A Wonderful Step Back in Time at Laws Railroad Museum…read more We absolutely loved our visit to the Laws Railroad Museum & Historic Site in Bishop, California! From the moment we arrived, everyone was incredibly welcoming, friendly, and accommodating. There was so much to see and explore that we could have spent hours there. The museum is like stepping into an entire little town from another era. There's an old schoolhouse, a library, historic buildings, station agent family home, doctor's office, firehouse and fascinating pieces of everyday life -- including old Maytag appliances. Every building seemed to have something interesting to discover. One of the highlights was riding the Brill train, which was such a fun experience and especially exciting for our 9 year old son, who absolutely loves trains. Another memorable part of our visit was meeting Makenzie, who was working on and cleaning the historic No. 9 4-6-0 Baldwin steam locomotive. Makenzie took the time to talk with us and shared some fascinating information about the train and its history. That personal interaction really made our visit special. It's really wonderful to meet a community of train enthusiasts. You can tell how much care, dedication, and passion goes into preserving this incredible piece of California history. It's truly a hidden gem and a wonderful place for families, history lovers, and, of course, train spotters! We highly recommend Laws Railroad Museum and can't wait to visit again!

We visited on a Saturday with our nine year old son and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The Brill car…read morebuilt in 1927 was a great ride and the docents explain history of the train and area. The little town has movie set quality buildings full of antiques of how people lived from the 1883 building of the trains station through the 1960's when the train stopped coming through. Not to mention antique cars and wagons. Be sure to check out their 4-6-0 Baldwin steam locomotive in restoration. We learned Morris Code and sent messages on the Telegraph. You'll be pleasantly surprised and although we spent two and a half hours there, we could have stayed longer.

I've been coming to Bishop, California to visit my grandma for my entire life and this was my first…read moretime being able to go to the movie theaters in town. It was such a wonderful experience and I wish that we have been doing it more often. We went to go see the new Wonka movie and the sound and picture were very good. I loved the Bishop history that played before the movie and it was a nice little touch. We ended up getting there a little early to make sure that we got good seats because they are not assigned and we were worried about our kids being able to see the screen. But they do have booster seats for kids that they were able to use if they could not see. I highly recommend to go and see a movie at this cute little theater.

Nice little theater. The chairs are new and comfy. You get 2 movie choices. Only has one time each…read moreevening. It's something to do when staying over night in bishop. We will return.

I consider myself a part time resident of Bishop, but I still always learn something or find a new…read moreplace to explore when I visit here. But the 5 star standout is the wonderful staff, who are a repository of valuable information and just all around lovely people. Especially Joe- who whetted my wanderer palate with some great new haunts in western nevada and was just a very kind and soulful person to spend some time with. Please stop by no matter how many times you've been to the eastern Sierra- you won't be disappointed

A night and day difference compared to other information centers. The last evening of my trip while…read moreleaving town, I stopped in for some maps. I was greeted by Joe. A real treat to meet this man. Along with sharing enthusiasm and value of nature, he was super knowledgeable about hiking the eastern sierra and photographing it. His service was personable like was common decades ago. Thank you Joe. The visitor center is cool with a vintage feel, well stocked with pamphlets, magazines, books and maps, with plenty of free options. Glad to know there are still thriving spots like this.

Plane landed in Bishop 90 mins ago and we waited for another plane to deplane and grab luggage so…read moreit will take us 3 hours to get to our Mammoth Village accommodations, not the hour that was advertised. Do yourself a favor and rent a car so you don't have to deal with MAWS.

If you are going to or from the Mammoth Airport, they are very bad at communicating with Advanced…read moreAir at Mammoth Airport. If your flight is delayed or arrives late you will be left without a pick-up as I was . There was no communication after that to resolve the issue . On my return to Los Angeles my flight was delayed, and the dispatch was unable to handle a change of pick up time. It's really only a 4 mile drive to the airport. Don't need to be there two hours early. I'm very disappointed in their service.

