Travel Information
Station Coordinates White Mountain Area Map California Mtn. Highways website
State Highway 120 (Tioga Pass) Highway 395 Reno-Bishop bus service
Travel, including field work and use of WMRC facilities, is a significant contributor to carbon dioxide emissions and global climate change. Please consider donating $$ to alternative energy programs, enough to offset the CO2 generated by your trip. See Carbon Offsets page for more information
Create your own maps using the Google Maps website and entering Bishop, CA in the search box. Please note that the Google Maps location for WMRS may be incorrect: we are 4 miles EAST of main street, not west (as shown on the map). More precisely, we are 4 miles east of Bishop on Poleta Road, and are the only facility east of the Owens River. The Upper Stations are accessed from Big Pine, CA, 15 miles south of Bishop.

Bishop, CA is on the east side of the Sierra Nevada in the Owens Valley, not far from the Nevada state line. Most visitors travel here by car via US 395. Bus service (Reno-Bishop bus service) may be available from Los Angeles, to the south, and Reno, to the north. The nearest major airports are in Reno, NV, Las Vegas, NV, and Los Angeles, CA. There are also small airports in the towns of Mammoth Lakes, Ridgecrest, and Bishop, but commercial service to these airports is not always available. Note that highways crossing the Sierra Nevada (for example State Route 120 over Tioga Pass from Yosemite) are usually closed in winter/spring, and that US Highway 395 may experience winter snow conditions north of Bishop.

Approximate driving times to WMRC Owens Valley Station (OVS) from the nearest airports are:

Bishop: 5 minutes
Mammoth Lakes: 45 minutes
Inyokern: 3 hours
Reno: 4 hours
Las Vegas: 4.5 hours
Los Angeles International: 5 hours
Los Angeles Ontario: 5 hours

click for more detail
click for interactive map

Driving to Owens Valley Station From Bishop. The street address of the OVS is 3000 E. Line Street. From Main Street in Bishop (US 395) turn east on Line St. and drive for almost 4 miles (note that the street name changes to Poleta Rd.). Shortly after crossing the Owens River bridge the OVS will be visible on the south side of the road. (see Bishop aerial photo/map)

Distance from Owens Valley Station to Crooked Creek Station = 55 miles: time about 1.5 hours
Distance from Owens Valley Station to Barcroft Station = 65 miles: time about 2 hours

see directions below to get to White Mountain Road and the Upper Stations (Barcroft and Crooked Creek)

Driving to Westgard Pass and the White Mountain Road. WMRC high-altitude facilities are located at altitudes above 10,000 feet (see area map) along the White Mountain Road. The road is usually cleared of snow between late June and November. Please consider:

  • Discomfort and altitude sickness can happen to anyone, regardless of age or physical condition. If you have questions or concerns about your reaction to high-altitude environments, please consult your physician before attempting to drive to Barcroft or Crooked Creek Stations.
  • There are no services or communications facilites after leaving Big Pine.
  • If you are a WMRC researcher, please visit or call the Owens Valley Lab to leave your travel plans before attempting to drive to Crooked Creek or Barcroft Station.
  • the White Mountain Road north of Schulman grove is unpaved. Portions are rocky and have washboards -- Keeping driving speeds below 25 mph reduces the likelihood of flat tires.
  • Although WMRC recommends the use of high clearance vehicles, when the road is open it can usually be negotiated without difficulty by standard passenger cars.
  • For current information about the status of the White Mountain Road, please call Inyo National Forest at 760-873-2500.

From California: Access to the Owens Valley from both northern and southern California is via US highway 395. At the junction of highway 395 and California highway 168 at Big Pine, drive east on highway 168 into the White Mountains. About 13 miles from 395 at Westgard Pass, turn north (left) onto the White Mountain Road. The White Mountain Road is paved and its intersection with highway 168 is marked with a sign.
From Nevada:
Approach California Highway 168 from the Oasis junction at the south end of Fishlake Valley. Drive west on 168 over Gilbert Pass, through Deep Springs Valley and up Westgard Pass to the intersection of 168 with the White Mountain Road. A sign marks this intersection. Turn north on the White Mountain Road and follow the instructions below.

Driving to Upper Stations on the White Mountain Road. From Westgard Pass, drive north on the White Mountain Road for about 10 miles on pavement (see area map):
Crooked Creek Station At Schulman Grove, about 10 miles from highway 168, the pavement ends. Continue north another 9 miles until the junction with the road to Crooked Creek. This junction is marked with a sign. Turn right and drive 1 mile east on this road to the Crooked Creek station.
Driving to Barcroft Station Before leaving for Barcroft Station be sure to contact the WMRC office in Bishop to arrange to have the locked Barcroft gate (two miles south of Barcroft) opened. Follow the instructions above for driving to Crooked Creek Station. At the intersection of the White Mountain Road and the Crooked Creek road continue north on the White Mountain Road. Drive 7 miles to the locked gate. Locking the gate behind you, proceed 2 more miles to the Barcroft Station.
Driving to the Barcroft Observatory Dome This facility is only accessible by a steep rugged road, and researchers must obtain permission from station personnel before driving to the dome.
Driving to the Summit Laboratory This facility is only accessible by a steep jeep track. 4 wheel drive low gear range and high clearance is essential. Only approved research projects making use of the summit lab are allowed to use this road, and only after prior arrangement with station personnel. Note that snow usually blocks the road 1/4 mile below the summit lab.