Nothing is quite like camping in the Eastern Sierras. Full of mountains, streams, lakes, fresh air, and tall pines, this is nothing short of a theme park for American wilderness lovers. Bitterbrush is a popular campground just a short 13 miles outside of Bishop. It is one of the few campgrounds in the area that is open all year, and the best part is that after the season is over(mid-November), there is no cost for camping at it. You may wonder why the weird name…well, it’s because Bitterbrush plants surround the campground along with Ponderosa Pines, Sage, and various dicots.
Although, the temperatures can drop into the low 20s this time of year, if you light a fire and wear a warm jacket, you should be just fine. Since Bishop sits beneath the snowline, you may see a little snow, but typically there’s just a crispness in the air. Aside from exploring the pathways and mountainside near the campsite, there are many other things to do nearby.
Remi enjoying his blanket in the car.
While we were in town, we headed to a few of the iconic spots in the area…
To begin, we went to Keough’s Hot Springs. The geothermal spring water that can be found at this location was first used solely for medicinal purposes in the 1800s, but in 1919 the land was purchased by Phillip Keough, who had a vision to make this spot a first-class health spa. His vision became a reality and to this day, this place remains a premiere resort, however the ownership has changed a few times. It does cost $12/day to swim at these hot springs, but there are free spots too. If you feel like adventuring there are multiple hot spring pools along the road that you can pull right up to. The waters can be as warm as 130 degrees but is a comfortable 90-100 degrees most of the time. It’s a very cool experience, but they are often quite crowded.
The fish were munching on Troy’s feet in the hot spring. 
We also ventured over to the Owen’s River. These winding waters are 15 miles long, beginning in Lone Pine and going all the way up and into Mammoth, just beyond Lake Crowley. For thousands of years this river was called Wakopee and sat on land that belonged to both Northern Paiute and Shoshone tribes. Today it is one of the most frequented fishing spots in both the Mono and Inyo counties. For those of you that aren’t familiar with the region, this is one of the only bodies of water that remains open for fishing year-round. Be on the lookout for cows when driving to this beautiful area, as they graze freely in the area. Make note to dress accordingly, as there is no shade here, so even in the winter, its pretty warm.
🐄 🐄 🐄 
Troy’s in the distance! 
The ground is extremely salty! 
Remi’s exploring! 
Lake Sabrina was another stop during our trip. Sitting at a high elevation of 9,138 feet above Bishop, this lake is about as scenic as it gets. Named after Sabrina Hobbs, the wife of the first general manager of the Nevada California Power Company, this lake was originally a dam that was built to hold back the spring run-off. Today, it is a popular fishing and pontoon boat rental location. Unfortunately, the lake is so low that it is almost non-existent, but it sure is beautiful.
The dam wall. 
As mentioned in a prior post, Erick Schat’s Bakkery is an absolute must. All we can say is if you know, you know. If you don’t, go read our Schat’s blog!
Lastly, we stumbled upon the Bishop Creek Battleground Monument (No.811) while driving to and from our campground. Apparently, in 1862, there was a violent battle between the new Owens River Valley citizens and the Indians that inhabited the land. Both parties got injured and lives were lost, but the cause of the battle is unknown to this day. Regardless, this is a part of California history, and the memorial deserves a moment of your time.
All in all, it was a lovely visit full of campfires, Coleman stovetop breakfasts, and dark starry skies. We are already dreaming of our next outdoor excursion.
Campers have s’more fun,
TnT
Bonus Pics…
Driving through Aspendale on the way to Lake Sabrina, we came across this beautiful waterfall! 
Since the area is Indian land – there are casinos around and in some gas stations! A touch of Vegas in the wilderness!!