate




Robert AsianianSales Manager



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Table of ContentsBirds Come Back to Owens Lake Page 4

Borax Wagons Find A New Home Page 6

Enchanting Fall Colors Page 8

Enjoy Bishop’s Big Backyard Page 10

Appealing Adventures in Lone Pine Page 11

Everyone Loves A Parade Page 12

Historic Independence Page 14

Big Pine: An Adventure Hub Page 15

Inyo County Fun Facts Page 16

Owens River Links LA And Inyo Page 17

Inyo Attractions At A Glance Page 19

The 2018 Inyo County Visitor Guide is produced by the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce and the County of Inyo. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views of the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce orthe County of Inyo. (Except for our view thatInyo County is a spectacular place to visit. We will definitely own that one.)

The County of Inyo has permission to use allthe photos in this publication, which was acondition of entering the photos in the InyoCounty Photo Shoot Out photo contest, co-sponsored by the Lone Pine Chamber ofCommerce and the County of Inyo.

4 INYOCOUNTY • 11th Edition

Just like the migratory birds, theaccolades just keep coming to theOwens Lake.

Earlier this spring, the sprawlinglake was named a prestigiousWestern Hemisphere ShorebirdReserve Network site of internationalimportance. The designation was aconfirmation of the stunningtransformation of the once dry anddusty, 100-square-mile lake south ofLone Pine into a man-made haven forall manner of birds.

There are only 104 WesternHemisphere Shorebird ReserveNetwork sites. They stretch from thesouthern tip of South America toAlaska. The sites earn the designationbased on the number of shorebirdsthey attract and the sites’ value withregard to providing critical habitat tothe many species of migratoryshorebirds. Some of those birds stopoff at the Owens Lake to refuel whilemaking mind-numbing, marathonmigrations from South America to theArctic. Upwards of 100,000 birds canconvene on the lake at the peak of themigration seasons, according to local

birders. The Shorebird Reserve Network

designation was announced duringthe 4th annual Owens Lake BirdFestival, earlier this spring. The eventis sponsored by the Friends of theInyo and attracted more than 140birders from around the country to theOwens Lake and Lone Pine. Thegroup reported festival goersrecorded well over 100 differentspecies of birds on the lake, rangingfrom falcons to ducks to swallows toavocets to grebes.

The new designation does notprovide any legally bindingprotections. The group doescoordinate conservation efforts andpublicity as a way to protect decliningshorebird habitats before they aredamaged or destroyed. The AudubonSociety has also recognized theimportance of Owens Lake tomigrating birds and other wildlife.

Those designations and recognitionserve as a validation andcommendation of the work done onthe lake by several localconservationists, who have been

documenting the lake’s birdpopulations for decades andadvocating for the birds and thehabitats that sustain them. Tom andJo Heindel, of Big Pine, have beenwatching the lake and the birds sincecoming to the area in 1972. They arecompiling a survey of every species ofbird to visit Inyo County in the last 150years. Mike Prather, of Lone Pine, gothis first look at the birds on OwensLake in 1985. Since then he hasresearched the bird activity on thelake and worked with all the groupsinvolved in the lake’s revival, from theState of California to duck hunters tothe Great Basin Air Pollution District tothe Los Angeles Department of Waterand Power.

In recent years, the West’s salinelakes, such as Owens Lake and theGreat Salt Lake, have becomeimportant destinations for migratorybirds as other lakes and wetlandshave disappeared. The nextthreatened lake, according toconservationists and the AudubonSociety, is the rapidly shrinking SaltonSea. That huge inland lake has been

Owens Lake Garners International Shorebird Designation

Birders on Owens Lake: Birders using binoculars and long camera lenses while observing birds on the Owens Lake. Photo courtesy Mike Prather

Continued on page 5

in decline for years and has beentargeted for rehabilitation. Theturnaround at the Owens Lake couldprovide a template for the Salton Seaand other western lakes, the Audubonnoted.

Rob Clay, the director of theshorebird reserve network, noted thatthe years of work to bring bird lifeback to the lake was an example ofhow human welfare and conservationcan be linked to create positiveresults for local residents and theenvironment.

Owens Valley residents are familiarwith the story of the lake’s new life.The lake dried up in the 1920sbecause the Owens River, which usedto feed the lake, was diverted into theLos Angeles Aqueduct, leaving thelake to slowly dry up. After a numberof lawsuits and a resulting court order,in 2001 the Los Angeles Departmentof Water and Power began a massive,landscape-scale project to reduce thebillowing dust that came off the lake.That project included plantingvegetation or covering dust-generating areas with gravel or usingshallow flooding to stop the dust. Theshallow flooding almost immediatelystarted attracting birds.

Eventually, about 55 square miles of

the lakebed, or about half of the drylake, had received some sort of dust“treatment.” After spending about $2billion on the dust control project, the

amount of dust coming of the lake hadbeen reduced by 95 percent.

And the birds have returned.

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Some of the participants on the Owens Lake duringthe fourth annual Owens Lake Bird Festival earlierthis year. Photo courtesy Ben Wickman, Friends ofthe Inyo.

Continued from page 4

Bobby Tanner and his crew bring Borax 20-Mule Team Wagons down the Mule Days Parade Route in 2017.


The instantly recognizable Borax20-Mule Team Wagons took a bit of aroundabout route to their new home inan impressive, brand new barn at theLaws Railroad Museum and HistoricVillage.

The first leg of that journey involvednearly a decade of research and workand fundraising that eventuallyresulted in the construction of thehuge, historically accurate wagonsand the gear needed to hitch 20mules to the two big freight wagonsand the water tank rolling behindthem.

Once the wagons were ready to rollin 2016, they were re-introduced tothe public by rolling down some prettyimpressive boulevards. First came thePasadena Rose Parade, a CaliforniaNew Year’s Day tradition knownaround the world. Then the wagonsand mules ventured throughWashington, D.C. to help celebrateIndependence Day on the NationalMall in the nation’s capital.

While those parades have their fansand carry a tad of prestige in theworld’s eyes, in the Eastern Sierra thecrowning achievement of the 20-MuleTeam Borax Wagons came when thewhole outfit starred as one of thecrowd favorites during several tripsdown Bishop’s Main Street during the

annual Mule Days Parade. The local pride came from two

sources. First was the familiar face oflongtime Eastern Sierra packer andteamster Bobby Tanner who helpedbring the wagons back to life andpersonally maneuvers the hugewagons pulled by 20 mules, workingtwo abreast, down the parade route.Second, the 20-Mule Team and Boraxare both local products and locallegends that contributed mightily tothe notoriety and ongoing mystique ofthe Death Valley region, Inyo County’spremiere tourist attraction.