Activity Type: Hiking Nearby City: Mammoth Lakes…read moreLength: 13 total miles Elevation Gain: 1,700 feet Trail Type: Out-and-back Skill Level: An overall elevation gain of about 1,700 feet makes this a challenging hike. Duration: 7 to 8 hours, though 2 days is preferable. Season: Late June through mid-October. Trailhead Elevation: 8,300 feet Top Elevation: 9,300 feet Other Uses: Equestrians and leashed dogs are welcome. Bikes are not allowed in the Ansel Adams Wilderness. In a region of exceptionally stunning lakes, Shadow and Ediza are two of the loveliest. Both harbor views of the Ritter Range that are among the finest mountain landscapes in the Sierra Nevada. Rolling through green meadows, conifer forests, and rocky outcrops, the trail rises by gradual degrees up the valley of Shadow Creek in view of Volcanic Ridge, to the left (south). Some stretches have been finessed through rocky benches by the vigorous application of picks, shovels, and maybe a surgical stick or two of dynamite. The best of company, frolicsome Shadow Creek entertains us with music and assorted pretty little tricks, including a very clever cascade around an island of polished granite

Ah-May-Zing! I…read moreheard about Lake Ediza last year while on my way to Garnet via Shadow Creek. Fortunately I had a chance to trek up to Ediza this year. I was told that between the split off from the JMT to go towards Garnet and Lake Ediza there was a piece of Heaven on Earth. Truly the scenery was enlightening. Shadow creek was booming (even in this drought). Like all the high elevation lakes it's quite a trek to get there but the payoff is well worth the pain. When we arrived there wasn't too many good camping spots. We had to go around the lake towards the southwest section and camped a little off the trail. If we had just gone a bit further crossing a small creek to the "island" we would have found an even better spot by the beach area under the cover of some trees. My advice: Get there early and grab a good spot. As beautiful as Lake Ediza is it can get busy. Not Thousand Island Lakes busy, but busy nonetheless.

Voilà, home to the famous Mt Whitney! + Also, lots other…read morecools hikes and sceneries in the area. Oh, so blessed to be living in CA. - Downside is it's prob far away from your home, so prep for a +5hr car trip~ - Desert-y terrain. Almost nothing out there. Everything so far apart. . Stock up well on snacks, drinks, supplies before you head out.

