Introduction:
What? :
This is a steep and rocky road, suited to high clearance 4X4 vehicles. This road will take you to a unique landscape of vast open high plains surrounded by mountains and views of lake and mountain peaks. Most of Coyote Flat is 10,000 feet in elevation.
On your drive up you will climb a rocky train, pass two water crossings and visit small lakes. If you take the road leading south you will be reworded with vast high Sierra mountain peaks that surround the Bishop South and North Fork.
The drive that I did was 54 miles long.
This distance includes: driving up, visiting the flat area and from there driving to the most southern viewpoint over Green Lake, from there driving back down to Bishop.
I started the drive up from Bishop, CA late in the afternoon and stayed overnight car camping in Coyote High Flat. The day after coming early for sunrise and driving to Green Lake viewpoint. After that I drove down to my day hike at south Bishop fork.
I will rate this as moderate drive, no major obstacles or extremely technical obstacles, I understand that near Funnel Lake there is a short rocky train to pass.
In a slow past the drive up to the flat level is about 1-2 hours and there you can keep exploring the area and that can take you additional 2-3 hours. Together with the drive down it will take you about 5-6 hours to drive up and down.
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Where? :
The starting point of the drive is located south west of Bishop, CA (highway 395).
Drive west on Underwood Ln until it connects with Reata Rd.
Here you can see the Coyote Valley Rd heading directly south.
The few hundred feet was paved and after that it changed into a wash-road.
When? :
The area is open year-round but the best times to visit this road are April through November.
During the winter month it snows in the high elevation and the road is challenging to overcome.
I saw that the trail is typically snowbound until July.
I spent a night here in mid June 2025 and the trails were free of snow although you can still see large snow fields on the mountains.
Summer months are hot but because this is high elevation nights are much cooler.
Summer storms can create flash floods in the canyon and avoid staying at the top of the exposed mountain during a lightning storm.
Not sure what the road conditions are after rain, some sections can become extremely muddy.
Due note 1:
The road climbing up from Bishop, CA is steep and ragged and requires high-clearance 4×4.
I will rate its difficulty as medium, no major obstacle to overcome but still when wet it can have challenging areas.
Due note 2:
No service out of Bishop, CA.
Due note 3:
There is no cell reception at the mountain peak and the flat high area.
Make sure you have an offline map.
Due note 4:
As always with offroad drive: make sure your car is in good offroad conditions, you have enough fuel, good spare tire and exchange kit, first aid and basic towing and recovery tools.
Before climbing up, deflate your tires to a safe tire pressure for rocky off-roading terrain.
Due note 5:
Bring enough water and food for your stay.
Due note 6:
This area is in Inyo National Forest, it is public land, no fees or overnight permits are needed.
Respect the rules and regulations of the National Forest.
Campfire Permit in California is needed.
Due note 7:
Dispersed camping is allowed in the area.
There are no official established campsites in the area but there are many locations for a great offroad night stay, locations near the few small lakes or with a great Sierra mountain view.
Stick to established routes and existing campsites.
The most popular camping site destination at Funnel Lake and Coyote Lake so if you want to stay there try to come early.
I did not stay there but rather parked in the Flat area because I came late at sunset.
The sight that I will recommend is located just above Green Lake at the end of the road leading south. This is not near the lake but the view to the south west is the most beautiful view in the area and you can camp right on the cliff edge. Be aware that this location is exposed to wind and rain.
My thoughts:
This was a place I wanted to visit for some time and I was not disappointed, it was an amazing experience.
I drove up late in the afternoon of mid-June day, enjoyed the flat area and the sunset colors, spent the night, and the morning after I drove up south to the breathtaking road with the vast panoramic view of Bishop mountains still covered with some snow. The road ends in a point overlooking Green lake.
I saw only a few other cars at their campsite during my overnight stay here, this together with the high alpine view it felt secluded and far from any civilization.
The Drive:
This route starts in the southwest outskirts of Bishop, CA at an elevation of 4,350 ft.
The route up the mountains is based on an old 1940s mining road climbing to a plateau.
From the road follow the Coyote Valley rd, just before the electricity facility the road turns right heading into the wash southwest.
This is a clear, wide, sandy washboard but bumpy.
After 4 miles you will reach the clear entering sign to the area.
From here a very steep, narrow with loss ground trail climbs the mountain side.
The narrow switchbacks are one vehicle wide so make sure no one is driving in the other direction. If there are cars in both directions they can pass each other at the switchback sharp turns.
Climbing up has limited visibility and the cars driving down have much better visibility on incoming traffic so it is better if they wait at the turnover points.
After the three switchbacks the trail visibility opens and you will keep climbing to the hill above you.
