“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity” 
― John Muir, Our National Parks

I was fortunate enough to have spent a big chunk of my childhood living in the mountains, specifically the High Sierra. Being able to drive 35 minutes into Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, hiking through backyard streams with our llamas, and being in a small town around genuine people was magical. Over the past four years, I have been re-falling in love with the Sierra, but this time, with the Eastern Sierra and I want to share some of my favorite gems in the area. I love adventuring in the shoulder seasons in spontaneous weather with my dog, Moo, trotting alongside me. Whether I am going for a trail run, a cross country ski session, hiking 14ers, or on a multi day backpacking trip; my pup Moo accompanies me on the regular and it’s pretty obvious she loves the Eastern Sierra just as much as I do.

Disclaimer: Food in Mammoth is nothing to write home about, and very expensive so I think decent restaurants are hard to come by in this town and pretty much everyone else who lives here will agree. Take it for what it is!

I try to avoid most stuff in the village because 1) it is not that great and 2) it is owned by Mammoth Mountain aka not locally owned.

Most people complain about the drive up to these mountains however the 395 is one of the most incredible mountain highways in the United States. Most of these towns located off the 395 have some of the best of the best scenery, coffee, snow, hot springs, burgers, and sunset spots you will ever experience. I hope you are able to visit and appreciate these spots as much as I do.

Favorite food and drink spots

• Copper Top BBQ: Located in Big Pine; killer slow-cooked BBQ.

• Black Sheep Coffee: Located in Bishop; best pour-over coffee and vegan breakfast burritos I have ever had. I only buy my coffee beans from here!

• Black Velvet Coffee: Located in Mammoth; only coffee shop in Mammoth with a pour-over.

• June Lake Brewery: Located in June Lake; my go-to place when I want to drive the loop and enjoy some of the best IPAs. They also occasionally brew a great red and a great ginger beer and always have the killer Ohana food truck.

• Mountain Rambler: Located in Bishop, some of the best craft beer on tap

• Distant brewery (the new and improved Black Doubt): Located in Mammoth; fantastic microbrewery and very dog friendly.

• Goodlife Café: Located in Mammoth; best breakfast joint.

• Grocery Stores: Grocery Outlet (located in both Bishop and Mammoth, I prefer the Bishop location) and Manor Market (located in Bishop)

• Burritos: La Parilla in Juna Lake and Loco Frijole in Mammoth.

• Dos Alas CubaRican Cafe: Newly opened location next to the Sherwins that is by far, the best food in Mammoth. I was blown away with everything I ordered and this place can even flourish in L.A. Can be a bit on the pricey side since it is tapas style, but well worth the splurge.

• Giovanni’’s Pizzeria: The best pizza in the Eastern Sierra.

• Mammoth Tavern: Most consistent yummy food and cocktails!

• Martinis: Morrisons and Petra’s (both have killer happy hours)

• Dish Bistro: THE homemade veggie burger!

• Liberty: Best local bar, live music, and chicken fingers.

• Latte Da Cafe: Lee Vining amazing coffee shop. I usually go on my way to and from Yosemite

Favorite Shops and Gear Stores

• Mammoth Gear Exchange: Located in Bishop; huge selection of used and new gear with killer prices. The guys who work here are super nice and friendly.

• Mammoth Mountaineering: Located in Mammoth (sister store of Gear Exchange); best shop for mountaineering or snow gear. These folks will also special order stuff for me. Good people.

• Footloose: For everything paddle boarding and biking related. They special ordered a paddleboard for me, have hooked me up with free rentals and are just down to earth good people.

• Tail Waggers Pet Store: Located in Mammoth. They carry Ruffwear and will special order stuff for my dog. They also bake their own doggy treats.

• The Fun Store: Walking into this store makes me smile. It is FUN! From soft-serve ice cream and quirky gifts to puzzles, board games, and crafts, this store is great. I purchased my rainbow blow-up raft from here which I often take into the backcountry with me!

• Booky Joint: I love to read and really appreciate a good bookstore. The folks at Booky Joint are helpful and friendly and will gladly special order any book at your request. They also have a good map selection.

• Mammoth thrift stores are legit: Cast Off and Disabled Sports. Volunteer run and proceeds go to hospital and Eastern Sierra Disabled Sports!

