Piute Pass Road to Volcanic Tablelands — Fish Slough to Casa Diablo via Bishop Creek Backdoor
Owens Valley's forgotten lava plateau run.
The Volcanic Tablelands north of Bishop don’t get the Instagram traffic of the Eastern Sierra peaks above town, and that’s exactly why they’re worth your time. The Fish Slough Road kicks off pavement north of Bishop, winding past one of California’s most overlooked Great Basin wetland systems before climbing onto the basalt tablelands — a lava plateau cut by the Owens River Gorge and littered with petroglyphs left by the Paiute people thousands of years before anyone thought to bolt a roof rack on a truck. The two-track eventually connects toward the Casa Diablo geothermal area, giving you a full desert traverse between two of the Owens Valley’s most underrated landmarks.
This is an easy to moderate run by technical standards — washboard gravel, soft volcanic soil, and a few rocky shelf road sections on the tablelands edge. A stock high-clearance truck handles it without drama. The window is year-round at lower elevations, but summer midday heat is punishing; go at dawn or in the shoulder seasons. Fish Slough has no facilities and the tablelands have zero services. Carry all water — there’s nothing potable on route. BLM dispersed camping is legal on the tablelands with no permit required. Bishop is minutes away for fuel and resupply. Cell service dies fast once you’re up on the plateau.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Rock |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 24 mi / 38.6 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 4800 ft |
| Best season | October-May |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 2WD or 4WD recommended |
| Nearest town | Bishop, CA |
| Land manager | Bureau of Land Management — Bishop Field Office |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | blm.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock high-clearance 2WD truck handle this route, or do I need 4WD?
A stock high-clearance 2WD (think Tacoma or F-150 with decent all-terrains) can manage this route in dry conditions. 4WD becomes useful if the dirt sections are soft or you hit any loose volcanic rock sections near the Tablelands. Don't push it in a stock Prius.
When is this trail actually passable — summer seems brutal out there?
October through May is the sweet spot. Summer temps in the Owens Valley regularly hit 100°F+, and the exposed high desert gives you zero shade. Snow can occasionally dust the Tablelands in winter but typically doesn't close the route for long.
Do I need a permit to drive or camp out here?
No permit required — this is BLM land managed out of the Bishop Field Office. Dispersed camping is free with no fee or reservation needed. Standard BLM rules apply: pack it in, pack it out, 14-day stay limit.
What's the hardest section and what makes it gnarly?
The roughest stretch is the climb onto the Volcanic Tablelands where loose, sharp basalt rock shows up in the road surface — nothing extreme, but it punishes low-profile tires and can cause a flat if you're not paying attention. It's a moderate route overall, not a rock crawl, but that section earns the high-clearance requirement.
How far is the nearest gas station, and is there any water on route?
Bishop is your last fuel stop — tank up before you leave, as the 24-mile route has nothing. There is no reliable potable water on trail; Fish Slough has water but it's not treated and not safe to drink without filtration. Bring everything you need.
Trail track
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