Trad and Sport Climbing
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Bishop has thousands of sport and trad routes. Before you head out to climb, please review our Crag Etiquette page and the important information below.
Always Tie Stopper Knots: Most routes in the Bishop area will require a 70-meter rope; some will require an 80-meter rope. Check beta before you begin climbing and ALWAYS tie a knot at the end of your rope.
Top Rope Anchor: “Mussy Hooks” are the standard bolted anchors on the East Side. Please set up a top rope anchor to reduce wear and tear.
Where to Buy Guidebooks: Mammoth Gear Exchange, Sage to Summit (also rents guidebooks), FIXEhardware, and Eastside Sports.
Owens River Gorge
The Owens River Gorge (ORG), or just “The Gorge” has the highest concentration of sport climbs in California! With over 1000 routes, there is something for everyone from 5.7’s to 5.13’s. It is a year-round crag, with summers being pretty hot. The rock that makes up this crag is known as volcanic tuff and features edges, pockets, and cracks.
The Gorge is private property owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP). Camping and fires are prohibited on LADWP land. Do not block gates or roads, and do not park on pavement.
The Gorge is divided into three parking lots and sections:
Upper Gorge: A little more narrow and winding than the other sections of the Gorge. The cliffs face a variety of directions, allowing the ability to chase shade or sun.
Central Gorge: Steep 2nd/3rd class descent trail. Do not knock rocks off - climbing area directly under the trail. There is a toilet located at the base of the approach trail. This climbing area can be accessed by the Lower Gorge trail too.
Lower Gorge: Accessed by the long, gradual Lower Power Plant Road which many people bike or take strollers down. You’ll also be able to access the Central Gorge from this road.
Pine Creek Canyon
A stunning scenic granite canyon, Pine Creek Canyon, part of the Inyo National Forest, features over 630 routes, and includes long multi-pitch affairs, plentiful traditional climbs, and a large collection of sport climbs. This can be a year-round climbing destination depending on the snow levels but is usually best from late spring to late fall. Pratt’s Crack aka Scheelite Canyon is a great starting point, but the outlying areas also have fantastic climbs of every grade and style.
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Lambing Season: is between March and June each year for the Sierra Nevada Bighorn sheep. There are estimated to be less than 500 left in the wild and it is up to us to help reduce stress during lambing season. Please leave your dogs at home, especially during the lambing season.
Rock Creek Canyon
Rock Creek Canyon is part of the Inyo National Forest and is located 30 minutes North of Bishop. This canyon is made up of some beautiful granite and is located at a higher elevation, making it typically climbable from spring to early fall. The two main climbing areas are the Gong Show Crag (mostly sport) and Patricia Bowl (mostly trad and sits at 10,600 ft in elevation).
Other Crags
Between the 150 miles between the Incredible Hulk (Bridgeport) and Mount Whitney (Lone Pine), there are thousands of Trad, Sport, and High Sierra routes. However, we cannot cover the entire Eastern Sierra. For other guidebooks for the Eastern Sierra, check out the Mammoth Rock Climbing Guidebook, High Sierra Climbing; Volumes 1, 2, 3 , Bishop Area Rock Climbs, the new Tuolumne Meadows Guidebook, The Good, the Great, and the Awesome, Climbing Mountain Whitney, and Eastern Sierra Ice.
Photo credits, clockwise from top left: Clayton Boyd, Drew Smith, Cashus Puhvel, Drew Smith