Finally, after dazzling yet anotherMule Days crowd this year, thewagons headed for their newpermanent home. On Memorial Day,May 28, a crowd of about 100 cameto Laws to help dedicate the new,Borax 20-Mule Team Wagon Barn.

The big wagons were in the barnand, even without a cadre of mules,dazzled the crowd. The big, backwheels are 7-feet high. The wagonbox towers above the big wheels. Thewagons are made of a beautiful,lightly stained wood. In contrast,dozens of black bolts dot the wagonboxes in a testament to the authenticwagon-building trades that createdthe rolling historical replicas. The barnitself is first-class. The skylights in the

roof send splashes of sunshine on thewagons. Long, white walls awaitadditional photos and explanatorytext. Those final touches will be addedas time goes on, thanks to acollaboration between Laws and theBishop-based American MuleMuseum.

Besides those two local groups, thenon-profit Death Valley Conservancyand Rio Tinto Borates (formerly PacificCoast Borax), also played criticalroles in bringing the 20-Mule Teamback home to Inyo County.

Tanner addressed the crowd andrecalled how, about 10 years ago, hecontacted Howard Holland, thetalented exhibit designer and boardmember of Laws Museum, with whatTanner called “a scheme” to buildreplica borax wagons. And now, afteryears of work and even more“scheming,” the wagons and theirnew home at Laws are a reality.

While touring the country with thewagons, Tanner said the real “eyeopener” was that so many people,whether in Kansas, Ohio or Maryland,recognized the 20 mule team andwagons. Especially those from farmfamilies or those who were familiarwith mules, “knew exactly what theywere looking at” when they

After a roundabout trip, theBorax Wagons are Home at Laws

Continued on page 6


approached the huge wagons.Part of the reason for the wagons’notoriety, he added, came from“Ron Reagan” who hosted the TVshow “Death Valley Days,”sponsored by Borax andfeaturing the wagons. Of course,“Ron” is also known as the formergovernor of California, presidentof the United States and, mostimportantly, one-time GrandMarshall of the Mule DaysParade.

While the 20-mule team canseem like “a local thing,” Tannerassured the crowd that “this is asignificant deal,” and the Boraxwagons and the 20-mule team isstill “an American icon.”

Tanner then recalled how oneman had an out-sized impact onthe wagon project. In 1999, RoseParade officials contacted Boraxand asked if the company could bringthe famed wagons and mules to theparade. The company had marketed“20-Mule Team Borax” from 1906to1950. But most company officersdid not want to revive the wagons.

But one corporate officer turned thatthinking around and started theprocess to bring the wagons back,Tanner said as a way to introducePreston Chiaro. He was managing theBoron mine at the time, and knew theEastern Sierra. More important, heknew the Tanner family as the packersat Red’s Meadow.

He got the wagon idea turnedaround in the corporate offices. Thenhe was able to see the project throughto completion since he eventuallybecame president of US Borax, whichwas owned by Rio Tinto at the time –the most recent name for the BoraxCompany, which was known asPacific Coast Borax when it built thefirst borax wagons to haul the mineralout of its Death Valley mines.

“These wagons have a real power,”Chiaro told the crowd. “It’s the powerof an idea, and that idea is thedevelopment of the West.”

Chiaro noted that Rio Tinto put up a$150,000 challenge grant that madethe fabrication of the wagons

possible, alongwith theoutpouring ofsupport anddonations fromindividuals andorganizations.Another, eventougher obstaclewas who couldmanage themules andwagons. “Drivinga 20-mule teamwas a lost art,”he said. EnterBobby Tannerand his crew.Then cameyears ofpainstakingresearchfollowed byexacting construction and fabricationusing 19th and early 20th centurywagon-building skills and“technology.”

Once completed and rolling, Chiaronoted that a special aspect of thesight of the wagons in action is that“there is a beauty about it,” as 20mules work in unison and respond tothe commands of the teamsters. After

watching the mules and wagonsperform in parades large and small,Chiaro said it is easy to see the“magic” created by the imposing,vintage vehicles. “It sparks peoples’imagination.”

And now, people can visit thewagons in their new, home barn atLaws, and let their imagination runwild.

Borax WagonsContinued from page 6

Two, huge Borax 20-Mule Team Wagons and trailing water tank at the new wagon barn at theLaws Railroad Museum.


Most visitors who drive up and down US 395 throughInyo County are impressed by the striking landscapes onboth sides of the road. On one side is the dramatic upshotof granite peaks that make up the Sierra. Opposite theSierra, subtle colors mix on the more rounded slopes of theWhite and Inyo mountains.

What many people aren’t able to see from the valley floorare impressive displays of fall colors when crisp autumntemperatures turn the leaves of cottonwood trees, aspens,willows and oaks into a vibrant explosion of shades ofyellows, reds and green. That’s because those colorfulsights hide a bit, in mountain valleys and lakes, from thecasual observer.

That is one of several differences between the EasternSierra’s fall color season and the more well-known fall colorhotspots, such as New England or the Rocky Mountains.Those regions’ entire mountain landscapes turns intosweeping, colorful sights. The wooded hills and mountainsare covered completely with color.

In the Eastern Sierra, on the other hand, the leafy treesdo not typically cover entire mountains. Instead, there arelittle stands and groves of trees at a certain range ofelevation off the valley floor. Those higher-altitude treesturn colors first. Then, later in the fall, the big cottonwoodsand other trees on the valley floor take their turn as colorfulcharacters. That means Inyo County’s fall color season hasa nice long run.

Another unique aspect to the fall color season is that forthe most part the striking scenery can be viewed by simplydriving up well-known local roads that reach into the highcountry. The key is to time the drive to match the colors.

For years, locals and late-season anglers and hikerspretty much had the colorful display of fall foliage tothemselves.

But that little secret turned out to be hard to keep. Transplants to California from more forested states who

were tired of beach scenes and huge, green pine trees,tried to duplicate the leaf-peeping scenes they left behind.

Fall Colors Will Leaf you Happy,After a Little Extra Effort

Continued on page 9

The Sierra, with its four season andmountains was an obvious place tolook.

Once the word was out, all it took totransform a local tradition into a state-wide “must see” was a littlepromotion, a few years’ worthof Travel Section mediacoverage, and especially theproliferation of web pages,blogs and social media thatmade it easy for everyone topost dozens of stunning colorphotos. (The leading web pagefor fall color updates in theSierra and throughout the stateis still the first website devotedsolely to fall color spotting,reporting and enjoying:www.californiafallcolors.com,with its catchy slogan, “Dude, autumnhappens here, too.”)

