Tag: Inyo County

Inyo County, nestled in the eastern Sierra Nevada region of California, is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and rugged landscapes. It spans a diverse terrain, from the high peaks of the Sierra Nevada to the expansive Owens Valley and the starkly beautiful desert landscapes of the Mojave Desert. Home to iconic landmarks like Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States, and Death Valley National Park, the lowest point in North America, Inyo County offers unparalleled opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts, including hiking, rock climbing, and exploring ancient bristlecone pine forests. The county seat, Independence, reflects its rich history tied to the California Gold Rush and the pioneering spirit of the American West.  The area remains a haven for those seeking solitude and adventure amidst its breathtaking natural wonders.

Mount Whitney Fish Hatchery

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Mount Whitney Fish Hatchery
Mount Whitney Fish Hatchery

Located just outside of Independence, Inyo County, California the Mount Whitney Fish Hatchery has played an important role in the preservation of the Golden Trout.  Beyond the hatchery’s primary purpose, the site makes an excellent location to pull off the highway, relax in the shade and enjoy a picnic lunch.  This is how I was introduced to the hatchery 30 years ago, and it is still much anticipated stop each time I travel the 395 highway.

The fish hatchery began life in 1915, when the town of Independence raised money for and subsequently purchased a 40 acre parcel of ideal land in Oak Creek.  Using foresight not seen in our time, Fish and Game Commissioner M. J. Connell directed he direct the design team “to design a building that would match the mountains, would last forever, and would be a showplace for all time.”  Charles Dean of the State Department of Engineering and the design time team decided upon a “Tudor Revival” architectural style.

Mount Whitney Fish Hatchery Display Pond
Mount Whitney Fish Hatchery Display Pond

Utilizing a budget of $60,000 the hatchery project was started in March 1916 and complete one year later.  The building was built using 3200 tones of  local granite quarried nearby, boasts walls up to three feet thick and features a Spanish Tile roof.  When the facility was brought online in 1917, the hatchery could produce two million fry per year.  

The hatchery’s design, led by Charles Dean of the State Department of Engineering, prioritizes durability and aesthetic integration with the landscape. The grounds, landscaped by a gardener from Golden Gate Park, feature lush vegetation and a large fish-rearing pond framed by the dramatic backdrop of the Sierra Nevada, evoking the feel of an old European estate. The main building includes a visitor center with a gift shop, a fireplace, and interpretive exhibits, while the interior showcases troughs for fingerling fish and historical displays. Additional structures on the 40-acre site include nine small residences and six commercial buildings, contributing to its community-oriented function.

The fish hatchery operated until 2008, when on July 12th a flood and mudslide tore down the Oak Creek watershed which in 2007 was burnt in a wild fire.  The resulting mudslide buried the fish rearing ponds, destroyed four buildings and killed the entire population of Rainbow Trout.

The pond offers some beautiful flowers in the spring.

Currently a restoration project is in process, however the fate of the hatchery operation remains unknown.

Mount Whitney Fish Hatchery Map

References

Bitterbrush Campground – Inyo National Forest

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Inyo National Forest Campground
Inyo National Forest Campground

Bitterbrush Campground is a scenic, year-round campground in the Inyo National Forest, located along Bishop Creek in the Eastern Sierra Nevada near Bishop, California.

Description

Situated at approximately 7,000–7,350 feet elevation, about 13 miles west of Bishop via State Route 168 (Line Street), Bitterbrush sits along the banks of Big Pine Creek/Bishop Creek. It features a single-loop layout with 30 single-family campsites.

The campground is popular in spring and fall because it often remains below the snow line or has only light snow when higher sites are inaccessible. It offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains, snow-capped peaks, and the Owens Valley, with many sites located creekside amid piñon and Jeffrey pines. The setting provides a mix of open and shaded areas (though shade can be limited in some spots).

It operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations. Fees are typically $23–$31 per night during the main season, with an extra vehicle fee. Camping is free but unstaffed from November through March. It accommodates tents, trailers, and small RVs (max length around 25 ft), with some tent-only sites.

