Location: Bishop
Top Things to do in Bishop
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7 Free Things to do in Bishop That You Shouldn't Miss
Bishop (formerly Bishop Creek) is a city in Inyo County, California, United States. Though Bishop is the only incorporated city and the largest populated place in Inyo County, the county seat is located in Independence. Bishop is located near the northern end of the Owens Valley, at an elevation of 4,150 feet (1,260 m). The town was named after Bishop Creek, flowing out of the Sierra Nevada; the creek was named after Samuel Addison Bishop, a settler in the Owens Valley. Located near numerous tourist attractions, Bishop is a major resort town; the town is a commercial and residential center, while many vacation destinations in the Sierra Nevada are located nearby.
Restaurants in Bishop
1. Little Lakes Valley Trail
2. Bishop Visitor Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 52 reviews
Located at the front of the Bishop City Park in a small A-frame, the Bishop Visitor Center welcomes guests from all over the world. We will provide you with personal assistance and detailed information on unique regional attractions, lodging, events, and endless outdoor activities. We have a nice selection of local-themed books, maps, t-shirts, jewelry and souvenirs available. There is ample parking for RVs and large vehicles just beyond the first baseball field.
Reviewed By 549marybethn - Berkeley, United States
Joe at the Chamber of Commerce is an amazing resource! We had planned to backpack near Lake Sabrina but the Creek fire had erupted the day before and I needed information so we could make a decision about cancelling. I needed "eyes on the street" info and resources to help us decide. Joe had developed a tutorial that included valuable links to web cams all over the Sierra. It was exactly what I was looking for. He walked me through the whole thing and explained how I could use the information. He also gave me names of businesses to call that were close to the trailhead. Ultimately we decided to cancel our trip. It was the absolute right decision. The next day Joe emailed me an alert from the Forest Service saying they were temporarily closing Southern California National Forests including Inyo National Forest. They also listed restrictions on other areas. Joe saved us a 13 hour round trip drive and saved the day. What an amazing service especially during these crazy times. So thankful!
3. Bishop Pass Trail
4. Buttermilk Country Loop
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34 reviews
With all the gorgeous scenery - like waterfalls, grasslands, and gorges - you won't notice the difficulty of the track.
Reviewed By mtk07
Stayed here for two nights over Memorial Day weekend. Though the official campgrounds were all full, we didn't have a problem finding space at Buttermilk. It's primitive camping, so you can go pretty much anywhere, but there are a number of spaces cleared out for camping. It's best to go there so as not to disturb more of the landscape. You need to bring all of your food/water, pack out trash and bury your waste. Parts of the area are owned by LADWP and labelled as off limits for camping. I saw some rangers drive through the area at night, so it's possible that this could be enforced. The LADWP lands seem to be kind of like no parking zones; if you drive far enough past the initial restricting sign, you'll arrive to another sign demarcating the end of LADWP land, making it okay to camp again. The views are gorgeous day and night. Starting the morning at the boulders is great and the views of the stars over the mountains are a great way to drift off. Buttermilk Country is at a lower elevation than many of the area hikes, so it stayed fairly pleasant at night and there wasn't snow Though the roads are dirt, our old Honda Odyssey didn't have any problems.
5. The Back Alley Bowl and Grill
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 13 reviews
The Back Alley Bowl and Grill offers great food and fun for the whole family. Plan your next party or group event here. We are a full service bowling alley with a great menu. You can order burgers for the kids and steak and lobster for yourself. We are located behind La Quinta across from the Bishop City Park. Come check us out!!
Reviewed By mwandot
Checked in to our hotel and asked for suggestions on dinner and cocktails. Both front desk clerks and a hotel guest immediately suggested the Bowling Alley! It is located directly behind the La Quinta Inn. We are always up for a new experience, so we gave it a try - honestly expecting to enjoy just a pre-dinner cocktail. We were greeted by a very energetic, friendly and inviting server. She thanked us for coming in and offered us a choice of seating locations. Seating choices were plentiful, (due to arriving on a Thursday at about 4:30 pm)bar, pub tables, booth, or table and chair. The interior of the restaurant is unique for a bowling alley. The feeling is that of a seaside relaxed dinner house. Our server was a great guy. So welcoming. We ordered our cocktails and decided to just relax a bit before deciding to stay for dinner. Holy smokes - within 30 minutes the place was getting crowed. Our waiter checked in and offered drink refills and let us know they they had an end cut and rare cut of Prime Rib, if we were interested. Advising they were going to get busy fairly quickly. He was fun and informative. Knew the menu very well and understood gluten free requirements. We of course decided to stay for dinner. The menu is extensive, offering appetizers, salads, sandwiches and many house speciality dinner items. We were amazed at the number of daily specials. Steaks, prime rib, lobster, fish, Bbq ribs- oh my. The Food was terrific. Served promptly, hot and exactly as ordered. Both our prime rib dinners were terrific and more than we could eat. We also enjoyed the house salad with the best blue cheese dressing my hubby has had in a long time. The spinach salad was fresh and the dressing wonderful. Not overly drenching the tender spinach leaves. Just perfect. We enjoyed the great food, amazing service and just when we thought it couldn't get any better- a visit from the owner!!! She was so friendly, and enjoyable. We feel like family. She gave us lots of information on the bowling alley and how they came to provide such a great dining establishment. We talked about the menu items and ambience of the restaurant. She spoke highly of her husband, chef and entire staff. We were sorry we didn't get a chance to talk with her husband as well. He was busy chatting with people at every table. Many locals enjoy this place. When we complimented the owner on the customer service her staff provided, she beamed with pride, letting us know the gal that seated us is the daughter of the chef!! What an enjoyable, delightful evening we had. The food was amazing, service excellent and new friendships were made. Life doesn't get any better than that. We recommend The Back Alley and defiantly will return when we visit Bishop. Family friendly, kid menus, seating for one or a crowd. Oh, and bowling if you are so inclined.
6. Paiute Palace Casino
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 98 reviews
Located at the foot in the beautiful Eastern Sierra mountain range, the Paiute Palace Casino is the areas only 24-hour Vegas style casino, featuring over 300 of the latest and most popular slot machines and a variety of table games. We are located at 2742 North Sierra Highway (Highway 395) about two (2) miles north of the City of Bishop, California. The Paiute Palace Casino is proudly owned and operated by the Bishop Paiute Tribe. The Paiute Palace Casino was established in October of 1995; the Casino's first home was a small temporary building. In April of 1996 the current Casino opened its doors and today, with over 65% Native Americans employed, it is one of the most Native American employed casinos in the State. The Paiute Palace Casino keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter while enjoying gaming activities - the latest and greatest slot machines, blackjack and poker. Our restaurant, Tu-Ka-Novie offers great food at prices more modest than any other found in the Bishop area. The friendly and courteous staff of the Paiute Palace Casino can assist and familiarize you with the Casino games and cater to your needs.
Reviewed By djf9065
Walked in and won $85, loved the old school slot machines. Will come back every time I pass through Bishop.
7. Lake Sabrina Boat Landing
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 35 reviews
