Located in California’s Eastern Sierra Nevada, the hike to Bishop Pass takes you into some incredible alpine terrain without asking too much! Beginning at about 10,000 feet, this trail takes you up to one of the most stunning passes in the Sierra and past a chain of beautiful alpine lakes.
While the overall mileage and vertical gain might look like a lot, this hike is actually pretty manageable, and if you are looking for a way to access some incredible alpine terrain, but you aren’t very experienced or in great shape this could be a great option. However, whether you are an experienced hiker or a newbie, the views here won’t disappoint!
Miles/Elevation:
11.6 miles
2,379 feet vertical gain
About Inyo National Forest:
At nearly 2 million acres, Inyo National Forest is a massive area of soaring peaks, desert, ancient forest, and incredibly rugged alpine terrain. Inyo contains the Big Pine Lakes, Mt Whitney, the lower 48’s highest peak, along with some of the world’s oldest living things, the ancient bristlecone pines.
Covering large swathes of the Eastern Sierra Nevada and White Mountains, as well as much of the Owens Valley, Inyo National Forest actually is one of the least forested national forests in the country. First protected by president Theodore Roosevelt in 1907, the forest was initially created to facilitate the creation of the Los Angeles Aqueduct.
Nowadays, Inyo National Forest is much more well known as a world class outdoor destination. With renowned wilderness areas such as the Ansel Adams Wilderness, the Golden Trout Wilderness, and the John Muir Wilderness, many of the best backpacking routes in the country pass through Inyo.
In addition to backpacking, there are many other amazing locations in Inyo National Forest that can be easily accessed in a day, either by hiking or by car. These include Mammoth Lakes, Convict Lake, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, June Lake, and Mt Whitney.
Much of Inyo National Forest does not require fees for day use, though some limited access locations may require fees. There is no fee to park at the Bishop Pass trailhead.
About the John Muir Wilderness:
There is no greater conservationist than John Muir, and there is no greater wilderness than the one which bears his name! Containing over 650,000 acres of wild lands, this protected region lies along the Sierra Crest near the eastern edge of the range. The eastern escarpment of the Sierra rises up to 8,000 feet in extremely dramatic fashion, which allows for incredibly dramatic views in the area.
The John Muir Wilderness is bounded by the Ansel Adams Wilderness in the North, the Golden Trout Wilderness in the south, and the Sequoia and Kings Canyon Wilderness to the west. To the east lies more accessible land in Inyo National Forest and the deserts beyond. There is a minor branch of the wilderness which juts south along the western edge of Kings Canyon National Park.
With nearly 600 miles of hiking trails, this wilderness truly is a hikers paradise. This region contains many of the highest peaks in the Sierra Nevada, including Mt Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48. Beyond Mt Whitney, there are 57 peaks with an elevation of 13,000 feet or more in the wilderness!
For day hikers, mountaineers, rock climbers, or fishermen, this place is magical, but it may be at its best when used for backpacking! The John Muir Trail, a 200+ mile backpacking route traverses the wilderness along with the trio of Sierra Nevada national parks, and a major chunk of the Pacific Crest Trail passes through the wilderness as well!
The John Muir Wilderness experiences heavy use and is the second most visited wilderness in the U.S.. Overnight access is strictly limited, and permits are required for all overnight use, as well as some day use areas like the Mt Whitney Trail.
Getting To The Eastern Sierra:
The first challenge in getting to this trailhead is to get to the Eastern Sierra. The closest town with real facilities is Bishop.
Located in the desert of eastern California, Bishop is a surprisingly remote place considering it’s in California. The closest sizable city is Reno, about three and a half hours to the north. Los Angeles and Las Vegas are both a bit over 4 hours away, and the Bay Area is about 6 hours away.
The main highway to access Bishop and the broader Eastern Sierra area is highway 395. 395 runs from just north of the Los Angeles area all the way north to the Canadian border. Reno to Bishop is a straight shot down 395, and Los Angeles is a straight shot north on 395.
There are a couple of small airports in the area, namely Bishop and Mammoth Lakes. However, commercial flights are either sporadic or non-existent. Driving from a larger metro is the easiest way to access the Eastern Sierra for most.