Amenities

  • Picnic tables and fire rings/grills at each site
  • Bear-proof food storage lockers (important — this is an active bear area)
  • Vault toilets (generally 2, available seasonally)
  • Potable drinking water (mid-May to mid-October; none in winter)
  • Trash bins (serviced in summer)
  • Pets allowed
  • No showers, hookups, or dump station
  • Some cell service (one of the better spots farther up the canyon)

Activities in the Area

  • Fishing — Bishop Creek offers good trout fishing
  • Hiking & Backpacking — Nearby trailheads access the John Muir Wilderness, including routes toward lakes, peaks like Chocolate Peak, and longer treks
  • Wildlife viewing — Common sightings include birds, deer, and occasional eagles
  • Scenic driving & photography — Bishop Creek Canyon is especially beautiful in fall with changing colors
  • Mountain biking and nature trails
  • Picnicking and relaxing by the creek
  • Stargazing — Excellent dark skies in the Eastern Sierra
  • Winter camping — Possible due to lower elevation
  • Nearby attractions include other Bishop Creek campgrounds, South Lake, Lake Sabrina, Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, and the town of Bishop for resupply.

Tips: Bring bear awareness practices, prepare for variable weather (hot days/cool nights), and note that it can get busy on weekends. It’s a great base for exploring the Eastern Sierra while staying relatively close to Bishop. Always check current conditions on the USDA Forest Service website, as details like water availability can change seasonally.

Upper Sage Flat Campground – Inyo National forest

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Inyo National Forest Campground
Inyo National Forest Campground

Upper Sage Flat Campground is a scenic, family-friendly campground in Inyo National Forest, located about 9–10 miles west of the small town of Big Pine, California, along Glacier Lodge Road (off US Highway 395).

At an elevation of roughly 7,500–7,600 feet (sources vary slightly), it sits along the banks of Big Pine Creek in a narrow canyon. The campground offers shaded sites beneath mature Jeffrey pines and cottonwoods, providing a peaceful alpine setting with direct creek access. It serves as an excellent base for exploring the Eastern Sierra Nevada, including trails into the John Muir Wilderness.

The campground typically operates from late April or mid-May through mid-October, depending on snow conditions. It features 21 single-family campsites (some sources note around 20), most of which are well-shaded and can accommodate tents, RVs, and trailers up to about 30–40 feet. Sites include paved parking aprons. Reservations are recommended during peak season (late May to mid-September) through Recreation.gov, though some first-come, first-served availability exists outside peak times. Fees are generally around $29–$31 per night.

Amenities

  • Campsites: Picnic table, campfire ring (with grill), and bear-proof food storage locker per site. No hook-ups (dry camping).
  • Restrooms: Flush toilets and/or vault toilets (facilities are frequently praised for being exceptionally clean and well-maintained by camp hosts).
  • Water: Potable drinking water available.
  • Other: Paved parking aprons (most ~40 feet long), camp hosts on-site during the season, and trash collection. No showers or dump station.
  • Regulations: Active bear country—food and scented items must be stored in provided bear boxes. Maximum stay 14 days. Pets allowed (leashed, max 2 per site). Quiet hours typically 10 PM–6 or 7 AM.

Activities

  • Fishing: Big Pine Creek is stocked annually with rainbow, brown, brook, and alpers trout. Great stream fishing right by many sites; nearby Tinemaha Reservoir offers additional opportunities.
  • Hiking & Backpacking: The 1.5-mile Big Pine Creek Trail leads into the John Muir Wilderness, with access to waterfalls, Lon Chaney’s historic cabin, and the stunning Big Pine Lakes chain. Views of Palisades Glacier (the southernmost glacier in the U.S.) are a highlight. Longer backpacking trips possible with proper permits.
  • Swimming: Cooling off in the creek during summer.
  • Wildlife Viewing & Nature Appreciation: Excellent stargazing due to dark skies and minimal light pollution. Birdwatching and viewing of local animals.
  • Other: Picnicking, photography, horseback riding (nearby pack stations), and exploring the broader Eastern Sierra (including ancient bristlecone pines in the White Mountains). Nearby Glacier Lodge area adds more recreation options.