Located in California's beautiful Eastern Sierra, the Inyo National Forest offers clean air,…read morecrystal blue skies, mountain lakes and streams, challenging trails, high mountain peaks, and beautiful views. With over two million acres, the Inyo National Forest is home to many natural wonders, including Mt. Whitney, Mono Lake, Mammoth Lakes Basin, and the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, as well as seven Congressionally-designated Wildernesses, comprising over 650,000 acres of land. This is a 3 nights 4days backpacking trip totaling 22.5 miles in the Ansel Adams WIlderness and the setting is amazing. We started at Agnews Meadow to John Muir Trail looping back thru Pacific Crest Trail. John Muir Trail Section: The John Muir Wilderness is massive in length - over 100 miles at its longest point. It covers the central/south portion of the Sierra Nevada range, on both the west and east side. The west side offers access from California's Central Valley and has many small towns and camper facilities. The east side is steep, very steep, and is accessible from the Owens Valley. Named after the father of environmentalism and champion of the national park system, this Wilderness has everything the Sierra Nevada has to offer -- lakes, meadows, streams, mountain peaks, forests and more. The John Muir Trail travels about 53 miles in the John Muir Wilderness. In terms of the John Muir Trail, this Wilderness essentially covers the area between National Parks/Monuments. The mid-point for the Trail lies here. Typically, it is at (or near) Edison or Florence Lakes that the through hiker will take a brief break and re-supply. The John Muir Wilderness also affords the hiker spots to soak their feet in hot springs, grab a warm meal, and "traverse" from "easy" east side access points to west side access points for the trail. As the trail begins a long set of switchbacks, one of the most panoramic views along the entire John Muir Trail is gained. Between the trees one can see the Minarets, Mt. Ritter and Banner Peak. Summer is an excellent time to see wildflowers along the trail. At higher elevations, even in late Summer the wildflowers are blooming due to the late snow melt. The order of the Lakes as we hiked in is as follows: Shadow Lake, Clarice Lake, Garnett Lake, Ruby Lake, Emerald Lake, Badger Lake and Thousand Islands. I can not choose which lake to mention as my favorite. They're all breathtaking. But Garnett Lake and Thousand Island stays in my mind the most. Ruby Lake is mysterious looking and Shadow Lake is rewarding in a sense since this is the first lake you will see after the final push in a difficult steep switchback leading to it. Mosquitoes are abundant during summer here that makes it not my favorite :( but it is beautiful nevertheless. As you ascend to over 9500 feet mosquitoes get lesser and you're back in a cooler condition. There are definitely snow on the trail and in some areas more than others as we started on the JMT above 9600 feet. One section between Ruby Lake and Garnett Lake the whole1000 feet of trail was covered in snow. I would recommend a trekking pole and crampons for faster crossing. You could definitely do it without but the snow will slow you down. Some areas are as deep as 5 feet of soft snow. Clarice Lake at 9600 was about 80% frozen. We took a break here and listened to the frogs complain :) The trail from Clarice Lake to Garnett Lake was covered with snow. I decided to throw my pack down and follow it by sliding down the hill on my behind. It was fun! The majestic beauty of both the Minarets, Banner Peak(12,936 ft) and Mt Ritter (13,143 ft) is the backdrop on most of my pictures of Shadow Lake. Awesome! Lots of wild flowers on the way down thru the PCT. Had a semi encounter with a bear on the trail. We heard him but never got to see him from about 20 feet from us. Hope this review will somehow encourage Yelpers to explore Ansel Adams Wilderness! Enjoy my pictures. I walked uphill to 10,1000 feet and and a total of 22.5 miles to snap them :)!

Learning and the hands-On was well choreographed. Have taken many of these classes over the years…read morethis was by far the best strongly recommend to family friends and your organization.

Activity Type: Hiking Nearby City: June Lake…read moreLength: 20 total miles Elevation Gain: 3,580 feet Trail Type: Loop Skill Level: Difficult Duration: 3-4 days Season: Mid-July through September Trailhead Elevation: 8,200 feet Top Elevation: 10,300 feet Local Contacts: Ansel Adams Wilderness; Mammoth Lakes Visitor Center Let your own abilities determine which of these two hikes you will take into the spectacular country around the base of Mount Ritter and the Minarets. The Ediza Lake hike follows excellent trails to a beautiful destination. The traverse hike--which continues from Ediza Lake on a steep and sketchy route to Iceberg, Cecile, and Minaret Lakes--requires route finding skills, a bit of easy scrambling, and, for much of the summer, an ice ax for crossing the icy slopes around Iceberg Lake. At Minaret Lake, the traverse route rejoins well-maintained trails for the descent to Devils Postpile National Monument.

Great place to visit for all family! We discovered this place by chance, but we fell in love with…read morethe natural beauty--clear water, drinkable air, and a pure, peaceful atmosphere!

