Boondocking Hwy. 168 - Bishop, CA

I'm not surprised at the early closures of concessionaire-run campgrounds. I'd just head for the open ground in the Alabama Hills area, but the time I'd planned to be on the "other side" coincides with the Lone Pine film Festival, which always draws a big crowd and runs tours along Movie Rd., among other places. Don't know much about Inyo County parks, but I'll check. Thanks.

Sigh.... :R

Update just received on Facebook (Oct. 2)

"Rock Creek Canyon Campgrounds
We have bad news tonight.. We were just told that we will be closing the campgrounds tomorrow here in the canyon. I sure wish things were different, but this is out of our control. I will sure keep you all updated if anything at all should change."

"Bishop Creek & Big Pine Campgrounds
Sad News, as of tomorrow the 3rd of Oct we will be closed for the season. All campgrounds will close, including Bitterbrush. Sorry that we have to close a month early. It's been a great summer and I want to personally thank all of you for coming up and enjoying our small part of the world with us. Please come back next season, it going to be better than this one. Thanks again. I will still keep you up to date on the Bishop Creek & Big Pine Campgrounds. We open next season on the Wednesday before the last Saturday in April."

Sorry I got your hopes up before. Check with Inyo County. They have campgrounds and are not federal. http://www.inyocountycamping.com/general_camping_info.html

Thanks for the tip; I hadn't looked at The Buttermilk area, but I just checked it out. At only 6000', it would probably be a bit "warmer" at night than the higher elevations, but the washboard road doesn't sound appealing. Dirt, OK, gravel, OK, narrow and windy OK, but washboards are not fun in a class C. I will tell my Jeep friends, though; they love those teeth rattlers! :)

JT, have you looked at the Buttermilk area, just north and west of 168? It is right near Bishop Creek. The only downside is that there are ATV folks on the weekends. Nice people, but kind of noisy.

Isn't it amazing how the government sites are all of a sudden shut down? I guess the electric bill to run the server unattended is just too high. Funny how some commercial sites can have their servers run for weeks unattended and unless someone tries a hack or there's an equipment breakdown, access for information works just fine.

Can anyone spell hypocritical ?

Tiger, thank you very much for the information and links; very helpful and much appreciated! Also for the 18 degree night temp heads-up; YOW! Well, it *is* October and one should expect that at high elevations, but, again, YOW! :)

I was just in that area a week ago. Sabrina, where I stayed, is now closed for winter. It was 18 degrees the night I was there and the camp host was already gone.

Current concessionaire for Bishop Creek area is Recreation Resource Management. http://camprrm.com/2009/03/bishop-creek-campgrounds/ You can "like" them on Facebook and see their updates.

Another Inyo concessionaire, CLM Services, publishes e-mail newsletters with updates for each area. There is a map on their website. At the bottom right of their home page there is a link to the newsletter list; you check off the ones you want and give them an e-mail address for a free subscription. Here is their Inyo NF page: http://www.clm-services.com/inyo-national-forest

I had a long chat with a camp manager (not a host, a manager of multiple camps) a couple of weeks ago. Concessionaire services are contracted for the season and for a specific amount. The concessionaire pays the USFS that amount or does an equivalent amount maintenance and upgrade work on the managed facilities. The concessionaire pays its employees.

Re the White Mountains: I don't think that boondocking is allowed; cannot check because USFS website is shut down. Grandview (free) is it. That is a LONG drive from Bishop Creek.

"from the concessionaire's Facebook page:"
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Tiger, who is the concessionaire for campgrounds mentioned as open? I thought it was CLM, but the Bishop Canyon campgrounds, i.e., 4 Jeffries, Bishop Park, Forks, etc., are not on their list. ???

Great info, Tiger!

OP asked about the 168 east of Bishop; would the OP consider White Mt rd, heading north from the 168 as it crosses the pass?

Depending on the OP's rig and his sense of adventure, he could try White Mt rd up to where it meets Silver Cyn, or at least to Grandview CG. Not sure what the status is of Grandview, or even whether the areas above Silver Canyon is still outsside of the Bristlecone protected area. But if it was me and I was headed that way, I'd get a gander at the magnificent views up there. And I'd have a look around at boondocking opportunites.

Grandview is/was maybe 5 miles up the road, Silver canyon another 5 or so. No guarantees!

I did a Google- maps- drive up that road and didn't find much.