Getting To The Bishop Pass Trailhead:
Roadtripping to Bishop? Check out all of our road trip planning tips!
Take highway 395 to Bishop, and once in Bishop turn onto highway 168 to head into the mountains. Continue on 168 for about 15 miles as you climb towards the community of Aspendell. After 15 miles, turn left onto South Lake Road. Follow S Lake Road until it’s end. There is a large parking lot at the end of the road with both day use and overnight parking.
Tips:
- Be prepared for the high elevation. 12,000 feet is no joke.
- The mosquitos can be brutal, especially early in the season.
- Be prepared for lingering snow into July.
The Bishop Pass Trail:
To Long Lake:
From the start, you will have some nice views overlooking South Lake. South Lake is a reservoir, and when I hiked this trail the water was noticeably very low. Just another sign of the drought in California!
The views over South Lake will continue on the earliest stretches of the trail, but before long you’ll enter denser forest, and will lose the panoramas. There is at least one point when the forest breaks enough to look out for a nice view, but for the most part the next mile and a half will have you looking at leaves!
Always be sure to follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles when in the outdoors!
I’m generally not a huge fan of forest hiking, but here it’s actually pretty nice. For one, the forested stretch of this hike is only a mile and a half or so, and it passes quickly. The trees here are also nice and mature, and due to the abundance of lakes and water in this valley, there are tons of flowers and greenery if you’re here at the right time!
You’ll pass a pair of side trails which lead to other lakes, but continue straight to reach Long Lake. By the time you reach Long Lake, you’ll have climbed nearly 1000 feet, so you really don’t get a warm up period on this trail! However, once the trail begins leveling off, that’s your sign that the lake is near!
This is bear country so make sure you’re bear safe!
The first view of Long Lake is of its small northern extremity, but the view is phenomenal! Get used to great views on this hike because they’ll keep coming! The highlight of the view here is the 13,000 foot Mt Goode whose east face dramatically plunges almost straight down for thousands of feet! You’ll follow the shores of Long Lake for about ¾’s of a mile, and the great views will be present the entire time!
To Bishop Pass:
As you approach Bishop Pass from Long Lake, you’ll have a series of lakes to pass, each slightly higher in elevation than the last. The first of these is Spearhead Lake, the smallest of the chain. Spearhead is just a quarter mile or so beyond Long Lake and about 100 feet higher.
Always follow basic trail etiquette when you’re hiking!
After passing Spearhead Lake, you’ll ascend a set of switchbacks as you climb to the next water feature, the Timberline Tarns. This pair of tiny lakes will be on your left and you’ll have to cross their outlet, which is quite easy. All of the other lakes are on your right as you ascend towards Bishop Pass.
Driving up 395? Make sure you have the Top Down Lifestyle playlist!
By the time you reach the Timberline Tarns, you’ll be over 11,000 feet. Up here there are still a few scattered trees, but for the most part you’ll have 360 degree views, and they’re fantastic! To the right the 13,000 foot Mt Goode still dominates the skyline. Directly in front of you is the rocky slope descending from Bishop Pass, and above Bishop Pass is the nearly 14,000 foot Mt Agassiz!
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On your left and slightly behind by this point is one of my favorite mountains, the aptly named Cloudripper. This peak literally looks like a serrated saw blade, and it’s easy to imagine it ripping passing clouds to pieces! On your left and just ahead is the also well named Picture Puzzle. I don’t quite get this name, but it does look a bit complicated so I guess I get it!
The Mammoth Crest Loop is one of the best difficult hikes in nearby Mammoth!
Just after the Timberline Tarns is the much larger Saddlerock Lake. This lake is situated almost directly between Mt Goode and Picture Puzzle! Half a mile beyond Saddlerock Lake is the final lake of the chain, Bishop Lake.
Hike to Ediza Lake for an up close view of the Minarets and Ritter Range!
Now that you’ve arrived at Bishop Lake, you’ve hit the end of the valley. There’s nowhere easy left to go, now you have to climb! And there really isn’t an obvious path to climb. On all sides the slopes leading out of the valley are boulder fields and talus slopes, true alpine terrain.
If this is too easy try the 18 mile Thousand Island Lake Loop!