Now, fall color is a “season” thatoccurs right after summer. Once thecooler weather arrives, so do eagerleaf-peepers. Coming in cars ortrucks, singly in or in groups, peoplestart cruising the roads leading intothe Sierra, from Cottonwood Pass toBishop Creek. Some people arecontent to simply drive up and downthe road and view the colorful sightsfrom the comfort of their vehicle.Others get out and work their camerato capture the autumn scene beforethem.

The key to a successful search is togo slow and really look. While thereare some places where large swathsof trees cover a large area, thesmaller, more intimate stands of treesare just as compelling. A single standof aspens in the middle of field ofgranite offers quite a sight. As does astretch of willows alongside a stream.A cluster of color set off by abackground of green pines offers aninteresting contrast. The soft reflectionof color in a small pond or lake can bea unique photo.

Another unique aspect to the fallcolor season is that it’s usually fairlyeasy to see Nature at work. Trees athigher elevations turn color first, thenas time passes the wave of colorliterally moves down mountainsides

and though valleys. So it’s notuncommon to start out seeingsummer-green trees, then trees thathave partly turned and finally get totrees in full color. It’s almost like you’rehot on the trail of fall color.

WHERE TO GO

In general, you can find fall colors inabout any Eastern Sierra high countrylocation in Inyo County. Well-knownroads that lead to the backcountrytypically move through the band ofaspens, cottonwoods and willows thatmake up the best fall color viewing.

That means routes such asCottonwood Pass and the WhitneyPortal Road in the Lone Pine area willdeliver you to fall color viewing.Likewise with Onion Valley Road outof Independence, and Glacier LodgeRoad out of Big Pine.

Later in the fall, just the drive on US395 will yield colorful sights as thetrees along the valley floor put on a

colorful show. Keep an eye out for tall,sprawling cottonwoods that stand bythemselves in fields. When theseindividual trees turn, they are quite asight. Trees in each town also turnlater in the season, so go ahead and

take a few minutes to drivethrough town toward the Sierra.In most cases, you will be ableto see big, mature trees turningcolor with big Sierra peaks asa backdrop.

The Bishop Creek Drainageoffers numerous fall colorsights in a fairly compact area.

In early fall, North Lake is alandmark sight, and well worththe drive, since the road itselfis flanked by tall, colorfulaspens. The appropriatelynamed community of

Aspendell is a color oasis, as is theCardinal Village, which you can seefrom the road above the tree-packedlittle canyon. Lake Sabrina has acouple of spots that are favorites, fromthe creek to the slow moving waterand bridge just below the lake. Thelake itself reflects Sierra peaks andblasts of color leading to those peaks.

The road to South Lake offers one ofthe longer, uninterrupted stretches ofcolorful trees decorating hillsides,ponds, an outstanding waterfall, andthe meandering creek beforereaching the lake itself.

CHECKCheck www.californiafallcolors.comfor the latest reports and fall color in-formation.

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Bishop’s setting is an irresistibledraw to outdoor enthusiasts, artistsand businesses alike. The town isworld famous for its scenery, hiking,fishing, climbing, hunting, bakeriesand for its mules. Bishop and itssurrounding area is the primarycommercial and population hub forInyo County and west central Nevada.

The Bishop Mule Days Celebrationis a six-day event taking placeTuesday through Sunday the weekbefore Memorial Day on the Tri-County Fairgrounds in Bishop,California. The 14-show eventshowcases mules in English,Dressage, Driving, Reining and Youth

competitions, with the top competitorsvying for World Championships in alldisciplines. The championships,comedy classes, packing contestsand world class specialty acts all takecenter stage in multiple arenas Fridaythrough Sunday. The world-famousMule Days Parade on Saturday, is oneof the largest non-motorized paradesin the nation.

Bishop also offers an abundance ofoutdoor recreation and culturalactivities. Highway 168 travels deepinto the Sierra Nevada Mountains,providing access to scores ofcampgrounds and trailheads. NorthLake, South Lake and Sabrina Lake

are all easily accessed from BishopCreek Canyon, as are miles of someof the finest trout fishing streams inCalifornia.

A multitude of additionalrecreational areas are found in theBishop area. Pine Creek, Rock Creek,the Owens River Gorge, Fish Sloughand Pleasant Valley Reservoir are allless than 30 minutes from downtownBishop.

Rock climbing has become anothervery popular form of outdoorrecreation in the Bishop area. The“Buttermilks” about 10 miles west ofBishop, offers excellent boulderingopportunities for everyone frombeginners to climbers with the highestof skills.

The Paiute-Shoshone CulturalCenter on West Line St reflects thehistory and culture of the Nuumu(Paiute) and Newe (Shoshone)people. The Cultural Centershowcases the art and life way ofthese indigenous people, who havelived in the Eastern Sierra forthousands of years. Visitors to theCultural Center will also enjoy culturaldisplays, collections of NativeAmerican artifacts, historical archivesand media.

About 5 miles northeast of Bishop isLaws Railroad Museum. Located onthe site of the former Laws Railroadstation and rail yard, the land, 1883depot, locomotive and rail cars, andother buildings were donated to InyoCounty and the City of Bishop by theSouthern Pacific Railroad in 1960.

The museum is operatedby the Bishop Museumand Historical Society. TheLaws Museum also housesan extensive collection ofnatural, civic, literary andecclesiastical artifacts andhistory of the OwensValley.

You’ll find no shortagesof services in the town ofBishop. With severalhundred motel rooms,more than 30 restaurantsand nearly 50 stores, youcan rest assured thatwhatever your need, you’llbe able to find it in Bishop.

Enjoy Bishop’s Big Backyard


Inyo County visitors can spend anentire week’s vacation enjoying themany offerings the quaint town ofLone Pine has to offer. From world-class outdoor adventure to award-winning museums, Lone Pine ranks atthe top of attractions that appeal toeveryone.

Hikers and climbers are drawn tothe magic that is Mt. Whitney. Only 12miles from downtown Lone Pine laysWhitney Portal, the starting point forthose heading for the summit oftallest U.S. peak outside Alaska.Note, this is not a stroll in the woods.High altitude hiking (Mt. Whitneypeaks out at 14,508 feet) can drainthe most fit and experienced climber.Be prepared with water, food andextra clothing. The trek usuallyrequires an overnight stay.

A camp store and outstanding caféare found at the Portal, along with aForest Service campground, anincredible waterfall, a fishing pond aForest Service campground, andshorter hiking trails that offer a goodtrek into the wooded Sierra. Additionalcampgrounds and RV parks also dotthe area, providing many campingoptions that suit a wide variety ofcamping experiences.

