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The western flavor of the Bridgeport area is the true
attraction. The architechture of the local buildings
bear the signature of the pioneers who settled this
valley well over a hundred years ago. The vast sage
brush rangelands give one the chance to get out into
the wide open spaces for which the west is famous.
Twin Lakes
Don't confuse these Twin Lakes with the Twin Lakes near
Mammoth. These interconnected Twin Lakes are beautiful;
each well over a mile long, and about half a mile wide.
We can assure you that the fish are proportionally enormous,
too. These lakes are nestled under the jagged crest
of the Sawtooth Ridge, and the icy blue Matterhorn Glacier;
they're really something to behold. Most L.A. area visitors
who drive into the Sierra rarely make it north of Bishop
and Mammoth! This area has been a well-kept hideaway
for those who venture beyond, and anglers and their
families. Well — it's not that big a secret —
tens of thousands still make the trek each year to these
expansive lakes. We've got some good news for them,
too — the two best local resorts, Annetts
Mono Village and Lower Twin Lakes Resort, have started
"enhancing" the state's fish-planting efforts
by offering an extra 6,000 to 10,000 trout per season.
The California record trout — weighing in at 26
pounds, eight ounces, was caught here!
Bodie
State Park
This ghost town, kept in "arrested decay"
by the California State Park System, is located
21 miles from Bridgeport (7 miles south on Highway
395, turn left, 10 miles on paved road, then 3 miles
on dirt road). An entry fee is charged for each
vehicle. The park is open all year, but the road
is usually closed from October to May. Tours of
the Standard Mill are available. The museum is open
during the summer months. In the late 1870s and
early 1880s Bodie had a population of about 10,000. |
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Aurora
Originally Aurora was the county seat of Mono County.
This ghost town, located about 20 miles from Bridgeport
(over dirt roads), is the site of current mining operations.
Only the foundations of some buildings and the graveyard
are left. Check with the Sheriff's office prior to travel
in the area.
Bridgeport Reservoir
A man-made lake, this reservoir is about one to two
miles north of Bridgeport on Highway 182. There are
RV camping sites, boat launching areas, fishing, boating,
hiking, and resorts.
Bridgeport Canyon
Originally the road from Bodie and Bridgeport to the
Mono Basin, the entrance to this road is located about
10 miles from Bridgeport — 7 miles south on Highway
395, turn right on the road to Bodie, approximately
3 miles to Moormon Meadows, turn right into a narrow
canyon and continue south past the power line, turn
left to the Cottonwood Canyon Road, turn right on Highway
167 back to 395.
Buckeye Canyon
Located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains west of Bridgeport,
Buckeye Canyon was the site of early lumbering operations.
The canyon is about 30 minutes travel time from Bridgeport
— 15 miles on the paved Twin Lakes Road, turn right
at Doc and Al's Resort and travel about 4 miles on dirt
roads to the camping areas. Fishing, hunting, and horseback
riding are available.
Dogtown
Dogtown is located about 7 1/2 miles south of Bridgeport
on Highway 395. At the turnout, just up the hill and
south of the Bodie Junction, stop at the historical
monument and look over the site of the first gold discovery
on the Eastern Slope of the High Sierra. Gold was discovered
here in 1857. The area was mined by dredging during
the 1930s.
East Walker River
Early toll roads from Carson City and Wellington followed
this river. Just beyond the state line on Highway 182,
turn right on a dirt road to Hawthorne (If you have
access to a 1917 Mono National Forest map, you can locate
the stagecoach stations at Sonora and Elbow and follow
the road to Aurora). Check for local road conditions!
Green Creek Lake
Green Creek is located south of Bridgeport. Take Highway
395 south for five miles, turn right on a dirt road
and follow it to Green Creek. You may walk from there
to Green Creek Lake. The dynamo pond at Green Creek
was the site of the first long distance commercial transmission
of electricity which went in a straight line (engineers
in 1892 thought electricity would run off the wire if
turned) from Green Creek to the Standard Mill in Bodie.
Historic Buildings
A map of historic buildings in Bridgeport with the names
of the original owners is found in Frank Wedertz's "Mono
Diggings". This walking tour covers Kingsley, Main,
Emigrant, Bryant, School and Kirkwood Streets.
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Mono County
Courthouse
Built in the early 1880s, this building was the
third Mono County Courthouse — the first was
a brick building in Aurora, the second was a hotel
in Bridgeport. Ceramic models of these buildings
are located in the Mono County Library on School
Street. The Mono County Courthouse is the second
oldest continuously-used courthouse in California. |
Mono County Museum
The museum is located west of the park behind the Memorial
Hall on School Street. The museum has an extensive collection
of Paiute Indian willow and beaded baskets, barbed wire
display, and other historic artifacts. The museum is
open from Memorial Day to the end of September, daily
from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Poor Farm
The Poor Farm was located five miles south of Bridgeport
on Highway 395. The site is noted on an historical monument
presented by E Clampus Vitas, a humbug and historical
society.
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Sonora Pass
The road to Sonora Pass, site of the Bidwell-Bartelson
emigrant trail over the Sierra, is Highway 120.
Turn left about 17 miles north of Bridgeport.
The toll road from Sonora to Bodie was located
in the Sonora Pass area. Fishing is available
in Leavitt and Lobdell Lakes, as well as Walker
Creek and other streams.
Swauger Canyon / Devil's
Gate Pass
The canyon-pass is located approximately 10 miles
north of Bridgeport on Highway 395. Fremont travelled
this pass in January of 1844 and lost his cannon
somewhere in this area. The Nevada State Museum
in Carson City believes that they have Fremont's
cannon today, one that was found by two miners
back in 1859. But if you see an old '12 pounder'
Mountan Howitzer out there — who knows?
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West Walker Canyon
This canyon is located 20 to 30 miles north of Bridgeport
on Highway 395. Camping areas and fishing are available.
Fishing
Fishing in the Bridgeport area is extremely popular,
with many excellent spots for trying your luck. Our
fishing report
provides information on Bridgeport area fishing conditions,
during fishing season. Consider:
Annett's
Mono Village
Lower Twin Lakes Resort
Ken's
Sporting Goods
Walker River
Buckeye Creek
Bridgeport Reservoir — Bridgeport Inn
Virginia Lake — Virgina
Creek Settlement
Bridgeport
Area Fish Report
Climbing
With names like The Cleaver and The Sawblade, these
peaks are definitely well-named, with the upper reaches
being extremely exposed and steep. Here are some selected
peaks and routes:
The Incredible Hulk (el. 11,480'+) — Mountaineers
Route class 4
Cleaver Peak (el. 11,760'+) — Northeast Face class
3
The Dragtooth (el. 12,080'+) — North Buttress grade
3 — class 5.10
Ski Mountaineering
This area is highly recommended by those who have skied
or snowboarded the vast and wild slopes which surround
the Bridgeport Valley. Here are a couple options:
Matterhorn Peak (el. 12,279') — East Couloir class
3
The Incredible Hulk (el. 11,480'+) — Northwest
Couloir class 4
Camping
Numerous camping opportunities abound in this area.
Visit the following for further information on where
to camp:
Annett's
Mono Village
Bridgeport
Chamber of Commerce
Hank
and Ray's Vacation Trailer Rentals
Virginia
Creek Settlement
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