Frequently Asked Questions
Camping
How many campgrounds does the Bishop Field Office operate in the Eastern Sierra?
When are the campgrounds open and what do they look like?
To view photos, amenities, and open/close dates of each campground visit our
Campground Page.
How can I become a campground host?
Can I camp on BLM for free?
- Yes. You can camp on BLM land for free up to 14 days per calendar year. Some areas are closed to camping, such as developed day use areas, parking lots and some other areas that are posted as closed to camping.
How can I camp longer then 14 days?
- The Long Term Visitor Area (LTVA) permit program was established to accommodate the increasing demand for long-term seasonal visitation and to provide natural resource protection through improved management of resources. The program assures that specific BLM campgrounds in the Eastern Sierra between Lone Pine and Crowley Lake are available for long-term use and that inappropriate areas are not used for extended periods. The annual LTVA use season is from the first Saturday in March to November 1st. During this use season, visitors who wish to camp on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office for extended periods greater than 14 days, must stay in the designated LTVA campgrounds and purchase an LTVA permit.
The intent of this program is to provide full time camping opportunities to the public. It is not designed for residency, intermittent usage, or recreational vehicle storage.
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Maps
The Public Lands Information Center at 798 North Main Street, Bishop CA 93514 (Phone: 760/873-2500) sells 1:100,000 scale maps that show BLM ownership as well as other ownerships. The maps are $4.00 each. Topographic maps, both 7.5 and 15 minute scales, are available at the Public Lands Information Center, as well as many local sporting goods stores in Lone Pine, Bishop, Mammoth, June Lake, and Bridgeport. The BLM status maps are available online: Maps available for sale
Hunting is allowed on most public land unless posted as closed, e.g. hiking trails, developed recreation areas and safety zones near housing. Access may be limited by privately owned lands. Permission from the landowner will be required in these cases. Game species found on BLM lands include quail, deer, waterfowl, and dove. Seasons, closures, limits and other regulations are specified by the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG). For information about hunting regulations visit California Department of Fish and Game Website.
Shooting Areas:
Bishop Area:
- Poleta Pit located at the end of east Line Street. Follow Line street about 3 miles past the White Mountain Research Station, you will make a left onto a dirt road off of the paved road and enter an old borrow pit, this is the location to shoot.
- Tungsten Hills located north out of Bishop about 6 miles. Take Hwy 395 north and make a left onto Ed Powers Road and go about a mile until you come to Tungsten City Rd. Make a right turn, this is a dirt road, the Tungsten Hills are straight ahead, the shooting area is on the right side of these hills in the Sand Canyon. Four wheel drive vehicles are recommended.
Mammoth Lakes area:
- Take Hwy 395 to the town of Mammoth Lakes, make a right towards the geothermal plant, take the frontage road for about 2 or 3 miles, the shooting area is on the rightside of this road and set in the pine trees.
Shooting Rules:
- Always have a solid earth background to shoot towards.
- Only use paper or clay targets.
- Do not shoot across roads!
- Do not shoot glass.
- Remember to pack out what you pack in.
The Public Lands Information Center at 798 North Main Street, Bishop CA 93514 (Phone: 760/873-2500) sells 1:100,000 scale maps that show BLM ownership as well as other ownerships. The maps are $4.00 each. Topographic maps, both 7.5 and 15 minute scales, are available at the Public Lands Information Center, as well as many local sporting goods stores in Lone Pine, Bishop, Mammoth, June Lake, and Bridgeport. The BLM status maps are available online: Maps available for sale
Homesteading & Land Exchanges
Public lands are no longer open to homesteading. The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 repealed the homestead laws in all states except Alaska which was closed to homesteading in 1986.
Learn more about the Bureau of Land Management Land Exchange program in California
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Self Guided SUV Trips
The Bishop Field Office has produced several self-guided interpretive brochures in cooperation with other land management agencies and chambers of commerce in the Eastern Sierra. Each brochure provides several day trips that you can take and provides a route map, route description and photos of things you may see along the way. All the brocures are in Adobe PDF format and are available for download.
Off Highway Vehicles
What are the guidelines for riding my Off Highway Vehicle on Public Lands?
Where can I ride my Off Highway Vehicle?
- There are thousands of miles of established dirt roads in the Eastern Sierra. Some range from drivable by two wheel drive to very challenging four wheel drive routes. We ask that you stay on existing dirt roads. There is one open area east of Bishop managed by the Inyo National Forest. This area is called Poleta Canyon and can be accessed by taking East Line Street out of Bishop and traveling approximately 9 miles east. The area will be marked where open riding is allowed.
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Commercial Filming Permits
How do I apply for a filming permit and how much will it cost?
Gold Panning
Can I pan for gold Public Lands within the Bishop Field Office?
- Yes. There is no permit required to pan. You can pan on any BLM land, except land which is claimed by someone.
- The most popular area for gold panning is Dogtown. Dogtown is located 6 miles North of Conway Summit (or 14 miles north of Lee Vining) on the west side of U.S. 395. Historic landmark signs indicate the site and tell a little of its history. A road at the sign leads down to the ponds.
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Wild Horse and Burro
Wild Horse and Burro adoptions are occassionally conducted in Bishop in conjunction with the annual Mule Days Celebration which takes place over Memorial Day Weekend. Visit our Washington Office Wild Horse and Burro website for more information about adpoptions and a schedule of events
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