The Alabama Hills located justoutside of town on Whitney PortalRoad offer a variety of outdooroptions. Climbers can scale thelandmark “Shark Fin.” Those seekinga less strenuous adventure can tourthe many dirt roads to seek out greatviews of the towering Sierra and Mt.Whitney. An added bonus are thenumerous rock arches located in thehills, which are ready made forphotos. Camping is allowed in theHills, which can accommodate tent

campers and RV and car campers. Anglers will find several

opportunities to land the “big one” inthe Lone Pine area. Tuttle Creek andLone Pine Creek are located just onthe edge of town and are well stockedby the California Department of Fishand Wildlife. It takes a little work to getto the Lower Owens River, but it canbe worth the effort. Just three milessouth of Lone Pine is Diaz Lake.Fishing for bluegill, bass and browntrout is popular here.

The Museum of Western FilmHistory contains world class exhibitsdepicting the important role Lone Pinehas played in the production ofHollywood movies, film andcommercials. The Museum containsan extensive collection of real moviecostumes, movie cars, props, postersand other memorabilia. This collectionrepresents a history of western film

and highlights those films made in thearea in and around Lone Pine from theearly days of the Round Up to themodern blockbusters of today such asIron Man. While you’re here, don’tforget to make the short trip upWhitney Portal Road and take the SelfGuided Tour of Movie Road to get afirst-hand look at real shootinglocations of a great many of themotion pictures filmed in the beautifulAlabama Hills.

Lone Pine is a full-service town,offering several excellent motels,restaurants, a variety of retail storesand many other visitor conveniences.The Interagency Visitor Center,located south of town at theintersection of Highways 136 and 395,is an excellent source of informationas is the Lone Pine Chamber ofCommerce, located on Main Street.

Lone Pine offers plenty of appealing adventures


Photos from the Bishop Christmas Parade; theIndependence 4th of July Parade; the Bishop Mule Days Parade; the Lone Pine Christmas Parade.

Everyone In Inyo County Loves a Parade


Everyone In Inyo County Loves a Parade

For years Independence has beenconsidered by many travelers to be aplace to pass by quickly on the way togreater destinations. But for thosethat take a moment to explore “Indy”and the surrounding area, a wealth ofadventure, culture and history aresoon revealed.

Independence is the county seat ofInyo County. Built in 1927, themagnificent Inyo County Courthousesits grandly in the center of town, andis one of a select group of countycourthouse listed on the NationalRegister of Historic Places.

Independence boasts one of thebest collections of historic buildings inInyo County. The Edwards House onWest Market Street was built in theearly 1860s. The adobe portion is theoldest structure still standing in InyoCounty. The “Commander’s House”was originally built at nearby FortIndependence, also in the 1860s.Later chunks and portions of theoriginal building were moved intotown, and various additions andexpansions were completed to createthe two-story home that stands today.

Mary Austin lived in Independencefor several years in a home on WestMarket Street and completed herbook, Land of Little Rain, in this housein 1903. She went on to write dozensof novels and plays which earned hera well-deserved spot in the pre-WWIIAmerican literary scene. A CaliforniaState historical marker in front of theprivate residence (not open to thepublic) describes her ties to the valleyand town.

The Eastern California Museum,

three blocks west of the courthouse,houses much of the region’s richhistory. The museum displays adiverse collection of artifacts, historicphotographs, an extensive NativeAmerican basket collection, miningand farming equipment, the history ofLos Angeles and its aqueduct in theOwens Valley, a local history researchlibrary, the Mary DeDecker nativeplant garden and a bookstore. Therecently restored Southern PacificLocomotive #18, the narrow-gaugeSlim Princess, is also on exhibit at themuseum. The museum can alsoprovide you with a map of the town,highlighting the many historicbuildings and points of interest youcan visit on a short walking tour.

The Mt Whitney Fish Hatchery lies

just three miles north of town. At thetime of its construction, Fish andGame Commissioner M. J. Connellinstructed his team “to design abuilding that would match themountains, would last forever, andwould be a showplace for all time.”The walls of the building areconstructed using native granitecollected within a quarter mile of thesite. The massive walls are two tothree feet thick.

Today the Hatchery and its beautifulgrounds are operated and maintainedby the non-profit Friends of the MtWhitney Hatchery. The shadygrounds and main pond are excellentfor relaxing, a picnic, and fish viewing.Volunteers staff a gift shop and givetours inside the hatchery during thesummer. This is an excellent place tostop and take a few minutes to enjoythe beauty and the history of theEastern Sierra.

Independence is a great place tostop and spend a few hours or a fewdays. It has plenty of room for thesoul to expand and the imagination tosoar. From the clouds called theSierra Wave to the brilliance of thenight time stars, Independence ismore than a rest stop. Independenceis a place of quiet beauty that is rarelyfound, but can be greatly treasured.Come and discover for yourself thewonderful town of Independence.


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Big Pine is the hub for exploringsome of the grandest areas in theregion, from the Sierra Nevada in thewest to the White Mountains in theeast.

In the center of town is CrockerStreet, which heads west and climbsinto the Sierra. The road ascends themighty Sierra escarpment and entersBig Pine Canyon, winding along BigPine Creek to campgrounds, cabins,a supply store, and a pack outfit forhorseback excursions into thebackcountry. At road’s end, lace upyour hiking boots and head up trailsthat lead to unparalleled scenery andadventure including one of Big Pine’sseveral claims to fame: the PalisadesGlacier, the largest glacier in theSierra Nevada.

The Ancient Bristlecone PineForest, high in the WhiteMountains, is home to treesthat are among the oldestliving things on earth, dating toover 5,000 years old. A goodpaved road via Hwy 168 leadsto the Schulman Grove fromthe north end of Big Pine. AVisitor Center provides dailyinterpretive talks and naturalhistory lectures mid-Junethrough Labor Day. Threeinterpretive hiking trails leadvisitors to close up views ofthese grand trees andstupendous views of the far offSierras. Be sure and bring acamera for one-of- a-kindphotos. Informativeinterpretive signs will help youunderstand the uniqueness ofthese noble trees as youmeander along. TheGrandview Campground makes for adelightful base camp to explore thenearby region.

The Owens Valley RadioObservatory is located just a fewmiles northeast of town. These largewhite discs, seen from Hwy 395, areowned and operated by Caltech andprovides astronomers the ability toconduct extensive research of thestars and our solar system. Caltechoffers occasional Open House eventsfor the public to tour its fascinatingresearch facilities.

