Bishop Backcountry

• Spots

  • Sabrina Lakes

  • North Lake

  • South Lake

• Flies

  • Sabrina Basin Flies

  • South Lake Flies

• Resources

Spots

Sabrina Lakes

• Sabrina Basin Maps

  • Sabrina Basin Area Map 1

  • Sabrina Basin Area Map 2

  • Baboon Lakes Map

  • Blue Lake Map

• Blue Lake

  • Location: Blue Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Sabrina Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Blue Lake AllTrails Map

  • 3 miles from trailhead at 10,400'

  • Try upper end of Blue Lake and the southern shore

  • Adams and gnats are successful

• Donkey Lake

  • Location: Donkey Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Sabrina Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Donkey Lake AllTrails Map

  • 3.5 miles from the trailhead at 10,640 feet

• Baboon Lakes

  • Location: Baboon Lakes Location

  • Trailhead: Sabrina Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Baboon Lakes AllTrails Map

  • 3.7 miles from the trailhead at 11,000'

  • Blue Lake is on the way, though can be crowded unlike Baboon Lakes

  • Donkey Lake and the northern shore of Baboon Lakes are good for backpacking/camping

• Sunset Lake

  • Location: Sunset Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Sabrina Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Sunset Lake AllTrails Map

  • 5 miles from the trailhead at 11,200'

  • Must follow the creek from Baboon Lakes

• Little George Lake

  • Location: Little George Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Sabrina Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Little George Lake AllTrails

  • 2.3 miles from the trailhead at 10,160 feet

• George Lake

  • Location: George Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Sabrina Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: George Lake AllTrails

  • 2.7 miles from the trailhead at 10,700 feet

• Tyee Lakes

  • Location: Tyee Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Sabrina Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Tyee Lake AllTrails

  • Going over an 11,500 foot ridge you drop into Tyee Lakes, about 4.25 miles from the trailhead at 11,000 feet, also has a separate trailhead on the way to South Lake which is listed in the South Lake section

• Emerald Lakes

  • Location: Emerald Lakes Location

  • Trailhead: Sabrina Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Emerald Lakes AllTrails Map

  • Trail starts from the western shoreline of Blue Lake

  • 3 miles from trailhead at 10,400'

• Dingleberry Lake

  • Location: Dingleberry Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Sabrina Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Dingleberry Lake AllTrails Map

  • Trail starts from the western shoreline of Blue Lake

  • 4.6 miles from trailhead at 10,500'

• Pee Wee Lake

  • Location: Pee Wee Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Sabrina Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Pee Wee Lake AllTrails Map

  • Trail starts from the western shoreline of Blue Lake, at 4 miles the trail forks to the east to Pee Wee and Topsy Turvey Lake

  • 4.4 miles from the trailhead at 10,675'

• Topsy Turvey Lake

  • Location: Topsy Turvey Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Sabrina Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Topsy Turvey Lake AllTrails Map

  • Trail starts from the western shoreline of Blue Lake, at 4 miles the trail forks to the east to Pee Wee and Topsy Turvey Lake

  • 4.5 miles from the trailhead at 10,800'

• Sailor Lake

  • Location: Sailor Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Sabrina Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Sailor Lake AllTrails Map

  • Trail starts from the western shoreline of Blue Lake, at 4.2 miles from the trailhead the trail forks to the east to Sailor Lake, Moonlight Lake, and Hungry Packer

  • 4.8 miles from trailhead at 11,040'

• Moonlight Lake

  • Location: Moonlight Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Sabrina Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Moonlight Lake AllTrails Map

  • Trail starts from the western shoreline of Blue Lake, at 4.2 miles from the trailhead the trail forks to the east to Sailor Lake, Moonlight Lake, and Hungry Packer

  • Go along the south shore of Sailor Lake and follow the creek to Moonlight Lake at 11,060'

• Hungry Packer Lake

  • Location: Hungry Packer Lake

  • Trailhead: Sabrina Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Hungry Packer Lake AllTrails Map

  • Trail starts from the western shoreline of Blue Lake, at 4.2 miles from the trailhead the trail forks to the east to Sailor Lake, Moonlight Lake, and Hungry Packer

  • 5.2 miles from the trailhead at 11,070'

  • Gnats work well in this lake

• Midnight Lake

  • Location: Midnight Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Sabrina Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Midnight Lake AllTrails Map

  • Trail starts from the western shoreline of Blue Lake, follow the trail straight up from Hungry Packer Lake

