Bishop has a big backyard in the Sierra Nevada Mountains
Surrounded by the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, Bishop is a nature-oriented community with panoramic views on the edge of the Mojave Desert. While the downtown encompasses antique shops and saloons, Bishop is known for its outdoors, with rock climbing parks and hiking trails through some of California's most prominent landscapes. "The big draw to Bishop is that it is a more rural, outdoorsy community," says Curtis Amundson, a lifelong Bishop resident and Realtor at Bishop Real Estate. "We have natural beauty at the footstep of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, which are 14,000 feet tall on either side of us. Our slogan is that we're a 'small town with a big backyard.'"
Mountain views and walkable downtown living
Despite being in the desert, houses sit on flat, grassy lots with mountain views. This community has Craftsman and ranch-style homes that range from $230,000 to $740,000. Homes under 1,500 square feet cost between $230,000 and $500,000, while houses over 1,500 square feet go for $430,000 to $740,000. Prices are higher depending on proximity to downtown. Condos cost between $260,000 and $390,000, while manufactured homes are around $30,000 to $180,000. While some of the highest-valued properties are downtown, houses increase in size on the outskirts. "The draw for people to live downtown is the walkability to restaurants and shopping," Amundson says. "Outside downtown, there's newer construction and larger lot sizes."
High-elevation hikes through ancient pine forests
The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest has pine trees that are over 4,000 years old, making them one of the oldest organisms on Earth. The forest includes about 10 miles of hiking trails at an elevation reaching 11,000 feet. City Park features a skatepark and an off-leash dog park centered around a duck pond close to downtown. About 10 miles west is Buttermilk Boulders, a world-class, rock-climbing area with naturally formed boulders that reach 40 feet tall. Bishop is within 100 miles of the entrance to Yosemite National Park and Death Valley National Park. "Most people are big into the outdoors because of our access to bouldering, hiking and fishing," Amundson says. "It's the ease of access to bouldering and hiking. Bishop is a hub for those things."
Because of dust storms and nearby wildfires, Bishop residents may experience poor air quality. Inyo County also has frequent seismic activity. Landslides can occur during periods of heavy rainfall. While earthquakes are frequent, they have not caused significant damage in Inyo County since the 1800s.
Downtown Bishop offers a taste of the Old West
Downtown Bishop has locally owned bakeries, antique stores and saloon-style watering holes along Main Street. Jack's Restaurant & Bakery is a diner serving waffles, pies and breakfast dishes in an outdoor-themed space with hunting and fishing memorabilia. Whiskey Creek serves Thai food and steak in a rustic space with patio seating. Residents can pick up groceries at Grocery Outlet or Vons. Mammoth Lakes is about 40 miles north, with a shopping mall and more restaurants. - "Bishop is the hub for the eastern Sierras. The majority of businesses, restaurants and shops are in the downtown corridor," Amundson says. "It's the only incorporated city in the county, so many people travel here daily."
With one of the world's largest non-motorized parades, Mule Days is a six-day festival that has been a staple of Bishop since the 1970s. It features mule-drawn carriages and 14 rodeo events, drawing about 30,000 annual visitors.
All schools earn B grades or higher from Niche
Bishop Elementary School earns a B grade from Niche, and the Ram’s Club provides before and after-school activities like gardening, art and robotics. Home Street Middle School also has a B and was named a 2024 California Distinguished School. Bishop Union High School receives a B-plus and offers success-oriented classes that explore careers like medical studies and fashion design.
Flying to SF and Denver
The Eastern Sierra Transit Authority (ESTA) is the area’s bus system, providing public transportation throughout Inyo and Mono counties. The local expressways are U.S. Highway 395 and U.S. Highway 6. Reno is about 200 miles north, while Los Angeles is around 265 miles south. The Eastern Sierra Regional Airport (BIH) is approximately 2 miles east, with daily direct flights to San Francisco and seasonal flights to Denver during the winter.