Favorite sites, hot springs, and Sunday drives

• Manzanar Internment Camp: In 1942, the United States government ordered more than 110,000 men, women, and children to leave their homes and detained them in remote, military-style camps. Manzanar War Relocation Center was one of ten camps where Japanese American citizens and resident Japanese aliens were incarcerated during World War II. 

• Ancient Bristlecone forest: Home to the oldest trees in the world, bristlecone pines. Some of these living trees exceed 4000 years of age and exhibit spectacular growth forms of twisted and beautifully colored wood. 

• Alabama Hills: Stunning hill and rock formations including the infamous Mobius Arch on BLM land

• Benton Hot Springs: Private hot springs with each campsite; bring your mosquito repellent and make a reservation well in advance.

• Upside Down House: A pretty cool creation that was made into a museum that is so much more than just a great photo op. 

• 395 House: Located on the way to Lee Vining

• Rainbow Falls: Located in Mammoth

• Devils Postpile: Located in Mammoth

• Tioga Pass: Highest elevation backcountry road in the United States. Goes over a 10,000-foot pass and allows you to see Half Dome from the backside while looking out your car window and you will drive past Tuolumne Meadows. The Mobil has live music, food and alcohol on Thursday and Sundays during the summer.

• June Lake Loop: Stunning windy road that drives through the town of June while passing all of the many spectacular lakes and trailheads to loop back onto the 395.

• Lee Vining: Quaint town with lakes, an upside house, lots of photo ops, the freshest spring you will ever experience, and the most expensive gas prices in Mono County. Lundy Lake is also fantastic.

• Bridgeport: Twin Lakes

• Bishop: Happy and Sad boulders, Tungsten Hills, and the infamous Buttermilks. I absolutely love the town of Bishop but chose to live in Mammoth instead because the summers in Bishop are too hot for me! I can deal with with the Mammoth winters but not the Bishop summers.

Favorite trailheads

• Lone Pine: Mt Whitney trail or Cottonwood Lakes trail

• Big Pine: Big Pine Creek/North Fork/South Fork to Big Pine Lakes, Palisade Glacier and Temple Crag

• Independence: Onion Valley to Kearsarge Pass and beyond

• Bishop: Any trails out of North Lake, Lake Sabrina, South Lake and Rock Creek Canyon, in particular the North Lake to South Lake loop, and the trails to Gem Lake, Morgan Pass and Ruby Lake

• Mammoth:  Any trails out of the Mammoth Lakes Basin or Red Meadows, in particular the trails to Duck Pass, Agnew Pass, Minaret Lake, and Thousand Island Lake.

• June Lake: Yost/Fern Lake trail, Rush Creek and Reversed Peak

• Lee Vining: Lundy Lake trailhead to Saddlebag, Virginia Lakes to Summit Pass

• Bridgeport: Twin Lakes to Barney Lake

Favorite lakes

• Lake Mary: Cross-country skiing

• Horseshoe Lake: Cross-country skiing and paddle boarding

• Convict Lake: All seasons, especially fall

• June Lake: Paddle boarding during the summer

• Deer Lakes

• Arrowhead Lake

• Twin Lakes (Bridgeport)

• Tioga Lake

• Thousand Island Lake

• Garnet Lake

• Lake Sabrina: Can ski the road during winter

• Big Pine Lakes

• Heart Lake

• Silver Lake

Favorite sunset spots

• Owens River Gorge

• Buttermilks

• Convict Lake

• Hot Creek

• Minaret Vista

• June Lake

• South Tufa at Mono Lake

• Alabama Hills

• Hot Creek Crossing

Favorite activités by season

Summer: Hiking, Paddle Boarding (Lake Mary, June Lake, Tenaya Lake, Rock Creek Lake), Mountain Biking (uptown/downtown and Chipmunk Canyon), Running (Lakes Basin), E-bike cruising (Reds Meadows and Minaret Vista when road is closed, Lakes Basin).

Shoulder Season: You gotta get creative and put in some effort depending on the snow situation, but you can practically do all the summer activities if you really try hard!

Winter: Nordic skiing at Tamarack and Minaret Vista. Wild Ice Skating

I keep adding to this list each year…

Thanks for reading!

Xx

Kristen