The Road to Coyote Flats

For the day, Steve and I rode our dirt bikes from just outside Bishop, into the High Sierras, to Coyote Creek, Coyote Flats and Coyote Ridge – anything “coyote.” I’d driven to Coyote Flats several times, and it turns out that riding a dirt bike is much faster and easier – the bumps in the road get much smaller.

The road to Coyote Flats climbs steeply after leaving Bishop, following canyons and along ridges in pine trees.
The road to Coyote Flats climbs steeply after leaving Bishop, following canyons and along ridges in pine forests. Steve rode his Husky, I was on my Suzuki DRZ400.
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Once you get close to the top and the Flats, the road parallels Coyote Creek, crossing back and forth several times.
A self-portrait on Coyote Ridge with the Sierras in the background, a little over 11,000'. Comparing photos I've taken in past years, there's much less snow this year.
A self-portrait on Coyote Ridge with the Sierras in the background, a little over 11,000′. Comparing photos I’ve taken in past years, there’s much less snow this year.
On Coyote Ridge looking west.
On Coyote Ridge looking west.
Stopping to inspect abandoned mining operations.
Stopping to inspect abandoned mining operations right about here.

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South Lake at the top of Bishop Creek.
South Lake at the top of Bishop Creek.
Steve crossing Coyote Creek.
Steve crossing Coyote Creek.

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An abandoned DOD high elevation landing strip at 11,000' on Coyote Flats.
An abandoned DOD high-elevation landing strip at Coyote Flats right about here.

2 thoughts on “The Road to Coyote Flats

  • April 11, 2013 at 12:29 pm
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    James:

    We’ve got to do this ride this summer. My EWBANH (Everything Was Beautiful, And Nothing Hurt) riding club did this a few years ago. There’s the world’s coolest campsite over on the north side of the highway that would be a bitchen base of ops: right by the world’s coldest, cleanest creek.

    Reply
    • April 11, 2013 at 2:47 pm
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      YES! Absolutely! I’ll be in the neighborhood in a month – maybe then?

      Reply

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