Our Home away from home in the Summer is Dog Friendly Eastern Sierra! Rock Creek Lake is one of our FAVOWITE destinations! Every time PawCation in the Eastern Sierra we visit or at minimum drive through Rock Creek Lake at least once!
Rock Creek and Parcher’s Resort are both in higher elevations in Bishop, CA. In fact, we learned about Rock Creek Lake from a nice family who has an annual family reunion at Parcher’s Resort every July! They showed us Uncle Jared’s Fishin’ Trails Book (sold at Parcher’s Resort) and Fishin’ Trails 2 and told us they’ve always wanted to stay at Rock Creek! This neighborly attitude is plentiful amongst the “regular” visitors and locals in the Bishop Mountains. We WUV it!
Rock Creek offers you the BEST of everything in one location…
- Nature
- Forest Bathing for People and Dogs
- Gentle breezes blowin’ through the trees
- Birds singing and eating on your porch
- Water rushing nearby
- Amazing trails complete with waterfalls, cold lakes, creeks, streams, and ponds
…What’s NOT to LOVE?
AND you’ll have no cell phones ringing or annoying text alerts because your fur family are OUT OF RANGE! Yippee! The PERFECT PawCation, wouldn’t you agree?!
Where to Stay at Rock Creek Lake
Rock Creek Lodge
If you are looking for Dog Friendly at its best Stay at Rock Creek Lodge! Cabins are Dog Friendly and the property is gorgeous, spacious AND feels secluded! Visitors and the Rock Creek Lodge crew are friendly and very happy to share recommendations! Breakfast is usually available from 8 to 10 am at the Lodge but be sure to confirm when making your reservations so you can plan your grocery shopping!
For dinner you are on your own! We WUV making dinner in the cabin or bbq’ing on the grill every night. Tom’s place is down the hill at the 395 Highway and Rock Creek Intersection and has takeout. We prefer not leaving the paradise of Rock Creek unless we are day trippin’ then Mom picks up dinner!
The grille at Rock Creek Resort is open from 7am to 3pm during the summer. Their cabins are not dog friendly but Mom enjoys an occasional lunch to go! They were famous for their pie for decades and if you are lucky maybe they’ll feature pies when you are visiting! We recommend if you pick up lunch to eat at one of the many picnic tables (or your beach chair) with your pup next to a stream or at Rock Creek Lake!
A Little Story from Rock Creek Lodge
One summer, Cabin 18 (pictured above) was Scooby’s home for a fabulous week at Rock Creek Lodge. When we returned for our annual drive a few years later, it was no longer there. An avalanche had taken it one winter—proof that in the mountains, every moment is a gift. Mom will cherish Scooby’s Cabin 18 furever, and we still drive by to pay homage to that special place each time we visit the Eastern Sierra.
Rock Creek Lake Campgrounds
Rock Creek Lake Campground, Lower Pine Grove Campground and Upper Pine Grove Campground offer you Bishop Camping and RV’ing at it’s best! Try renting from an RV Rental Company such as Adventures in Camping who are dog friendly. They will drive and set up an RV for you (just like we did in Montana de Oro in San Luis Obispo)! If you’ve never rented an RV this way we HIGHLY recommend it! No fuss, just move in and ENJOY!
Wildlife of the Eastern Sierra
Bears are “regulars” in Rock Creek so make sure you don’t attract them! PLEASE drive slowly on Rock Creek Road and everywhere in the Eastern Sierra! One of the well known Bears in Rock Creek Valley, Big Red, was struck by a truck that was driving too fast a couple of years after Scooby and Mom saw her at the campground at Rock Creek Lodge. She was a gorgeous, BIG bear. RIP Big Red. You can learn more about Bear Safety at Be Bear Aware by the Sierra National Forest.
Local Wildlife is on the move constantly – including gray wolves who travel as far south as Bishop and they do cross Highway 395. Gray Wolves are listed as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) and they are protected by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife . If you want to find out what general vicinity some of the Gray Wolves with collars are tracking, check out the CDF&W Wolf Location Map. Please never go search for them. They want to be safe and hidden from humans.
Mule Deer migrate twice a year and they cross Highway 395 in large numbers during Spring and Fall. That’s also when the most collisions and death of mule dear happen on Highway 395 so, don’t speed and scan left to right so you have time to stop. Scooby and Mom and a car beside them had to brake quickly when a Buck, Doe and young one decided it was a great time to cross the Highway just ahead of them in early October! Once Mom, Scooby and the car beside them caught their breath and made sure all passengers were ok, they gave each other thumbs up and continued the drive. Mom said she was stressed the remaining 20 minutes!