Everywhere online says that this trail is a 6 miler, but it is most definitely 7 to get Blue Lake…read more Just keep that in mind when you don't reach the lake at 3 miles. Also keep in mind that this is a backpacking trail where you can continue beyond Blue Lake and reach numerous other lakes such as Dingleberry Lake, Hungry Packer Lake, Moonlight Lake, etc. However, my group of friends opted for a day hike since we aren't experienced backpackers. Soon after beginning the hike you get to Sabrina Lake which is neat in and of itself, but was not our final destination. If you wanted it to be, it could, as there are plenty of people enjoying the basin on their boats. Fun fact, Sabrina is pronounced SUH-BRAH-EE-NUH, not SUH-BREE-NUH, as one local informed us haha. Anyway, this hike was unlike any other I've been on due to the terrain. I've never been to the Sierras and it's so cool that it's like a dessert, alpine hybrid. There are beautiful alpine flowers (pink, purple, and orange) along the entire hike, two mini falls/streams that you have to cross, and plenty of rocky switchbacks. I would not call this a very intense hike as there aren't any portions that involve climbing or jumping. The only challenge I can imagine is if you didn't bring snacks/lunch to enjoy once you reach the beautiful Lake Blue. Lake Blue is crisp looking and crisp FEELING. You will definitely get hypothermia if you stay in for longer than a couple minutes. My feet were almost instantly numb, and my two friends that dared to (quickly) dunk their bodies in were extremely thankful for the hot noon sun that warmed and dried them fairly quickly. Make sure to bring bug spray because in the areas where you cross streams, there are HUGE SWARMS OF MOSQUITOS. Also there are bears and long-horned goats apparently, so be prepared in all situations. Happy hiking!

The drive to get here from downtown Bishop was an hour! It was looping around the mountains and we…read morehad to drive slowly at the curves. The views were so gorgeous that we did make a few stops. We parked in front of the Visitor Center and went on the Discovery Trail. It took us an hour to complete. We started on the right side of the loop, and I was just gasping for air. We saw the beautiful Bristlecone trees on the trail. As we continued on to the left side of the loop, we had to walk on the big red rocks. That part was not enjoyable at all as we had to be careful not to trip. However, the views were so wonderful. It's a clear trail, so there is no getting lost.

A few notes for others trying to get to the Patriarch Grove this month. Locals already know this,…read morebut...you're not going to get here with anything but high-clearance 4WD right now. It's already a little slushy near the Schulman Visitor center, but beyond that, it's deeper, messier, and just not possible without an offroading vehicle. And even that might be a little dicey. So you might make it as far as the visitor center until it snows again, but it is now closed for the winter. A few other things to note: the elevation will make you THIRSTY. Bring more water than you normally would. And a hat/sunscreen, because the sun is more intense up here! Lastly, it takes a little *more* than an hour to get as far as the visitor center but is absolutely worth the drive!

Yeeeee-haw! Wow! I…read moremade it through in one piece on the June 17 - 21, 2022 Rock Creek Pack Station Spring Horse Drive I cannot say enough complimentary things about the ground crew, staff wranglers, chuckwagon crew and the behind scenes crew that made this event a successful, memorable, lifetime experience. Didn't know I had it in me to complete a Horse Drive. (The tolerable temps made a HUGE difference. Thank you, Mother Nature! ) The veteran guests on the ride provided insightful knowledge of what to expect each leg of this. There were folks that are repeat guests...some for SEVERAL years! That's a statement in itself! Learning herd dynamics, appreciating the scenery, observing and experiencing the comradery amongst and with the staff is all part of the what creates this wonderful environment. The reflection of how the leadership has passed on their spirit of hard work, positivity, and fun of Rock Creek Pack Station to the staff. Thank you, Craig London. This is the real deal! If anyone wishes to live their cowboy / cowgirl fantasy, this comes pretty darned close to it. I didn't roll-out a blanket on the dirt and use a rock for a pillow, but....damn...those showers and tents were heaven sent and appreciated. And the food!!!! The BEST!!!! Thank you to the staff wranglers: Tristan, Tyler #1, Tyler #2, Ethan, Anna, Eddy, Sarah (hope I didn't miss anyone). Master of Horse and Mule: Mark Chuckwagon crew: K.K., Katy, and Alan, Jerri Ground crew: Mike, Wes, Sam, Isaac, Hunter I've likely missed a couple of folks and I apologize and thank you, too! I'm still coming off the Horse Drive cloud.....THANK YOU!!!!!

Amazing experience! Great ride options for all. Beautiful, healthy, and strong stock. Friendly and…read moreinformative team. We booked a day in the Sierra and it did not disappoint. Gaby was our guide and she was amazing. We rode Percy and Howdy. Forever memories!