Bishop Area  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  4,200' Lat, Long:  37.3612, -118.3954 Map Page Views:  1,528,006. Good page? (2 likes)    Administrators:  Aron Quiter, Euan Cameron, Adam Winters, M.Morley, Sam Vanderhyden, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Euan Cameron on Nov 19, 2007 Make this area a Favorite What's New Guidebooks (2)  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon 78° | 39° 81° | 43° 79° | 46° 75° | 46° 75° | 45°

OV

Description 

Bishop is blessed with perfect climbing conditions. Not only is the climate perfect for climbing with only 6" average annual rainfall, and over 300 days sunshine, the crags and boulders that surround the town are world class.

The Owens River Gorge (ORG) has hundreds of top quality sport routes, and the Happy and Buttermilks bouldering venues both have world class problems. Each of the areas have distinct characteristics, the ORG has long pumpy routes, the Happy Boulders have fun boulders that suit strong fingers and flexibility, while the Buttermilks offer fine technical challenges that reward good technique and hard callouses in one of the most scenic settings in the country.

There are many more areas than these mentioned to go climb at - just as well the weather won't let you down - 'cause you'll be busy.

In the summer months when the valley is hot there are always the higher elevations of the Mammoth and June areas no further than 1 hour away, or you can cool off with a float down the Owens River, just east of Bishop.

Need a guidebook? Tape? Chalk? Check out Wilson's Eastside Sports on Main St., downtown Bishop for all your outdoorsy needs.
-For sport and trad climbing: "Bishop Area Rock Climbs", by Peter Croft and Marty Lewis
-For bouldering: "Bishop Bouldering", by Wills Young and Mick Ryan

Unknown climber getting to grips with the last hold before the throw on Stained Glass Submitted By: LeeAB on Jan 10, 2009

Photo by Micah Bryan Humphrey Submitted By: Adam Stackhouse on Aug 6, 2010

Getting There 

Bishop is located on US 395, about 4 hours North of Los Angeles and about 4 hours South of Reno.

It is a drive no matter where you come from, but one well worth making.

Camping out at The Pit. Can't say I've been to many campgrounds with better scenery than this one. Submitted By: Clay Zamperini on Jul 16, 2011

Buttermilks afternoon Submitted By: Adam Winters on Oct 24, 2012

The Classics

Featured Route For Bishop Area

Eclipsed 5.11d  CA : Sierra Eastside : ... : Pratt's Crack/Dihedrals Are...

From the 2 bolt belay, traverse a thin face for 3 bolts - the traverse gets tougher as you go. Then head up the nice clean arete. Like the traverse, the arete gets progressively harder, with the crux coming on off-vertical thin moves near the top.Feels rewarding....[more]   Browse More Classics in CA

Photos of Bishop Area Slideshow

Add Photo

Mt. Tom (13,692 ft.) and storm clouds just west of...	South Fork fall colors	Shadows and light on the White Mountains
Sierra sunset, Bishop	Summer in Round Valley	The Owens Valley near Bishop and the Sierra's fron...
Moonrise over the White Mountains, east of Bishop	White Mountain Peak, the highest point in the Whit...	Look at the luxurious spotters and pads!
The West Face of the Merlin Block, Warlock Boulder...	Peabodies	White Mountain at sunset
Picturesque Pine above the Owens Valley	Mt. Humphreys, part of the skyline west of Bishop	Red-tail Hawk, Buttermilks
Mount Tom and the Sierra just after sunset from th...	The White Mountains, from the Buttermilk camping a...	Bishop Creek, fall 2008
'Dale's Right' v2, Dale's Camp, Buttermilks	Downtown Bishop sunset	Fire on the Owens River, 4/08 (Negligent fisherm...
Bighorn sheep in the White Mountains	Mt. Humphreys, 13,986 ft.	Cottonwoods on the Owens River
Bishop area	Another B-Town local	Wheeler Crest
Face in the clouds (bottom center, looking up and ...	Big Pine	Wheeler Crest
Owens River	Aspens along South Fork	Fall '09 near North Lake
Bishop Creek, Fall '09	Bishop Sunset. Photo by Blitzo.	Humphreys Group, Bishop area Sierra
Unnamed/unknown, Buttermilks	Andrew Thomas working 'This Side of Paradise' v9-1...	AW on 'Sketch Pad' v1 R, Sherman Acres, Buttermilk...
Looking east from an unnamed pinnacle high on the ...	Looking west from The Pit.	Don't miss Erik Schat's Bakkery. Photo by Blitzo.
Mt. Tom from The Pit Campground. Photo by Blitzo.	Paiute Palace Casino. Lose your money and get gas....	Bishop Creek area
Mt Tom and BEORN!!!!!!!!	Tablelands and storm	Bishop's Sierra skyline
Camping out at The Pit. Can't say I've been to man...	Manor Market. Best beer and wine in Bishop. Look f...	The forest of Aspendell. Photo by Blitzo.
Bishop Creek	Buttermilks afternoon