Bishop Creek Canyon is located in California’s Eastern Sierra Nevada approximately 14 miles west of the town of Bishop. The canyon is know throughout the photographic world for its magnificent display of fall colors every October. But not know as well is the fact that Bishop Creek is a wonderful place to photograph all year round. In the Summer months it’s roadside wildflowers and meadows are some of the best in the Eastern Sierra. And with winter a whole new landscape of opportunity opens up for photographers. Only the highest parts of the roads are closed in the winter. This allows the photographer a chance to shoot many subjects that would normally require snowshoes or skis to get to.

In this tour I’ll show you some of the best locations to shoot up the canyon and what you’ll find when you get there.

To get to Bishop Creek Canyon you need to head west on Line St (State Rt 168) from the intersection of Main St and Line St in Bishop. This road heads right into the canyon.

Our first photo opportunity lies about 10 miles from Main St. It is a pull out that looks out over the rock formations know as Little Egypt. This is a great place to shoot after a winter storm when the snow is lying on the rocks and the ground in the canyon. Evening light works best here.

Heading up the road from here there are many places to shoot. Roads that head off the main road all lead down to the creek and offer some nice opportunities to get creek shots. There are some big Jeffery Pines that grow along the creek and help to make the area more photogenic.

After climbing up to 8000 feet we come to the next notable spot, Intake II. Intake II is a very popular fishing spot. It is also a great place to photograph year round. The lake is surrounded by aspens, so naturally, fall is awesome here. The aspens on the mountain behind the lake are some of the first to turn on Bishop Creek. They can start turning the last week of September. But the trees along the lake can be some of the last to turn. Usually turning the second to third week in October. In the winter Intake II is a great place to shoot. They keep the road and parking areas open all winter. When the lake freezes over and snow is covering the ground, some great shots can be had here.

Leaving Intake II we head up to Aspendell, a small, year round community sitting at 8500 feet. The aspens in Aspendell are some of the most beautiful in the canyon come October. Just above Aspendell on the main road is a pull off that has one of the nicest views in all three forks of the Bishop Creek. The view looks up the middle fork to the peaks along the crest. In the foreground there is a large grove of short aspens that are amazing around the first week of October. This is also a nice shot in the summer and in the winter.

From Aspendell we continue our climb up to Lake Sabrina. About a mile from Aspendell is the North Lake turnoff. We’ll come back here in a minute, for now let’s keep heading forward. Between North Lake Rd and Lake Sabrina is one of the prettiest stretches of road you will ever drive. Spring, Summer, or Fall it is beautiful. (You can’t drive here in the winter, the road is closed just above Aspendell.) Photo opportunities abound here, so take your time and enjoy this area.

Another mile or so and we arrive at Lake Sabrina. Very nice images can be had from the dam at Sabrina, but to get the best pictures you need to do a little hiking. Short hikes from the parking area or from down at the trailhead will lead you to some beautiful places to shoot the lake and the high peaks behind it. There are aspens throughout the Sabrina Basin. The best time to shoot these is the last week of September through the first week of October.

Now we’ll head back down to the North Lake Rd. Many people don’t like the North Lake Rd. If you have a fear of heights, then you might not either. The road to North Lake is a dirt road and it’s a little narrow in spots. By mid summer it can be pretty rough in in spots, but you won’t have any problems getting through, even in a car. The other thing about the North Lake Rd is that you have a large drop
off on your right. But the road is wide enough for cars to pass in this section, and the view is awesome. Just take it slow and watch for on coming traffic.

North Lake is a beautiful little lake. It is surrounded by aspens and can be one of the most photogenic places in the canyon. Early morning is the best time to shoot the lake. The last week of September through the first week of October is normally the best for fall colors. If your timing is right, you can catch the entire hill behind the lake aglow with color and reflecting in the lake. It’s very hard to predict when the trees will change on the hill, but the first week of October is a good guess.

Down the road a little from the lake is the road end and the trailhead to the backcountry. Here you will find one of the nicest displays of wildflowers in the Eastern Sierra. Paintbrush, Tiger Lilies, Shooting Stars, Fireweed, and Monkshood are some of the main flowers. But many more grow here. The best time of year is mid July. If you are shooting flowers here you need to park down in the hikers parking and walk up to the campground. You aren’t allowed to park along the road or in open camp spaces.

Now we’re going to head back down canyon to South Lake Rd below Intake II.

In my opinion, the south fork of Bishop Creek is one of the most beautiful canyons you will ever drive through. From June through August wildflowers grow along the whole length of road with the peak happening in July. And then late September comes around and the aspens come alive with color. This show can last until late October. Unfortunately, they close the road in the winter at Bishop Creek Lodge. So you have to be a little adventurous to shoot the south fork in winter. Skis or snowshoes will get you there.

2 miles from the turnoff you come to Bishop Creek Lodge. This is a great place to stop for a soda or even for a burger from their restaurant. From Bishop Creek Lodge you’ll notice the nice water fall to you left. You will also notice the big obnoxious house that has been built at the foot of the falls ruining many good shots. The house can be hidden behind trees from a little higher up the road.

In the 5 miles from Bishop Creek Lodge to the road end at South Lake the aspens of Bishop Creek take on their grandest forms. Large groves of aspens grow all along the canyon walls and road, creating one of the greatest displays of color in all of California. The show starts the last week in September and can go on through all of October with the peak normally happening in the first or second week in October.

But the aspens aren’t the only photogenic things here. In July wildflowers bloom all along this same stretch. Creating one of the greatest wildflower shows around. Watch for paintbrush, monkey flowers, fireweed, Crimson Columbines, and many other species of flowers can be found here. And keep an eye open for Alpine Columbines growing up by Parchers Resort and just below South Lake. This is the only place I’ve seen Alpine Columbines growing along a road in the Sierra.

So now we come to South Lake. One of the most beautiful lakes you are ever going to drive too. South Lake sits at 9600 feet, and the peaks you see in front of you are from 12,000 to 13,000 feet high. Great pictures can be taken right from the parking lot if you want. But wonder around a little and you can get some nice stuff here. When you are through looking at all of the grandeur around you, check out the great wildflower meadow on the east side of the parking area. In July this meadow burst forth with flowers. It is a great place to shoot Sierra wildflowers.

Well I guess we’re at the end of the road and the end of the tour. In closing I want to say that Bishop Creek Canyon is a wonderful place to photograph any time of year. There is always something to shoot. Even if the aspens are bare and there aren’t any wildflowers, there is always the creek and the pines, they’re are beautiful all year around. So head on up here and have a great time. There are a million photos to be taken at all times, all you have to do is see them.

If you enjoyed this photo tour, then you might also be interested in my E-book,
Eastern Sierra Photo Guide: Bishop Creek Canyon
It includes 20 pages of information on photographing Bishop Creek and is illustrated with 30 photos taken up the creek. Click the above link to find out more.

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