Some of the Eastern Sierra’s finestfishing is found in and around BigPine. Throughout the picturesque BigPine Creek are numerous fishingspots, starting just a couple of milesoutside town and continuing all theway to the end of the road 17 milesaway. Close to town is the well-stocked Baker Ponds: turn west onBaker Creek Road, go about a mile tothe campgrounds and from there theponds are easy to find. The OwensRiver, about a mile east of Big Pine onS.R. 168, abounds with trout andwarm water species like catfish, bassand others.

There is also a “back road” to DeathValley National Park from Big Pine; becautious, though, because the road is

mostly of dirt and there are nofacilities, but the scenery is wonderfuland 75 miles farther is the north endof the Park near Scotty’s Castle.

The list of “things to do” while in BigPine could go on and on. Take thetime on your next visit to the OwensValley to experience some of theseworld-class and one of a kindadventures with friends and family.They’ll provide memories for a lifetime.


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Explore In All Directions From Big Pine

Inyo County is home to the highestpoint in the contiguous 48 states,Mt. Whitney and the lowest spot inthe western hemisphere, Badwater.

Methuselah, an ancient bristleconepine is the oldest living thing onEarth. It can be found in theAncient Bristlecone Pine Forest inInyo County near Big Pine.

The largest escarpment in the U.S.rises from the floor of Death Valleyto the top of Telescope Peak in thePanamint Range.

Death Valley National Park, in InyoCounty, is the largest national parkin the lower 48 at 3.3 million acres.

The Owens Valley is the deepestvalley in North or South America.Peaks in both the Sierra Nevadaand White Mountains exceed14,000 ft in elevation.

All but one of California’s 15“fourteeners” (peaks that exceed14,000 feet in elevation) are foundhere.

Buttermilk Country, an area of lushmeadows and boulders near MountTom and Basin Mountain, west ofBishop, got its name whenstagecoaches would make a reststop near its dairies andpassengers would enjoy a cooldrink of buttermilk.

Inyo County is the second-largestcounty in California.

Inyo County has the lowestcensus-designated area in the U.S.,Furnace Creek which is 179 feetbelow sea level.

Bishop is the largest town in theEastern Sierra, pop. 3,575.

The lowest golf course in thenation is located in Inyo County.The Furnace Creek Golf Course is214 ft below sea level.

The first hospital district organizedunder the provisions of the LocalHospital District Law in Californiawas Inyo County’s Northern InyoCounty Local Hospital District,organized in January, 1946.

The largest bristlecone pinemeasures 36 feet in circumference.

A castle built based on liesbetween friends is located in DeathValley.

Inyo County has 50 ghost towns.

Seventeen structures in InyoCounty are listed on the NationalRegister of Historic Places.

Fifteen California HistoricLandmarks are located in InyoCounty.

Inyo means “Dwelling place of theGreat Spirit” in Paiute.

It really did take twenty mules topull a Death Valley borax wagon.

Five Indian reservations wereestablished in Inyo County the1930’s. The Bishop PaiuteReservation, the Big Pine PaiuteReservation, the Lone PinePaiute/Shoshone Reservation, theTimbisha-Shoshone Reservation inDeath Valley and at FortIndependence, outside ofIndependence.

Big Pine was named for a largetree, which fell down years ago.Lone Pine was also named for abig tree. It’s gone, too.

Over 400 Hollywood films weremade near Lone Pine in thedramatic Alabama Hills.

Death Valley got its name after achild, in an ill-fated party ofsettlers, died. The settlers escapeda grim fate and as they left thevalley, one turned and said, “Goodbye, Death Valley,” so naming it.

Tule elk, which nearly becameextinct in the 1930s, thrive in InyoCounty. A heard of 500 tule elk livein the Owens Valley.

The first European to enter InyoCounty is believed to have beenAntonio Armijo who in the springof 1830 tread the “Old SpanishTrail” between Santa Fe, NM andSpanish settlements in California.

About as many cattle and sheeplive in Inyo County as do people.

Legendary frontiersmen, John C.Frémont and Kit Carson passedthrough Inyo County on the OldSpanish Trail.

Death Valley prospector andbusinessman, Dad Fairbanks,founded Shoshone and is creditedwith having rescued 50 peoplefrom Death Valley.

About 20,000 people hike to thesummit of Mt. Whitney each year.It takes most people two days toreach the summit.


Fast Fun Facts about Inyo County

760-876-5555633 S. Main StreetLone Pine, CA

WALKING DISTANCE TO RESTAURANTS • POOL • WIFI • LAUNDRYWALKING DISTANCE TO RESTAURANTS • POOL • WIFI • LAUNDRYWALKING DISTANCE TO RESTAURANTS • POOL • WIFI • LAUNDRY

The Owens River is famous theworld over for its unique place inhistory as the lifeblood of both theOwens Valley and the City of LosAngeles. It was the diversion of itswater to the great metropolis throughthe LA Aqueduct in 1913 that allowedthat city to grow from just 100,000people in 1900 to 1.2 million just 30years later. In theOwens Valley,the completion ofthe aqueductchanged thevalley’s historyand signaled thebeginning of arocky and oftencontentiousrelationship withits “absenteelandlord,” theCity of LosAngeles.

Before theaqueduct, theOwens Riverserved the area’sfirst inhabitants,the Paiute/Shoshone people quitewell. They built small diversion damsto irrigate stands of native plants. Thearrival of white settlers put an end tothe Paiutes’ way of life. Ranchersquickly diverted Owns River and itstributaries for their own use, primarilyto grow hay for their cattle. Farmersmoved in and took the best land forthemselves. Increasing numbers of

white settlers made it nearlyimpossible for the Paiute to maintaintheir traditional way of life.

At its peak, farmers and ranchers inthe Owens Valley had almost 60,000acres of land under irrigatedcultivation. When Los Angles officialsarrived in 1905, it was the waterrights of these farmers and ranchers

that the City quickly pursued. Manysold out. Others held on buteventually caved in to the financialand social pressures put on them bythe City. Once the LA Aqueduct wascomplete and diversions started in1913, the loss of water and the impactit had on Inyo were profound. Today,less than 15,000 acres of land in InyoCounty are being irrigated.

The Owens River begins on the icyslopes of the Eastern Sierra just southof June Mountain Ski Area. Smallcreeks combine in Glass CreekMeadows to form Glass Creek, thefurthest natural reach of this over-utilized watercourse.

Glass Creek soon joins DeadmanCreek and flows easterly under US

Highway 395 justbefore the climb toDeadman Pass.These two creeksare joined bysmaller tributariesand springs andtogether they soonflow into thenorthern reachesof the broadexpanse of LongValley where itbecomes wellknown to anglersas the “UpperOwens.”

