Beautiful Spots to Visit in Bishop, CA

We have been going to the High Sierra or The Sierras since I was a kid. This year we made a few extra stops along the way and I want to share our Favorite Spots to Visit in Bishop, CA! We typically drive straight to June Lake but with the ~6+ hour straight drive there, we thought it may be a bit long with the kids. We have stopped in Bishop in the past but did an overnight this time. In future planning, we would still make a stop in Bishop, but would keep going to get to our final hotel destination. If you’re going to visit Bishop, CA, I recommend you stop at the following places for the best views, bites and fun!

The Best Views in Bishop, CA

If you’re driving through Bishop or looking to stay there, you have to see Lake Sabrina! It is about 18 miles south-west of Bishop but the views all the way up the road are absolutely beautiful. We saw a large waterfall and a creek that went all the way down the mountain. We stopped here for a while and let the kids play in the water while some of us fished. Lake Sabrina has a boat launch, pontoon rentals, fish cleaning facilities and a shop for tackle and snacks.

Fun Fact: Local residents pronounce the lake “Sah-bry-nuh;” however, the lake was originally named after Mrs. Sabrina (pronounced: suh-BREE-nuh) Hobbs, wife of C.M. Hobbs first General Manager of California Nevada Power Company which built the dam. The reason for the lake’s name pronunciation changing over the years is unclear. – Wiki

The Best Bites in Bishop, CA

On your way up to Bishop, stop by Copper Top BBQ in Big Pine, CA. It’s about 15 miles before Bishop and so tasty! We got ribs, pulled pork, tri-tip, mac n cheese and potato salad. Their meals come with a biscuit and a soda. For a dollar more, you can get a Death Valley Cream Soda! This place was really good and very popular so get there early. They also had a vending machine with vacuum sealed BBQ and offered their dry rubs for sale.

For breakfast, lunch or baked goods, check out Erick Schat’s Bakkery! We typically stop in every time we come up this way for pastries. They also have a location in Mammoth, CA. Oddly enough, another favorite place to eat in Bishop is The Back Alley Bowl and Grill. Yes, this is a bowling alley. They just happen to have a pretty decent prime rib meal on Friday nights for about $20.

Beautiful Spots to Visit in Bishop, CA

We found a large field of yellow daisies after turning north on Pleasant Valley Road about 6 miles north of Bishop. In another mile on this same road you can find Pleasant Valley Owens River Campground which is a nice spot for RV and tent camping. It looks like a great spot for fly fishing.

Another pretty spot for fishing is Convict Lake. It is about 35 miles from Bishop, CA. This is a good mid-point between Bishop and June Lake too. For more awesome spots to check out visit the Bishop Information Center.