We also know of at least one Momma Mountain Lion who raised cubs in the mountains between Parcher’s Resort and Aspendell in Bishop. In fact, our fwiend, Seth, saw Momma scamper up a rock hill with 3 cubs just as he turned his truck lights on after leaving dinner after working at Parcher’s all day! Wowza! She and her grown up kids are still in the area. She regularly appears on our friend’s security cam in Aspendell! Bishop Creek runs behind their cabin so she’s probably walking through the homes for fresh cold water! Gorgeous from afar or from a trail cam!
Please be cautious to protect the beautiful wildlife of the Eastern Sierra!
Rock Creek Lake Weather
Late June and early October are the best times to stay at Rock Creek Lake. In June you will most likely beat the mosquitos AND still be able to see plenty of snow on hikes! We saw patches of snow at Rock Creek Lake Campground and more snow on Little Lakes Valley Trail in June!
Rock Creek Valley is a MUST for Fall Foliage!The last week of September through the first two weeks of October are best for Leaf Peepin’ Fall Colors! Trees at the higher elevations begin changing colors first – typically in late September. Leaf colors then head down through the elevations to Owens Valley.
As always, no matter when you visit or hike at Rock Creek wear layers! Weather in the mountains varies and there can be a 30 to 40 degree swing from morning to evening!
What Elevation is Rock Creek Lake?
Rock Creek Lake elevation is 9705. Mosquito Flats Trail Head is 10,000 ft with a gentle incline of 500ish ft to Heart Lake. Both June and early Fall at Rock Creek Canyon are Amazing!
In the summer you can drive all the way to Mosquito Flats Trailhead via a narrow, asphalt road and park at the Trailhead. The drive itself from Rock Creek Lake is amazing! According to everytrail, Mosquito Flats Trailhead at “10,255 feet, it is the highest designated trailhead in the Sierra accessible by car”.
Day Hiking With a Dog
How Much Water Do Hiking Dogs Need?
The “general” rule of thumb is your dog should drink at least 8 ounces of water per hour while hiking. Factor in altitude, sun, etc., because your dog may need more. We strongly recommend you take a refillable water bottle with a filter on ALL of you Eastern Sierra Hikes because although wild water is easy to access, humans should NEVER drink wild water that is not filtered. Don’t allow your dog to drink it either. You both could get very sick from bacterias found in wild water.
After scouring the market for an advanced water bottle filter that could ALSO be shared with pets while on PawVentures® Mom only found one – and it was super hard to filter. She knew us furheads deserved clean, filtered water too! We are SO happy to bring you our Scoobylife by PawVentures Pop-Top, Squeeze Sports Bottles and Canteens for the CLEANEST Water on the Go! Healthy for you, your pup AND the environment!
Our Scoobylife by PawVentures® replaceable Advanced Filters cleans 99.9% from wild water sources (they are made for third world country water)! So, it’s extra perfect for cleaning the beautiful lake water in the Eastern Sierra!
You can find our Scoobylife Sports Bottles, Canteens and Extra Advanced Water Filters in our Scoobylife Gear Shop!
The BEST Rock Creek Trails
Rock Creek Lake Trail Loop
For your first altitude “easy day”, drive 1 mile up the road (the asphalt is hot) and park in the “Group Site” at Rock Creek Lake. In Mid-June the “Group” side is pretty mellow. Park all the way at the end, walk through the gate and take the trail to the “Group Camping” sites. The path is beautiful and the group sites (most were empty in June) are a peaceful place to enjoy nature, take photos, wade in the water or read a book! We only saw a few hikers and fisherman on this side of Rock Creek Lake in June!
The Pond Loop or Hanging out by the Pond at Rock Creek Lodge
According to Rock Creek Lodge’s Website, this is a 1.5 mile loop. It’s really peaceful and pretty! People are fishing, birds are singing and there are plenty places to relax next to the water. This is our “go-to” location most afternoons before dinner.
Rock Creek Lodge to Rock Creek Lake Trail
Although this trail is only 2 miles round trip it has a 300 ft gain! Most of it was flat and meandering through beautiful meadows next to ponds but the last section has a pretty steep rocky incline and it was RUFF! One particular section of the trail is steep for a pup but it overlooks amazing rushing water! Be prepared to let your pup rest as needed! Imagine if you can, Scooby being pulled up by his harness by Mom who is on top of a boulder – true story! She was second guessing her decision making skills at a few points! It was a challenge for them both at the time but created memories for life! We recommend you figure out a way to not do that!