  • 4.9 miles from the trailhead at 11,000'

• Blue Heaven Lake

  • Location: Blue Heaven Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Sabrina Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Blue Heaven Lake AllTrails Map

  • To the West of Midnight Lake at 11,821'

• Hell Diver Lakes

  • Location: Fishgut Lakes Location

  • Trailhead: Sabrina Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Fishgut Lakes AllTrails Map

  • To the West of Midnight Lake at 11,7000'

• Fishgut Lakes

  • Location: Fishgut Lakes Location

  • Trailhead: Sabrina Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Fishgut Lakes AllTrails Map

  • Accessed from Dingleberry Lake at 11,000'

  • Must go off-trail to the northwest from the inlet of Dingleberry Lake about 3/4 miles with a 550 foot gain

• Bottleneck Lake

  • Location: Bottleneck Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Sabrina Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Bottleneck Lake AllTrails Map

  • Accessed from Dingleberry Lake at 11,122'

  • 1/4 mile southwest of Fishgut Lakes

• Schober Lakes

  • Location: Schober Lakes Location

  • Trailhead: Sabrina Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Schober Lakes AllTrails Map

  • Accessed from Dingleberry Lake at 11,700'

  • 1/2 mile west of Bottleneck Lake

  • Has Goldens in the Upper Lake

North Lake

• North Lake Maps

  • North Lake Area Map

• Grass Lake

  • Location: Grass Lake Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Grass Lake AllTrails Map

  • Small lake at 9,800

• Lower Lamarck Lake

  • Location: Lower Lamarck Lake Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Lower Lamarck Lake AllTrails Map

  • 1.5 miles from the trailhead at 10,600

• Upper Lamarck Lake

  • Location: Upper Lamarck Lake Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Upper Lamarck Lake AllTrails Map

  • 2 miles from the trailhead at 10,900'

• Wonder Lakes

  • Location: Wonder Lakes Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Wonder Lakes AllTrails Map

  • Go along the northern shore of Lower Lamarck Lake and follow the creek up to Wonder Lakes. The first lake will be about 2.0 miles from the trailhead

  • About a dozen lakes over a two mile stretch starting at 10,800 feet and going up to 11,600 feet

• Loch Leven Lake

  • Location: Loch Leven Lake Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Loch Leven Lake AllTrails Map

  • 2 miles from the trailhead at 10,700 feet

• Piute Lake

  • Location: Piute Lake Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Piute Lake AllTrails Map

  • 1 mile further from Lock Leven past a number of small ponds (all containing Brookies) is Piute Lake at 11,000 feet.

• Emerson Lake

  • Location: Emerson Lake Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Emerson Lake AllTrails Map

  • Can be reached by going south up the ridge just below Piute Lake. At 11,200 feet

• Muriel Lake

  • Location: Muriel Lake Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Muriel Lake AllTrails Map

  • Over 11,400 foot Piute Pass, you can take the south fork and drop into Muriel Lake about 4.6 miles from the trailhead at 11,300'

  • Has Goldens

• Goethe Lakes

  • Location: Goethe Lakes Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Goethe Lakes AllTrails Map

  • Going around the northwestern shoreline of Muriel follow the inlet creek up to Goethe, about .8 miles from the end of the trail at Muriel. There are two lakes at 11,500 feet

  • Has Goldens

• Lost Lakes

  • Location: Lost Lakes Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Lost Lakes AllTrails Map

  • Taking the eastern shoreline of Muriel to the south , you can reach the Lost Lakes within about .6 miles. Lost Lakes consist of 4 lakes at 11,800 feet to 11,900 feet

  • Has Goldens

• Summit Lake

  • Location: Summit Lake Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Summit Lake AllTrails Map

  • Taking the western fork of the trail over Piute Pass, Summit Lake is at 11,300 feet about 4.4 miles from the trailhead

  • Has Goldens

• Piute Creek

  • Location: Piute Creek Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Piute Creek AllTrails Map

  • Covers about 12 miles with an elevation of 8400 to 12,400 feet

  • Has Goldens

• Lower Desolation Lake

  • Location: Lower Desolation Lake Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Lower Desolation Lake AllTrails Map

  • At five miles from the trailhead, the trail forks to the north to Desolation Lake

  • 6.2 miles from the trailhead at 11,150

  • Has Goldens

• Desolation Lake

  • Location: Desolation Lake Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Desolation Lake AllTrails Map