However, continue following the trail directly ahead and you’ll discover the rough, rocky, steep, and exposed trail leading up to Bishop Pass. This trail takes you up and through the boulder fields to the pass, and while I wouldn’t call this a nice and smooth trail, it’s pretty smooth given the terrain!
The hiking is relatively straightforward, just follow the trail. At one point I crossed over a subterranean stream passing through the boulders beneath my feet! The views continue improving as you climb, and you’ll pass some pretty serious drop offs too! Up here, there are no trees, no dirt, no grass, really nothing other than rock and snow!
Continue pushing and you’ll eventually leave the steep switchbacks and gain gentler slopes as you approach the pass. When I hiked this trail in early July, I encountered deep snow near the top of the pass. Later in the season the exposed ground would be essentially alpine tundra. Once the trail flattens out near the top of the pass, you’re just a couple minutes away!
Cresting Bishop Pass, the view ahead is stunning. Before you here is a large valley known as Dusy Basin. Also, welcome to Kings Canyon National Park. Everything on this side of the pass is in Kings, so once you crest the pass you are as well!
Dusy Basin is a renowned backpacking destination, and for good reason. Scattered across the basin are numerous alpine lakes, and the entire area is ringed by stunning peaks. Way out in front of you are a line of 13,000 foot peaks, and to your left, though not visible from Bishop Pass are the Palisades, a group of soaring peaks, many exceeding 14,000 feet.
There is almost nothing up here except rock, water, and snow. It’s one of the most stunning alpine environments I’ve seen, and it’s all accessible from Bishop Pass! Continue on with your backpacking gear, or just enjoy the view from up here!
Hiking Out:
Once you’ve soaked in the views from Bishop Pass, the return hike is a simple retracing of your steps back the way you came. The initial descent down from the pass along the rocky switchbacks might be slow, but from there it’s pretty smooth sailing all the way back.
The hiking up here is super enjoyable both ways, and while you’re passing the lakes up here the views are continuously epic. The descending is pretty gentle, the views are great, and the trail quality is pretty good. It makes for fantastic hiking!
From the end of Long Lake back to the trailhead is about 2 miles, and this is the only time where the trail drags a bit. You enter dense forest below Long Lake, and the phenomenal views are no longer there. It’s only 2 miles though, so before long you’ll be back at the trailhead!
Topdown Lifestyle Rating: 9/10
In terms of scenery there aren’t many places in the world better than the Eastern Sierra around Bishop Pass. 13 and 14 thousand foot peaks abound in this area, and the mountains here are as rugged as any you’ll find in America. The trail quality is largely good, there are views almost constantly, you pass numerous alpine lakes, and you’ll reach a 12,000 foot pass.
However, I can’t quite give this hike a 10/10. I have one issue: if you’re going to hike over 11 miles with well over 2,000 feet of climbing, why not just climb one of the awesome peaks around here? Don’t get me wrong this hike is amazing in itself, but are there better trails that lead to even greater final destinations? Yes.
Pros:
- Great views throughout
- Good trail quality
- Backpacking opportunities
Cons:
- Feels like you should keep going and climb something
Alternative Hikes:
When To Hike The Bishop Pass Trail:
The Eastern Sierra in general have an excellent climate for hiking, and that holds true for the Bishop Pass area. Most days from spring until late fall you will have tons of sunshine, and storms are pretty sporadic, possible, but not daily.
The limiting factor with this hike is snow. You’ll be hiking all the way up near 12,000 feet, so snow can linger well into the summer, and early winter storms could snow this area in early in the year. As a general rule, I’d expect this area to be passable between early July and sometime in October.
In terms of the ideal time to visit, I would probably lean towards earlier in the summer, just after the trails are clear of snow. Most years, that will be in late June or early July. The environment will be a bit more vibrant than later in the year, though fall colors could be very nice.
I think the big one though is that early season fires are much less common than fires in late summer or fall, so you are more likely to have clear, sunny days that are not choked with smoke early in the summer!
Links For Further Reading:
Bishop Pass Trail | Map, Guide – California | AllTrails
Inyo National Forest – Bishop Pass Trail – South Lake
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