For 26 miles, theOwens Riverwinds its way

through this picturesque settingtoward 50-plus square mile CrowleyLake, the largest storage reservoir onthe Owens. Fly-fishing is the sporthere with brilliant rainbows, browntrout and cutthroat testing the skills ofanglers. From Crowley Lake, theOwens River drops steeply throughthe voluminous Owens River Gorge.


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The Owens River weaves Inyo and LA together

Continued on page 18


151 Pioneer Lane, Bishop, CA 93514760-872-1000 • Fax 760-872-1643 • www.BishopCareCenter.com

Physical, Occupational & Speech TherapiesOrthopedic, Post-Acute Rehab, Pain

Management & Skilled Nursing Services

Fun on the waterInyo County anglers are not shy about

sharing their favorite fishing spots. These

locations can provide fun for the whole

family since they also offer a variety of

other activities besides fishing.

DIAz LAKE – Created when an 1872 earthquake opened

a depression in the earth 3 miles west ofLone Pine. The location of the Early

Opener Trout Derby every March. Birding,camping, fishing, hiking.

BILLY LAKE, INDEPENDENCE – Created in 1872 similar to Diaz, now a wet-land home to numerous birds and wildlife.

Popular for warm-water fishing. Birding, wildlife viewing, fishing, hiking,

hunting, photography.

MT WHITNEY FISH HATCHERY, INDEPENDENCE –A French tudor structure built in 1916

resulted from a fish and game commissioner’s order for a building “to

match the mountains… last forever… andbe a showpiece for all time.” Now closeddue to damage from a mudslide, visitorscan enjoy the scenic grounds and in the

summer months tour the building. Birding,wildlife viewing, camping, hiking, motor

touring, photography and mountain biking.

TINEMAHA RESERVOIR, BIG PINE – One of Inyo County’s best locations to viewwaterfowl and shorebirds… ducks, geese,American white pelicans and bald eagles

(seasonally). Tule elk graze west of thereservoir. Thousands of trout are planted

here each year, plus largemouth bass,bluegill and channel catfish.

BISHOP CREEK RECREATION AREA, BISHOP –Sloping canyons, moraines, cirques and

sawtooth ridges. Bishop Creek, SouthLake, Intake Two, Lake Sabrina and North

Lake are prime fishing spots as soon asthe snow melts (closed to fishing in winter).Birding, wildlife viewing, fishing, fall colors,

bouldering/rock climbing, hiking, motortouring, photography, spring flowers,

cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

PLEASANT VALLEY RESERVOIR, BISHOP – Still water fishing from shore and float

tubes, year round. Each March, the BlakeJones Trout Derby provides anglers with achance to get on the water just before the

opening of fishing season. Birding, wildlifeviewing, fishing, hiking, hunting, star gazing.

OWENS RIVER GORGE, BISHOP – Feisty trout are caught in the bottom

of the gorge, year round.

Climbing, hiking, fishing.

The steep vertical walls of theGorge attract climbers fromthroughout the world and foot trailswind throughout the Gorge providingnumerous hiking opportunities,especially during the cooler months.

As the Owens River enters the flatsof the Owens Valley, its speed slowsas it makes its way peacefully throughthe bottomlands. About 10 milessouth of Big Pine, at a location calledAberdeen, the River is diverted intothe Los Angeles Aqueduct and fromhere, flows 233 miles to Los Angelesthrough a series of siphons, canals,pipes and reservoirs, entirely bygravity. It was and still is considereda marvel of engineering.

In 2006, after years of negotiationsand litigation, the City of Los Anglesagreed to allow water to flow on apermanent basis, down the 63 milesof the Lower Owens River dry riverbedbelow the Aberdeen diversion, all theway to Owens Lake

Dry Owens Lake itself is seeing aresurgence. For decades the dry lakefouled the local air with huge duststorms. Since 2001, the city of LosAngeles has been working under acourt order to reduce the dust, andhas cut the dust emissions coming offthe lake by 95 percent. Shallow poolsof water have been spread over muchof the lake, providing a surge in visitsby waterfowl. The City recentlyopened its Owens Lake Trails project.Three different access points provide4 miles of hiking trails, taking in thescenery and providing wildlife-viewingopportunities.

The Owens River has had a longhistory of serving humankind, andcontinues to go through manychanges as it works hard to pleaseeveryone. Perhaps the Owens can bebest summed up in a Mark Twainquote, “A river is like a book, but not abook to be read once and thrownaside, for it has a new story to tellevery day.”

Owens RiverContinued from page 17

Inyo County is “The Other Side ofCalifornia,” a vast expanse along theeastern edge of California that covers10,000 square miles (16,000 sq. Km),an area greater than six U.S. states(VT, NH, NJ, CT, DL and RI).

Inyo County is a land of extremes. Itclaims the highest and lowest pointsin the 48-contiguous states, and theoldest trees in the world. You’ll findhot and cold, wet and dry, barren andlush, refined and common at differenttimes and in different parts of thecounty.

The two most distinct aspects ofInyo County are Death Valley and theEastern Sierra. Within thesedestinations are such natural wondersas Death Valley National Park, theAncient Bristlecone Pine Forest, thePalisade Glacier, Mt. Whitney, RockCreek Canyon, the High Sierra and aclassic western landscape that hasbeen seen in countless motionpictures. With six million acres (2.4million hectares) of public land, InyoCounty offers numerous opportunitiesto explore, recreate and be amazed.

Here is a brief rundown of whatmakes Inyo County so alluring:

DEATH VALLEYIn 1849, a party of pioneers nearly

perished while attempting to crossthis desert valley. Upon beingrescued, one turned and exclaimed,“Goodbye, Death Valley,” so namingit. Today, a million people say hello toDeath Valley National Park, each year.The national park is the largest in thelower 48 states at 3.3 million acres(1.3 million hectares), and with thesoutheastern corner of Inyo County,comprises more than half thelandmass of the county.

Death Valley attractsphotographers, rock hounds, hikersand geologists to its fascinating andaustere landscape.

Favorite sights include the nine-mile, looping Artist’s Drive with itsmany-colored rock formations.Popular trails pass through theGolden Canyon, Mosaic Canyon andWildrose Peak trail. Each of theseleads to amazing views and other-worldly formations. The BadwaterBasin salt pan is the lowest point in

North America — 282 ft/86 m —below sea level, and the highest pointin the national park is Telescope Peakat 11,049 ft./3,315 m.

Death Valley has more than itsshare of intimidating places: theFuneral Mountains, Rhyolite GhostTown, Badwater, Stovepipe Wells, SaltCreek and Furnace Creek, amongthem. Yet, despite these notorious-sounding names, several species ofwildlife inhabit the park and it’s sopopular that for much of the year (latefall to late spring) available rooms andcampsites are far and few between.

