Owens River Gorge Fishing Map

Inyo County

Map of the Owens River Gorge and Pleasant Valley Reservoir, Inyo County, California


Area Camping

Tuff Campground

  • 34 camping sites
  • Piped Water, vault Toilets
  • $28 per night, some reservations taken

Lower Rock Creek Campground

Holiday Campground

  • Overflow campground
  • 35 sites
  • $20 per night
  • Usually only open on holiday weekends; winter

French Camp Campground

  • 1/4 miles from US 395
  • 86 camping sites
  • Piped water, flush toilets
  • $30 per night, some reservations taken

Iris Meadow Campground

  • 14 camping sites
  • Piped water, flush toilets
  • $30 per night, no reservations

Big Meadow Campground

  • 11 camping sites
  • Flush toilets, piped water
  • $30 per night, no reservations

Palisade Group Campground

  • Up to 25 people
  • Vault toilets, piped water
  • $85 per night, reservations required

East Fork Campground

  • 138 camping sites
  • Flush toilets, piped water
  • $30 per night, reservations available

Pine Grove Campground

  • 11 camping sites
  • Flush toilets, piped water
  • $30 per night, no reservations

Upper Pine Grove Campground

  • 8 camping sites
  • Pit toilets, piped water
  • $30 per night, no reservations

Rock Creek Lake Campground

  • 28 camping sites
  • Flush toilets, piped water
  • $30 per night, no reservations

Pleasant Valley Campground

LA Dept. of Water and Power

  • 200 camping sites
  • Vault toilets, piped water
  • Open year round

Rock Creek Lake Resort

  • Tackle shop, store
  • small breakfast/lunch counter
  • Mid-May to mid-October
  • Housekeeping cabins

Fishing the Owens River


Photo of fishing the Owens River, California

Owens River

Owens River Gorge

  • From Lake Crowley down to Pleasant Valley
  • Flow changes based on release from dam
  • Difficult access, watch for rattlesnakes
  • Browns 8" to 10"

Lower Owens River

  • From Pleasant Valley on downstream
  • From Pleasant Valley Dam to the campground footbridge:
    • Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, limit 2
    • Oct 1 to Dec 31, barbless, artificial lures and flies only, catch and release
  • 3.3 miles downstream from footbridge:
    • Wild Trout section
    • Barbless, artificial lures and flies only
    • Catch and release
  • Year-round fishing below Wild Trout section
  • Access from Chalk Bluff Road
  • Farther downstream bass begin to appear

Photo of Owens River

Owens River below Pleasant Valley

Rock Creek

  • Golden, brook, brown, and rainbow
  • Good fishing all along the creek
  • Try "The Pond" just below the lake
  • Fish beaver ponds between Big Meadow and Iris campgrounds
  • See Chickenfoot Lake in the Little Lakes Valley upstream from Rock Lake.
  • See Hilton Lakes, a two hour hike from Rock Creek Lake.

Rock Creek Lake

  • Golden, brook, brown, and rainbow
  • Night fishing allowed

Pine Creek

  • Brook, brown, and rainbow

Fishing Supplies

  • Brock's Fishing Supplies, Ltd., Bishop
  • Crowley Lake Fish Camp, South Landing Road
  • The Trout Fly and Troutfitter, Mammoth Lakes
  • Tom's Place
  • Rock Creek Lake Resort