Experience & Adventure

THINGS TO DO IN & AROUND BISHOP, CA

Wayfinder Bishop is your basecamp for exploring Bishop and the Eastern Sierra. Run through Bishop City Park across the street, grab fresh-baked bread at Erick Schat’s Bakery next door, and wander Main Street’s local shops, all just steps from our doors.

EXCLUSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PERKS

We’ve partnered with some of our favorite Bishop outfitters and makers to bring you exclusive access to the Eastern Sierra’s best experiences. From guided fly fishing and granite climbing to handcrafted local goods, these curated perks are reserved for Wayfinder Bishop guests. Adventure a little further. Save a little more.

A climber ascends a rocky arch against a bright sun halo, silhouette lit by the sun, rugged desert landscape around them.

Pleasant Valley Gorge

Carved by the Owens River over thousands of years, Pleasant Valley Gorge blends rugged canyon walls with calm reservoir waters. Popular with anglers, walkers, and cyclists, it’s a scenic escape just outside town and a favorite spot to slow down and take in the high-desert landscape.

A wooden, rounded gazebo-like hut at a patio with chairs and orange umbrellas, set against a modern building background.

Sauna Sessions

Exclusive to hotel guests, our onsite sauna is located on the seasonal pool deck and offers the perfect post-adventure reset. Step into steady cedar heat after a day on the trails or slopes, unwind your muscles, and ease into a slower Eastern Sierra evening.

A serene lake scene with autumn trees in golden yellows and oranges, evergreen pines, and rocky mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.

Bishop Creek Canyon

Just west of Bishop, Bishop Creek Canyon is one of the Sierra Nevada’s most iconic escapes. Spring brings wildflowers and rushing streams, summer offers cool alpine lakes and stocked fishing, and autumn sets the mountains ablaze in gold and crimson. In winter, snow settles over the canyon for a quieter, soul-steadying kind of beauty.

Ruined wooden buildings stand abandoned in a desolate prairie, with weathered cabins, a toppled wagon, and scrubby brush under a cloudy sky.

Bodie State Historic Park

Once home to nearly 10,000 gold seekers, Bodie boomed in the 1880s before fading into legend. Today, the preserved ghost town stands in “arrested decay,” with homes, a schoolhouse, and a saloon still frozen in time. Walk the dusty streets, peer through old windows, and experience one of California’s most storied Wild West relics.

A row of horses with saddles, carrying American flags on a sunny street scene.

Mule Days in Bishop

Every Memorial Day weekend, Bishop comes alive for Mule Days. Parades, rodeo events, and Western tradition take over town and Wayfinder Bishop puts you right in the middle of the celebration. Walk to the action, then reset creekside when the dust settles.

A vintage steam locomotive pulls into a rural station with a wooden depot, onlookers nearby and cars along the tracks.

Laws Railroad Museum & Historic Site

Built in 1883, Laws Station once served as the largest depot along the Carson & Colorado Railway, nicknamed the “Slim Princess.” Today, the site lives on as a preserved railroad museum featuring more than 50 historic structures. Explore original tools, railcars, and relics that tell the story of early Owens Valley settlers and frontier life.

A tranquil mountain lake surrounded by rocky shore, golden-yellow shrubs, and clear water with sunlit peaks in the background.

Convict Lake

Carved by ancient glaciers, Convict Lake is known for its crystal-clear waters and dramatic Sierra peaks. Its name traces back to an 1871 shootout involving escaped prisoners, adding a layer of Wild West lore to the landscape. Today, visitors come to hike the lakeside trail, cast a line, or simply take in one of the Eastern Sierra’s most iconic alpine views

Three rustic crusty loaves of bread with flour-dusted crusts and a braided scoring pattern.

Erick Schat's Bakkery

A Bishop staple since 1938, Erick Schat’s Bakkery is famous for its Original Sheepherder Bread®, first brought to the Owens Valley by Basque sheepherders during the Gold Rush. Still shaped by hand and baked in European stone hearth ovens, their breads and pastries are crafted with simple, high-quality ingredients and Sierra well water.

Rugged, wavy desert hills bathed in warm orange light, highlighting ridges and shadows across stark, layered terrain.

Death Valley National Park

Vast, stark, and unforgettable, Death Valley National Park is a land of extremes. Stand at Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level, wander sculpted sand dunes, and witness desert light that feels almost otherworldly. Though summer heat is intense, life endures here, sustained by hidden springs and rare desert species.

Rocky shoreline with calm water and dramatic limestone pillars rising from a distant island at sunset, soft pastel sky reflecting on the surface.

Mono Lake

Ancient and otherworldly, Mono Lake is one of North America’s oldest lakes, known for its towering tufa spires rising from intensely salty water. Formed over a million years ago, the lake supports brine shrimp and migratory birds, but no fish. Hike the shoreline, photograph the surreal landscape, or take in the stillness of this high-desert inland sea.

Slot machines line a glowing arcade, bright screens flashing as bells ring and colorful lights swirl around the gaming floor.

Wanaaha Casino

Located just minutes from Wayfinder Bishop, Wanaaha Casino is the Eastern Sierra’s go-to spot for gaming and late-night fun. Open 24 hours a day, the casino floor features more than 300 of the latest slot machines, making it an easy add-on to your Bishop itinerary.

A desert scene with large rocks in the foreground, scrubby bushes, and snow-capped mountains in the background, under a blue sky.

Druid Stones Hike

A local favorite for bouldering and big views, Druid Stones delivers a short but steep climb that gets your heart pumping fast. The ascent may be a workout, but the reward is worth it. From the plateau, sweeping Eastern Sierra views and quiet solitude make this a perfect sunrise or sunset spot.

Rugged canyon with tall rock walls, boulders on the ground, sparse vegetation, and a clear blue sky above.

Pine Creek Crags

Just north of Bishop, Pine Creek Crags is home to a dramatic granite slot canyon and some of the Eastern Sierra’s most sought-after climbing routes. Towering walls and technical lines make it a favorite for experienced climbers looking to test their skills against high-desert stone.