Wildlife in the Area

This is a rich Eastern Sierra ecosystem. Visitors commonly report:

  • Mammals: Black bears (very active—proper food storage is mandatory), mule deer (frequently seen along trails and in the woods), and possibly smaller mammals like squirrels or chipmunks.
  • Birds: Various songbirds, raptors, and migratory species. The area supports good birdwatching opportunities.
  • Fish: Rainbow, brown, brook, and alpers trout in Big Pine Creek.
  • Plants & Trees: Dominant Jeffrey pines and cottonwoods provide shade. Surrounding high-elevation terrain features sagebrush, wildflowers (in season), and other Sierra conifers. The broader Inyo National Forest includes ancient bristlecone pines nearby.

The campground is known for its clean facilities, attentive hosts, peaceful atmosphere, and beautiful setting. It’s ideal for nature lovers seeking a mix of relaxation by the creek and access to world-class hiking and wilderness. Always check Recreation.gov or the Inyo National Forest website for current conditions, fire restrictions, and availability, as mountain weather can change quickly.

Joseph Raphael De Lamar

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Joseph Raphael De Lamar (1843–1918) was a Dutch-born American maritime adventurer, mining magnate, and financier who rose from poverty to amass a $29 million fortune, leaving a lasting legacy through his contributions to mining and philanthropy.

Dutch-American businessman Joseph Raphael De Lamar
Dutch-American businessman Joseph Raphael De Lamar

Early Life

Joseph Raphael De Lamar was born on September 2, 1843, in Amsterdam, Holland, to Maximiliaan de la Mar, a banker, and Johanna Teune. His father’s death when Joseph was four plunged the family into poverty, leaving his mother to raise seven children. As a young boy, De Lamar stowed away on a Dutch ship bound for the West Indies, working as a cook’s assistant after being discovered. This sparked a maritime career, and by age 23, he commanded a ship, gaining a global education through extensive voyages.

Maritime and Submarine Ventures

De Lamar’s early career was defined by bold ventures. He became a ship’s captain and, during the American Civil War, a submarine contractor, salvaging sunken vessels. In 1872, he raised the Charlotte, a steamship carrying Italian marble, off Bermuda, succeeding where others failed. A near-fatal incident in 1874, trapped for 36 hours in a diving suit while inspecting the Steamer William Tibbitts at Martha’s Vineyard, led him to abandon diving. He then traded along West African rivers, profiting despite significant crew losses to disease.

Mining Career

In the late 1870s, De Lamar joined the Colorado gold rush, studying chemistry and metallurgy to enhance his mining expertise. In 1879, he bought the Terrible Lead Mine in Custer County, Colorado, for $5,500, selling it in 1885 for $130,000. In Idaho, he extracted $1.5 million in gold and silver from a mountain near Silver City, selling a half-interest to the De Lamar Mining Company of England for $2 million. He invested in Colorado’s Cripple Creek and built a cyanide-process mill in Mercury, Utah, expanding it to process 1,000 tons daily. In the 1890s, he explored copper prospects in Bingham Canyon, Utah, influencing its development. His mining legacy includes ghost towns named Delamar in Nevada, Idaho, and California.

Political and Financial Career

In 1891, De Lamar served as an Idaho state senator, chairing key committees but declining a U.S. Senate candidacy. Relocating to New York, he became a secretive Wall Street financier, known as “the man of mystery” for his reserved yet successful dealings, influencing major business interests without seeking public office.

Personal Life and New York Society

In 1893, De Lamar married Nellie Virginia Sands, a John Quincy Adams descendant, and they had a daughter, Alice. After their divorce, he raised Alice alone. To cement his status in New York’s Gilded Age, he commissioned a Beaux-Arts mansion at 233 Madison Avenue, completed in 1905 with features like an automobile elevator. He also built Pembroke, a Long Island estate, housing an Aeolian organ and Tiffany stained glass. Despite his wealth, his reserved nature kept him on the fringes of elite society.

Later Years and Legacy

An accomplished organist, De Lamar hosted grand events, including Alice’s 1915 society debut. He amassed art, including sculptures and paintings, for his homes. De Lamar died on December 1, 1918, in New York from pneumonia following surgery, leaving a $29 million estate (roughly $480 million today) to Alice and $10 million to Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and Columbia for medical research. His Madison Avenue mansion, later home to the American Bible Society and National Democratic Club, became the Polish Consulate in 1973 and a New York City landmark. In 2023, De Lamar was inducted into the American Mining Hall of Fame, cementing his rags-to-riches legacy.