  • Trail ends here about 7.5 miles from the trailhead at 11,380 feet

  • Has Goldens

• Forsaken Lake

  • Location: Forsaken Lake Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Forsaken Lake AllTrails Map

  • Go crosscountry to the east of the Desolation Lake about .5 miles at the end of the trai at 11,500'

  • Has Goldens

• Humphreys Lakes

  • Location: Humphreys Lakes Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Humphreys Lakes AllTrails Map

  • Four lakes sitting from 11,800 to 12,000 feet elevation

  • You need to go crosscountry about 1 mile northeast of Lower Desolation Lake

• Upper Golden Trout Lake

  • Location: Upper Golden Trout Lake Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Upper Golden Trout Lake AllTrails Map

  • Take the western fork from the five mile mark of the trail below Summit Lake

  • 1 mile from the fork or 6 miles from the trailhead at 10,800 feet

  • Has Goldens

• Lower Golden Trout Lake

  • Location: Lower Golden Trout Lake Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Lower Golden Trout Lake AllTrails Map

  • .25 miles downhill is the much larger Lower Golden at 10,780 feet

  • Has Goldens, so does Piute Creek below the lake

• Wahoo Lakes

  • Location: Wahoo Lakes Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Wahoo Lakes AllTrails Map

  • .75 miles south of Upper Golden are the three Wahoo Lakes

  • Follow the creek from where it enters Upper Golden Trout Lake along the southern shore

• Packsaddle Lake

  • Location: Packsaddle Lake Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Packsaddle Lake AllTrails Map

  • 7.6 miles from the trailhead at 10, 600 feet elevation

  • Take a crosscountry route for about .75 miles at the end of the trail below Lower Golden Trout Creek

  • Has Goldens -Paine Lake

  • Location: Paine Lake Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Paine Lake AllTrails Map

  • At 11,020'

  • Has Goldens

• Tomahawk Lake

  • Location: Tomahawk Lake Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Tomahawk Lake AllTrails Map

  • Above Upper Golden Trout Lake, the trail will fork to the north following a higher level along Piute Creek going north crosscountry

  • .5 miles off the trai at 11,145'

  • Has Goldens

• Mesa Lake

  • Location: Mesa Lake Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Mesa Lake AllTrails Map

  • Above Upper Golden Trout Lake, the trail will fork to the north following a higher level along Piute Creek going north crosscountry =

  • 1.3 miles north of trail at 11,300'

  • Has Goldens

• Wedge Lake

  • Location: Wedge Lake Location

  • Trailhead: North Lake Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Wedge Lake AllTrails Map

  • Above Upper Golden Trout Lake, the trail will fork to the north following a higher level along Piute Creek going north crosscountry

  • 10,900' eet above the western shore of Desolation Lake

South Lake

• South Lake Maps

  • South Lake Area Map

  • Bull Lake and Marie Louise Lakes

• Tyee Lakes

  • Location: Tyee Lakes Location

  • Trailhead: Tyee Lakes Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Tyee Lakes AllTrails Map

• Treasure Lakes

  • Location: Treasure Lakes Location

  • Trailhead: Bishop Pass Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Treasure Lakes AllTrails Map

  • Lakes 1 & 2

    • 2.5 miles from South Lake Trailhead at 10,690'

    • Has Goldens

  • Lakes 3 & 4

    • .25 miles from Lake 1 at 10,950'

    • Has Goldens

  • Lake 5

    • .5 miles from Lake 1 at 11,180'

  • Lake 6

    • .25 miles from Lake 5 at 11,190'

  • Lake 7

    • Next to Lake 6 at 11,190'

• Hurd Lake

  • Location: Hurd Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Bishop Pass Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Hurd Lake AllTrails Map

  • 1 miles from South Lake Trailhead at 10,300'

• Marie Louise Lakes

  • Location: Marie Louise Lakes Location

  • Trailhead: Bishop Pass Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Marie Louise Lakes AllTrails Map

  • 1.6 miles from South Lake Trailhead at 10,650'

  • Must get off the trail and follow creek up to the lakes

  • Smaller flies work best, the upper lakes may have more aggressive fish

• Bull Lake

  • Location: Bull Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Bishop Pass Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Bull Lake AllTrails Map

  • 1.75 miles from South Lake Trailhead at 10,750'