Park lodging centers at the Oasis(formerly Furnace Creek Resort)whose famous Inn was opened in1927 by the Pacific Coast BoraxCompany of 20 Mule Team fame. TheFurnace Creek Inn was meant to savethe company’s failing railroad. As thevalue of mining faded, so did therailroad, but the Furnace Creek Innthrived. It is today among the mosthighly sought and refined oasis to befound within the National Park System.Nearby The Ranch is a populardestination for families and RVcampers. The park’s visitor center islocated here and the Borax Museumdisplays artifacts, Borax wagons andother historic equipment from thepark’s past.

Each season in Death Valley has itsattraction. In winter, snowflakestumble until they evaporate near thevalley floor; near the end of winter,

showy blooms of wildflowers appear;and in summer, temperatures oftenreach 120° F/49° C.

STOVEPIPE WELLS – A motel, restau-

rant, pool, campground with RV sitesand convenience store and gas sta-tion are located here. Old charcoalkilns and the ghost town of Leadfieldare worth visiting.

PANAMINT SPRINGS – They really

mean it, when they say “Last Gas” atPanamint Springs at the nationalpark’s western boundary. You’ll drive30 miles before you find the next gasor water. Remember, you’re in DeathValley! Continue east on CA-190 tocross Towne’s Pass into Death Valley,south on CA-178 to Trona and west onCA-190 to Olancha and Lone Pine(CA-136).

SHOSHONE – This desert town to the

southeast of the national park wasonce a railroad center and rest areafor local miners. It still serves as aservice hub with food, gas, lodging,supplies and RV sites.

TECOPA – Named after Paiute-

Shoshone Indian chief, Tecopa was ahard-rock mining camp in the late1800s, though today, it is best knownfor its hot springs. Natural hot wateris contained in separate bath housesfor men and women, with RV sites anda small store. A surprising sight inthis desert is Grimshaw Lake, a fa-vorite of water skiers. Nearbymarshes attract migratory birds andwere a stopping point along the OldSpanish Trail, a National Historic Trailthat passes through Tecopa. A treatfive miles south of Tecopa is ChinaRanch where you can buy all kinds oftreats made from dates… dateshakes, date baked goods and takeyour date on a hike beside the feder-ally recognized Wild and Scenic Ar-margosa River. At Dumont Dunes,4-wheelers, dune buggies and dirtbikes get airborne in the dunes andtake more terrestrial tours throughscenic canyons.

Where to explore, recreate and be amazed in Inyo County



OWENS VALLEY

One of the earliest Americanexplorers described the Owens Valleyas containing “ten thousand acres offine grass.” Today, it is mostly arid.As told in Marc Reisner’s book,Cadillac Desert this once-fertilefarmland, populated with fruit trees,was the victim of California’s WaterWars of the 1900s in which waterrights to the Owens River wereobtained by Los Angeles. Today, athird of LA’s water comes from thevalley through the LA Aqueduct.Court rulings and actions by the LosAngeles Department of Water andPower have helped restore fish habitatalong the river, making it again one ofthe finest fly fishing streams in theWest.

BISHOP – Calling itself a Small Townwith a Big Backyard, Bishop is thehub for recreation of all kinds, fromrock climbing and bouldering in thefamed Alabama Hills, to fishing in theOwens River, Bishop Creek Canyon(also a fall colors hotspot) and variouslocal lakes. Bishop is also the jumping

off point for hikers seeking the soli-tude of the numerous high Sierra trailsthat wander into the unspoiled wilder-ness west of town, which also pro-vides dramatic backdrop and sunsetsthat cannot be forgotten.

The most populated town in InyoCounty, Bishop also has the mostnumber of accommodations andservices. Bishop began as aranching town. Later, ranchesevolved into pack stations with theirsure-footed mules carrying the gear offishermen and campers back into theSierra. If any animal expresses theheart of Inyo County, it is the hard-working, intelligent, yet stubbornmule, which is honored annuallyduring Bishop’s “Mule Days.”

Long before the ranchers arrived,Paiute Shoshone people lived here.Their reservation sits northwest oftown and the Paiute Palace Casinoadds excitement to a stay in Bishop.Many of Bishop’s visitors include astop at the Owens Valley PaiuteShoshone Cultural Center andMuseum to learn about the firstinhabitants of the area and to enjoyexperiencing one of the tribe’s culturalevents.

Today, Bishop is the center ofoperations for the largest public utilityin the nation, the Los AngelesDepartment of Water and Power,which provides water and power tothe nation’s most populated city andprovides access to the streams itmanages for fishing. Southern

California Edison also got its start inBishop, and continues to operatehydroelectric power plants in theBishop Creek Drainage, and its effortsto dam up streams and enlargenatural lakes created a world-classstring of fishing holes.

BIG PINE – This small town prides it-self on being a gateway to the majes-tic Sierra Nevada and WhiteMountains. Drive east and you findthe Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest.Drive west and you find trailheads thatlead to the Palisade Glacier and East-ern Sierra. Outfitters run horse pack-ing trips to remote alpine lakes.Numerous fishing holes are foundalong Big Pine Creek and the BakerPonds. The Owens River teems withtrout, catfish and bass.

INDEPENDENCE – The county seatsince 1866, Independence is the cen-ter of regional history with its historiccourthouse; the Edwards House, old-est structure in the county; the Com-mander’s House, a century-oldVictorian home; the Mary Austin home(she wrote Land of Little Rain); andthe Eastern California Museum, withits extensive exhibits, artifacts, photo-graphs, native plant garden and his-toric mining and farm equipment.Good fishing is found nearby at Inde-pendence Creek, the Onion Valleyand along the Owens River. With aname like Independence, it’s under-

LADWP owns 315,000 acres in Inyo and Mono Counties, and

leaves nearly 75% of that private land open for public recreation.

Recreation in the Owens Valley

courtesy of LADWP

For more information visit:

LADWP.com





standable why the town has one of thebest Independence Day parades withtraditional early morning flag raising,pancake breakfast, fun run/walk,small-town parade, homemade icecream and pie social, kids’ games, anarts and crafts show, deep-pit barbe-cue and sunset fireworks show.