Grandview Campground – Inyo National Forest

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Inyo National Forest Campground
Inyo National Forest Campground

Grandview Campground (sometimes styled as Grand View) is a serene, primitive campground in Inyo National Forest within California’s White Mountains, about 17–18 miles east of Big Pine, CA. At roughly 8,600 feet elevation, it sits nestled in low hills blanketed with pinyon pines and junipers. A large central open area provides unobstructed panoramic views, especially of the night sky.

The campground is particularly popular with stargazers and amateur astronomers because of its high elevation, dry air, and minimal light pollution. It also serves as the closest campground to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest (just 5 miles away to Schulman Grove). The area feels remote and peaceful, with sites spaced for privacy amid the trees.

Key Campground Details

  • Number of sites: 23–26 sites (sources vary slightly), spread across two loop roads.
  • Site features: Most are flat and sandy with good natural shade. Each site typically includes a picnic table, fire ring, and parking for 1–2 vehicles.
  • Season: Generally open mid-May through November (weather permitting); accessible year-round but can be cold/snowy in winter.
  • Fees: First-come, first-served (no reservations). Voluntary donation of around $5–$10 per night for maintenance.
  • Road access: Reached via Highway 168 east from Big Pine, then White Mountain Road. Note that Highway 168 is narrow, steep, and has single-lane sections—RVs and large vehicles should use caution.

Amenities

Grandview is a primitive, no-frills campground focused on self-sufficiency:

  • Picnic tables and fire rings at each site.
  • Vault toilets (generally clean and well-maintained; two are mentioned in some reports).
  • Trash dumpster (in some descriptions).
  • No potable water, no showers, no hookups (electric, water, or sewer), and no bear-proof lockers (the area lacks bears due to the dry environment).
  • Campers must bring all their own water—no natural sources nearby. Nearest services (food, fuel, water) are in Big Pine, about 17–18 miles away.

Firewood is limited; do not cut live or standing trees. Generators and bright lights are discouraged at night to preserve the dark-sky experience.

Activities

  • Stargazing and astronomy — One of the top draws; the open central area and high elevation offer exceptional views of the Milky Way.
  • Hiking — Short trails around the campground and access to longer hikes in the White Mountains. The nearby Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest has interpretive trails (1–5 miles) through ancient trees with Sierra Nevada views.
  • Wildlife viewing and nature photography.
  • Mountain biking, ATVing, and horseback riding on area trails.
  • Hunting (in season, with regulations).
  • Picnicking and relaxing in a quiet, high-desert forest setting.
  • Campfire programs (weekends July through Labor Day) on astronomy and local ecology (when available).
  • Nearby options include exploring the Owens Valley, fishing in Big Pine Creek or Baker Ponds, or longer backpacking trips.

Wildlife in the Area

The White Mountains host a high-desert ecosystem with pinyon-juniper woodland. Common or notable species include:

  • Mammals: Mule deer, marmots, rabbits, and various rodents. No bears in this range (ecosystem too dry and unproductive). Occasional sightings of mountain lions or bobcats are possible but rare.
  • Birds: Various songbirds, raptors, and species suited to high-elevation woodlands. Good for birdwatching.
  • Reptiles: Lizards and snakes typical of the region.
  • Special species nearby in the broader Inyo National Forest/White Mountains: Sierra bighorn sheep (rare/endemic), and other unique high-desert flora and fauna.

Always practice Leave No Trace principles, store food properly (mainly to protect against smaller animals like marmots), and be prepared for large temperature swings—cool nights even in summer.

Grandview Campground offers a beautiful, low-key base for those seeking solitude, starry skies, and proximity to one of the world’s oldest living forests. It’s ideal for tent campers, small RVs/trailers (with caution on access roads), and anyone who enjoys primitive camping in a striking high-elevation setting. Always check current conditions on the Inyo National Forest website before visiting, as weather and road status can change.