• Chocolate Lakes

  • Location: Chocolate Lakes Location

  • Trailhead: Bishop Pass Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Chocolate Lakes AllTrails Map

  • At 11,050'

• Long Lake

  • Location: Long Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Bishop Pass Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Long Lake AllTrails Map

  • 2 miles from South Lake Trailhead 10,750'

• Ruwau Lake

  • Location: Ruwau Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Bishop Pass Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Ruwau Lake AllTrails Map

  • 3 miles from South Lake Trailhead at 11,050'

  • Close to Long Lake

• Spearhead Lake

  • Location: Spearhead Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Bishop Pass Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Spearhead Lake AllTrails Map

  • 3 miles from South Lake Trailhead at 10,900' on the eastern shorline of Long Lake

• Margaret Lake

  • Location: Margaret Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Bishop Pass Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Margaret Lake AllTrails Map

  • .3 miles west of Speahead Lake at 10,970 feet, follow the creek

• Timberline Tarns

  • Location: Timberline Tarns Location

  • Trailhead: Bishop Pass Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Timberline Tarns AllTrails Map

  • 3.6 miles from South Lake Trailhead at 11,110'

• Saddlerock Lake

  • Location: Saddlerock Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Bishop Pass Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Saddlerock Lake AllTrails Map

  • 4 miles from South Lake Trailhead at 11,170'

• Bishop Lake

  • Location: Bishop Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Bishop Pass Trailhead

  • AllTrails: Bishop Lake AllTrails Map

  • 4.2 miles from South Lake Trailhead at 11,200

• Tyee Lakes

  • Location: Tyee Lake Location

  • Alternate Trailhead: Tyee Lakes Trailhead

  • Alternate AllTrails: Tyee Lakes AllTrails

• Bluff Lake

  • Location: Bluff Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Green Lake Trailhead

  • Alltrails: Bluff Lake AllTrails

  • 1 mile from the Green Lake trailhead at 10,523 feet elevation

• Brown Lake

  • Location: Brown Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Green Lake Trailhead

  • Alltrails: Brown Lake AllTrails

  • 1.5 miles from the Green Lake trailhead at 10,700 feet elevation

• Green Lake

  • Location: Green Lake Location

  • Trailhead: Green Lake Trailhead

  • Alltrails: Green Lake AllTrails

  • 2.2 miles from the Green Lake trailhead at 11,054, trail continues to headwaters of Baker Creek

Flies

Sabrina and North Lakes Flies

• Dry Flies

  • Olive Caddis

  • Tan Elk Hair Caddis #16

  • Parachute Adams #14

  • Royal Wulff #16-18

  • BWO Sparkle Dun #18-20

  • BWO Parachute Dun #18-20

  • Red Quill #16

  • Adams #16

  • Gnat #16

  • BWO Parachute #16

  • Zug Bug

  • Renegade #16-18

• Wet Flies

  • Prince Nymph

  • Hare's Ear Nymph

• Stillwater Flies

  • Woolly Bugger #8-10

  • Krystal Buggers #8-10

  • Clouser Minnow (Black/Silver/blue) #6-8

  • Matuka #6-10

• Terrestrials

  • [Thunder Thigh Hopper #12-13]

  • [Perfect Ant #12-16]

  • Grasshoppers in late Summer/Fall

• Lures

  • Mepps

  • Thomas Buoyant

  • Panther Martin

South Lake Flies

• Nymphs

  • Hare's Ear #16-18

  • Prince Nymph #16-18

  • Pheasant Tail Nymphs #16-18

• Dry Flys

  • Parachute Adams #16-18

  • Olive Elk Hair Caddis #16-18

  • Royal Wulff #16-18

  • Griffith's Gnat #16-18

  • Henrys Fork Hopper

  • Chernobyl Ant

Resources

• https://flyfishingthesierra.com/bishop.htm

• https://flyfishingthesierra.com/southbc.htm

• https://flyfishingthesierra.com/humphreybasin.htm

• https://www.davessierrafishing.com/destinations/baboon_lakes.html

• https://www.davessierrafishing.com/destinations2/blue_lake.html

• https://www.davessierrafishing.com/destinations2/bottleneck_lake.html

• https://www.davessierrafishing.com/destinations2/bull_lake.html

• https://www.davessierrafishing.com/destinations/hungry_packer_lake.html

• https://www.davessierrafishing.com/destinations2/marie_louise_lakes.html

• https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recreation/recarea/?recid=20234