The trail is beautiful and worth it! Having two or more people is ideal so one person isn’t doing all the pup lifting – if needed. Once you arrive to Rock Creek Lake you can rest at a picnic table or wade along the water’s edge to cool down! After you feel rested, walk through the Group Camping section (closest to Rock Creek Road) and take the path through the gates which take you to the beautiful back side of Rock Creek Lake!
After you’ve relaxed a bit, continue your hike (past the picnic site) onto a dirt trail which takes you to a sandy/pebble beach that has a lagoon feel to it. This is one of our favorite hang-outs! Pack snacks and dip your toes in the water while watching fishermen in their kayaks. Paradise!
Little Lakes Valley Trail: (Mosquito Flats Trailhead towards Little Gems Lakes)
Mosquito Flats to Box Lake
Plan a full day to hike and thoroughly enjoy this amazing trail with no rush! We recommend you hike all the way to the overlook above Heart Lake and a little further to Box Lake if you and have time and you and your pup have energy! Don’t forget, you still have to hike the entire trail back. You want to gage your and more importantly, your pup’s ability during the entire hike. Although the air may feel cool, the sun at this altitude is hot and dehydrating. You don’t even notice but stay observant. Find shade when possible and take frequent rest and water breaks. The trail is amazing and it’s easy to forget how much water and shade both you and your pup need. Long breaks are a great time to assess how well your pup is doing and it’s best to turn around when you sense it’s time.
Little Lakes Valley Trail is one of the most beautiful day hikes you will ever experience no matter how far you hike. Once you leave mosquito flats the trail gradually climbs in elevation as you travel over steep cliffs overlooking gorgeous Mack Lake, pass Marsh Lake and Heart Lake which – you guessed – is heart shaped! We highly recommend taking another long break and picnic next to Box Lake. If you get lucky, you’ll be chiling amongst left over snow patches in June! BEAUTIFUL!
Hiking back down the trail may be the hardest part because in the early afternoon the sun is HOT at this altitude. Take frequent stops in the shade as you can find it and just enjoy the scenery – take photos you’ll cherish forever of this gorgeous trail!
What Should I Bring for a Day Hike?
First and foremost, plan your hike around your dog. The altitude, sun, weather and your pup’s individual needs all play a factor. If you see your dog having difficulties, rest, cool down and turn around. Head back to your car slowly with frequent rest and water stops in shade so your pup is safe. No matter how much of the trail you take, It’s best to take it slow with your pup, rest by each lake in a shady area to cool down and have zero time restrictions for your day (except getting back down the trail before sunset)!
Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links which means we earn a little commission if you make a purchase using our links – at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products that we really WUV and hope you will too! THANK YOOOO for supporting our blog!
Day Hike Essentials
- 3-4 water bottles to share with your pup, lunch and snacks
- Small FIrst Aid Kit
- Clothing Layers
- Hat
- Gloves
- Wind Breaker
- Collapsible Dog Water Bowl
- Self Filtering Water Bottle
- Camera, Backup Batteries and SD Card
- Mini Power Bank for your Phone with charging cable
- Optional GPS Collar (let us know which one you think is best under all situations)
- Bear Mase
- Army Knife
- Cotton Bandanas
- Paper Towels and extra tissues
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Eye drops (if your eyes are sensitive to wind gusts or dry air)
- Emergency Dog Sling to carry your dog on your back if necessary
- Check the rest of Our FAV Dog Gear & Travel Items on Amazon!
More Rock Creek Trails for our Wishlist!
Ruby Lake – The trail to Ruby Lake split off on our way to Box Lake at the John Muir Trail. According to the map it is a little further than Box Lake and according Rock Creek Lodge it’s a steeper incline. This may have been too challenging for Scooby but we met people who said it’s amazing!
Tamarack Lake Trail – Bunny’s dad said they did part of that trail when we were there. We saw the sign for the trail when we were at Rock Creek Lake but didn’t know about it. According to Rock Creek Lodge’s description, it sounds awesome! Have you been? Let us know!
Rock Creek Trail to Skip
Hilton Lakes Trail – On our first day when we were checking out Mosquito Flats Trailhead we ran into a nice hiker who said he did the Hilton Lakes Trail the day before and the mosquitos were terrible and by the time he got there it was not nearly as beautiful as the hike to Heart Lake! So, we’re super happy that we got that tip!
We hope we’ve helped you plan a Pawesome time at Rock Creek! Please let us know if you go and what you thought!
Have you already been to Rock Creek? We’d LOVE to hear your Favorite things to do! Email us!