From here the trail ascends through rocky surface, no much challenge or obstacles just make sure not to get a flat. In the first section there is a nice view down to Bishop CA.
The next 4 miles the trail finds its way up and down (mainly up) over the ridges and climbing the creeks. The forest landscape is nice but you do not have a lot of views. There are few rocky sections when you climb up but no major challenge to overcome. This section can be muddy during and after rain. Just drive slowly and watch for incoming traffic.
After this long climb 9.2 miles from the drive starting point you will reach a high point, at an elevation of 8,800 ft.
From here the vast view to the south opens up. Lookout Mountain is the most dominant of the mountains you can see from here, far away you can see other mountain tips covered with snow.
From here the road follows the ridge and after a short drive it enters into the direction of the creek to the right.
Here the road follows the creek, after a short drive you will need to cross the running creek. The crossing is not so challenging.
After crossing the creek you will drive along the creek and after 10.7 miles from the drive start you will see the old Peterson Mill. I did not stop there.
From here the road climbs up with a few steep rocky switchbacks.
Slight challenge and make sure no other car drives the opposite directions.
After 12 miles from driving start you will reach a major trail junction: Coyote Creek/Flats Trail Fork.
Both roads are highly recommended so you can do one first and then drive to the other one.
My drive to the Coyote Flats:
Once you turn left the trail ascends into the creek and the water crossing is simple.
Keep climbing up the gentle slop into the meadows.
After 2.2 miles you will see a trail turn to the right, this is the first trail leading to Funnel Lake. I understand that this road might be challenging with some rock crawling.
After an additional 1 mile there is another trail that is leading to Funnel Lake.
I did not drive them but I understand that they have some ruff rocky sections near the lake.
This area is the heart of the Coyote Flats.
The view of the alpine meadows surrounded by mountains and the impressive Sugarloaf volcanic cinder cone mountain to the east is nice.
You can take a few side roads and discover the far edge sections of the flat.
It was starting to get late and I decided to spend the night here.
I went off the road, not to block any traffic (no other traffic during the night) and prepared something to eat.
The sun set down in the west lighting the clods with soft orange, yellow, pinky colors.
It was before sunrise for me so I used the time to drive a short loop near Sugarloaf mountain, enjoying the quiet and the soft morning light.
I saw a few deer's in the meadows.
Sugarloaf mountain is also the road that is traveling down the flat into the direction of Big Pine at Owens Valley below.
I do not know what the conditions of this road are.
My drive follow Coyote Creek and to Green Lake Viewpoint:
Going back to the main trail junction Coyote Creek/Flats Trail Fork.
From the fork the clear trail follows along the West Fork Coyote Creek up. The drive is not challenging and there is another creek pass.
After 2.5 miles from the road junction you will see another fork. The left trail will lead you into the forested area and Coyote Lake, one of the popular night camping spots.
I visited the lake on my way back.
I turn right and after a short drive you will see another trail fork, this time I turned left heading to the ridgeline direction to the west.
Here, just below the ridgeline there were still large patches of snow fields, this with the flower blooms created a wonderful landscape view..
The road climbs sharply to the ridgeline on a rocky surface and after 2 miles of climbing from the lake junction you will reach the high elevation (11,380 ft) and the view to the south and the west opens up.
From here keep driving the main road leading south, there are few turnoffs to some viewing points and old mins.
The main trail descends to a small creek, here you can see the trail to the right (leads to a view point and old mine).
From this trail junction it is 2.7 miles to the end of the road.
From the trail junction the road climbs to the other side.
You will reach another road high point and from here the trail descends into a forest covered deep creek, you can see the road climbing up far on the other side of this creek.
The trail descends all the way down to the creek crossing and from there there is a sharp 1 mile climb up, few loose rocky sections but no major obstacles. The only thing I had to overcome was a late season large snow patch that I had to circle around.
When getting out of the forested area the rocky road keeps climbing all the way to the highest point of this road, at an elevation of 11,680 ft at the saddle.
From here it is a short drive over the flat and you will reach the end of the road, right on the cliff edge above Green Lake nested in the deep valley below you.
What a drive and What a view !
The entire Bishop basing (south and north fork mountains is in front of you.
I was the only one here and I did not see anyone else, except a camper near the lake.
I think that this is the best night stay location (much more than the lakes that do not have a view), the panoramic view of the mountain range and the solitude will make it an unforgettable experience.
I stayed here for some time, enjoying the view.
There are several other side road trips to do in this area but it was already getting late and I still want to hike the south fork of Bishop lake trail.
I need to leave something for my next visit :-) .
After some time I started with the 21 miles long drive back down. Now when I know exactly what to expect from driving conditions it was a faster drive than climbing up.
From this far south point it took me about 2 hours to complete the drive all the way to Bishop.
What a fun morning this was.
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