South Lake (Bishop Creek)
- Type
- Alpine reservoir
- Size
- About 175 acres
- Launch fee
- Donation (Forest Service)
- Motorboat rental
- 8 hp $85 for 5 hrs; 15 hp $100 for 5 hrs
- Boat launch
- Kayak & SUP
- Fishing
- Boat rentals
About this lake
South Lake is a 175-acre lake in the Inyo National Forest at the end of South Lake Road, off State Route 168 west of Bishop.
On the water
The Forest Service's South Lake day use boating site has a launch ramp, a small marina, boat rentals and a tackle shop; the fee is a donation. South Lake Landing, run by Parchers Resort, rents 8 hp and 15 hp motorboats, pontoons and tandem kayaks. The state boating directory lists 30 trailer parking spaces, two boarding floats and boats from 12 to 22 feet. Boats must pass the Eastern Sierra mussel inspection before launching.
Fishing
The operator stocks the lake weekly with rainbow trout and says it also holds wild brown, brook and rainbow trout.
Water level
The level changes a lot through the season, and rentals depend on it. There's no drinking water at the site.
Getting there & access
Getting there
From Bishop take State Route 168 west, then follow South Lake Road to the lake.
Water level
Lake levels change a lot, and rental boats depend on them; check the landing's fish and trail report first.
Mussel inspection
Since 2026, Inyo and Mono counties require boats to be inspected before launching. The Bishop inspection station at 620 South Main Street is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through about October, with a free Eastern Sierra mussel sticker and a free wash. Arrive clean, drained and dry.
- Pontoon rental
- $250 for 5 hrs; $385 for 10 hrs
- Landing hours
- 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Jun-Aug; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sep-Oct
- Phone
- (760) 873-4177
What's here
Launch
Launch ramp with two boarding floats and about 30 trailer spaces
Boat rentals
Motorboat, pontoon and tandem kayak rentals
Kayaking
Tandem kayak rentals
Fishing
Weekly rainbow trout stocking; tackle shop
Trails
Bishop Pass trailhead at the lake
Rules & official resources
- California Boater Card required for all operators of motorized vessels, regardless of age, since January 1, 2025dbw.parks.ca.gov ↗
- Inyo County requires watercraft to be inspected, and decontaminated if needed, for invasive mussels before launching (County Code chapter 10.70)inyocounty.us ↗
- Kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and other small non-motorized craft must be cleaned, drained, dried and self-inspected before launching somewhere newmonocounty.org ↗
Reviews
N/A
0 reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share what to expect.