LONE PINE – One of the most filmedand photographed landscapes in thecounty is found surrounding LonePine. West of town are the AlabamaHills, named by locals who wereSouthern sympathizers during theAmerican Civil War. This collection ofirregular, ruddy, windswept bouldersbacked by a horizon of Sierra peaks,has been the backdrop for about 400Hollywood films from Gunga Din, toGladiator, to Rawhide, to Iron Man. It’swhere Roy Rogers first mounted Trig-ger, where Tom Mix rode to the res-cue and where Robert Downey Jr. gotblown up. Lone Pine has been seen inso many movies, that it has commem-orated its fame by hosting the annualLone Pine Film Festival. The LonePine Museum of Western Film Historypreserves the motion picture history ofInyo County with film memorabilia,cars, western carriages and an 84-seat theater.

MANzANAR NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE – During World War II,about 10,000 people of Japanese an-cestry, about 60 percent being Ameri-can citizens, were brought here to theManzanar War Relocation Center aspart of the “war hysteria” and racismthat swept America after the bombingof Pearl Harbor. Manzanar was one of10 Relocation Centers that eventuallyheld about 120,000 people of all agesof Japanese descent for the durationof WW II. Finally, in the 1980s, the USgovernment formally apologized to theinternees for their imprisonment with-out charges. The site in now in thehands of the National Park Service. Aninterpretive center is located in thecamp’s former auditorium, a numberof replica barracks and buildings offerinsights into camp life and a self-guided auto tours is offered.

SOUTH COUNTY

PEARSONVILLE – You’ve arrived inInyo County, if traveling north on US395 in a town often called the “HubCap Capitol of the World,” thanks toLucy Pearson who for years collecteda large collection of hubcaps and cat-aloging and storing each in a largewarehouse. In Pearsonville, you’ll findgas, food, a towing service, wreckingyard and a ton of hubcaps!

KEELER – This was once thesouthern terminus of theCarson & Colorado Railroad.When service ended in the1960s, most of Keeler’s resi-dents moved away. Thestreets are mostly quiet andno services exist. However,if you have a 4WD vehicle,follow a dirt road east toCerro Gordo, a ghost townwith several well-maintainedsilver mine buildings and asmall museum.

OLANCHA - This little ranching townhas been a waystation since its incep-tion in the 1860s. Cooling cottonwoodtrees and an inviting café attract trav-elers along US 395. Hikers and back-packers will often set off into the SouthSierra Wilderness and onto the PacificCrest Trail from nearby trailheads.


Where to explore, recreate and be amazed in Inyo County Continued from page 20



DARWIN – Stop in Darwin and youwon’t find any services, just a rich his-tory, a hearty group of year-round res-idents and nearby Darwin Falls whichbegins as an underground spring thatrises to the surface, spills over thefalls and travels for a few hundred feetbefore disappearing again. Pokearound Darwin and you’ll find oldmines off dirt roads leading from CA-190.

EASTERN SIERRA

MT. WHITNEY – On the east side ofthe Great Western Divide, Mt. Whitneystands 14,508 ft., the tallest mountainin the contiguous United States. Hik-ers reach the summit through WhitneyPortal, 13 miles west of Lone Pine. It’sa 10.7 mile hike and requires plan-ning, a wilderness permit and carefulattention to advisories regarding theprecautions of hiking at high altitudes,obtained within the Eastern Sierra In-terAgency Visitor’s Center, south ofLone Pine.

PALISADE GLACIER – The southern-

most glacier in the U.S. and thelargest in the Sierra Nevada is locatedwest of Big Pine and is visible fromU.S. 395. The glacier sits at the baseof Palisade Crest in the North ForkBasin. The scenery attracts hikers totrails that follow the ancient glacier.

ROCK CREEK CANYON – Between

Bishop and Mammoth Lakes is pic-ture-perfect Rock Creek Canyon.Rugged Eastern Sierra sawtooth

peaks rise above emerald meadows,populated with fluttering aspens andcut my meandering clear streams.

INYO NATIONAL FOREST AND THE

JOHN MUIR WILDERNESS – For com-

plete retreat, backpack or take a mulepack trip to the high country, todozens upon dozens of remote glass-ine lakes with romantic names likeLake Helen of Troy, Elinore Lake,Moonlight Lake and the TreasureLakes. You will understand why JohnMuir wrote, “Climb the mountains, andget their good tidings.” Few experi-ences are as emotionally satiating asbeing in the rarified air of the EasternHigh Sierra in settings whose beautydefy description.

SIERRA BIGHORN SHEEP - Three

subspecies of bighorn sheep live inthe United States. You can see two ofthem within minutes of one another inInyo County, California. SierraBighorn can be seen in Eastern Sierracanyons. From U.S. 395, north ofBishop, follow Pine Creek Roadthrough Round Valley. In the last cou-ple of miles before the road ends,look up to the north to see the buff-colored coats of the Sierra BighornSheep as they graze among pinesand brush. You will be surprised howwell they blend into the landscapeand how difficult it is, at first, to seethem. With practice, it becomes eas-ier. There are no formal tours to seethe bighorn, however the Bishop of-fice of the California Department ofFish and Game can explain how best

to see the elusive bighorns. Sometips: the Bighorn will not let you getcloser than a couple of hundredyards, so bring powerful binoculars ora camera with a telephoto lens andenjoy seeing them from a distance.

WHITE MOUNTAINS

ANCIENT BRISTLECONE FOREST –

Thirty-six miles east of Big Pine in theWhite Mountains at elevations over9,000 ft grow the oldest living trees.The oldest of them, Mehtuselah, is es-timated to be nearly 4,800 years old.Several groves of the venerable treescan be seen. Exhibits at the visitorcenter at Schulman Grove describethe trees. From Big Pine, travel easton CA-168 to the Ancient BristleconePine Forest Scenic Byway.




County seat IndependencePopulation 17,980Land Area (sq. mi.) 10,142Highest Elevation 14,492 ft.Lowest Elevation -282 ft.Distance between highest

and lowest points 80 mi.Land in federal ownership 92%Land in state ownership 3.9%Land in City of Los Angeles

ownership 3.9%Land in private ownership 1.7%

AVERAGE CLIMATE

Owens ValleySummer High 98°

Winter Low 22°

Death ValleySummer High 115°

Winter Low 37°

MAJOR HIGHWAYS

U.S. 395 (south to north) – SanBernardino County to Mono County

U.S. 6 (west to east) – Bishop toProvince, Mass.

CA-168 (west to east) – Big Pine to Nevada through Death Valley

CA-136 (west to east) – Lone Pine to Nevada through Death Valley

Just the facts about Inyo County Inyo County was named after the Inyo Mountains which in Paiute means “dwelling place of the Great Spirit.”Inyo County was established in 1866 from territory taken from Mono and Tulare counties. It was to have been called

“Coso County” but that never occurred. Instead, Governor Low created “Inyo County” from the same land.

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