Camping at The Buttermilks Near Bishop CA

Camping at The Buttermilks is always a treat when visiting the Bishop California area. Bishop is completely surrounded by recreational opportunities which makes it a very desirable place to be! In town, you can’t help but feel the sense of adventure in the air. It’s in the scenery all around you, it’s written on peoples faces and sometimes you can even smell it on the person walking by!

You’ll notice the White Mountain Range to your east and the snow capped Sierra Nevadas to your west beckoning you to grab your pack and get hiking! Not far from Bishop and not quiet to the mountains there is a place called The Buttermilks. If you are looking for climbing, bouldering, and free camping near Bishop, read on!

Quick Info:

Ownership: BLM (some designated areas are owned by LA County and there is no camping, fires, or stoves)

Directions: From the 395 (Main Street) in Bishop, turn west onto CA-168 (Line Street). Follow it out of town about 7 miles up until you get to Buttermilk Road and then turn right. The Buttermilks are down this dirt road and there are dispersed campspots throughout the area.

Road Conditions: The road is dirt/sand and washboard/rough but 4WD and high clearance should not be necessary. Once you turn off of the main dirt Buttermilk Road the road conditions vary. Some are rough, some are narrow and some are very steep!

Miles From Town: About 10 miles to Bishop

Cell Service: We only had cell service right when we turned onto Buttermilk Road from the CA-168 but lost it as we drove further in.

Solar: Almost all of the spots are exposed, not a lot of shade which is great for the solar panels. But, in May 2019 we found that we had morning sun and then the clouds regularly rolled in by noon.

Where to get Water: Visitor Center Chamber of Commerce in Bishop or Public Land Information Center in Bishop

Dump: Arco gas station in Bishop (free dump and flush water available)

Our Experience Camping at The Buttermilks

Camping at The Buttermilks is a fun experience at an area that is surrounded by beauty, sits at a nice medium elevation and is highly trafficked (for good reason). This area is a very popular climbing destination with a beautiful, steep boulder scattered mountainside. There is also a river flowing through this rocky playground.

Some of the land in this area is owned by LA County and there are numerous signs indicating which areas. The LA owned land restricts all camping, fires, and stoves. When choosing your camp spot, be sure to be aware of these signs and restrictions to avoid a fine.

There are numerous dispersed campsites here to choose from while camping at The Buttermilks. The spots tend to fill up fast, especially on weekends. With a trailer, the number of sites are limited especially when it is busy. We found a spot that was further away from the rocks and boulders, which resulted in less noise and traffic. From our spot, the views of the surrounding mountains were incredible!! Our spot was very quiet and not as crowded as the areas closer to the boulders.

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From out spot camping at The Buttermilks, just a short drive to the rocks allowed for a gorgeous rock scrambling adventure. The rocks are massive and a lot of fun to play on. And despite how busy this area can get, it is possible to find quiet and solitude.

Also, there are dirt roads throughout The Buttermilks, as well as some elusive and sometimes hard to find trails. This is a great place to boondock and explore. We really enjoyed the scenic views, the playground of boulders and numerous trails! But there’s more!

Once you’ve climbed around and are ready for more adventure, hop back on the 168 W. As you follow the 168 you’ll find trailheads and access points to lots of hiking, backpacking, high elevation lakes and fishing. There is so much beauty to see and exploring to be had in this area of the Sierra Nevadas! Camping at The Buttermilks made for a nice place to call home for a couple weeks, with lots of playing to do nearby, a great central location to town as well as access to the many other adventures in the area.

Thanks for Reading!

Thank you for reading about our experience camping at The Buttermilks! We had a blast exploring the beauty of the eastern Sierras. Stay tuned for more adventures in the area.

And in the meantime, check out these articles about other beautiful and adventurous free camping spots. They were all a pleasure to stay and play at and are among our top two week homes so far!

• Trona Pinnacles: Boondocking and Exploring
• Hiking and Camping at Fossil Falls
• Volcanic Tablelands: Free Camping and Climbing Near Bishop

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