Attractions and Places To See around Round Valley - Top 19

Rock formations similar to those in Joshua Tree National Park, but with the snow-capped Sierra Nevada in the background. The boulders are a popular climbing area. All around there are many dispersed campsites.

Chalk Bluff, for which the road is named for, is remarkably a straight, ~5-mile-long, escarpment that forms the south edge of the Volcanic Tableland. Named Chalk Bluff for its light tan-to-white colored, chalk-like rocks, they stand in contrast to the darker, volcanic Bishop tuff boulders that stand atop the escarpment and are popular with rock climbers. The Owens River flows below the Chalk Bluff with the gravel road running between, all making for a truly unique riding experience.

This singletrack trail near Rock Creek is fantastic, with ride options from a longer out-and-back to a quick lap or two on the upper sections. It's best to run lower tire pressure due to the sandy substrate and keep an eye out for rocks to avoid getting a pinch flat. There is parking at both ends of the trail for easy access. The upper section provides some fast and fun riding, while the lower section is more scenic and offers more adventure riding, complete with gnarly rock gardens and incredible scenery.

If you are hiking early-mid season and plan to summit by ascending the western couloir, be prepared for there to be a large, steep and loooong way down snow drift here! Remember the cardinal rule of hiking in the Sierras!: Always bring your ice axe! (And microspikes/crampons!) If you are hiking very, very late season and the first couple snowfalls of the winter have already befell, then this drift may be impassable with only crampons/microspikes. The snow will be powdery, and will not hold any weight! (This snow would not have even held my hand if I had asked it to!) But lucky for you!, if you have to turn around here, there is another way to summit! Head yourself back on over to the Not-A-Pass and ascend via the southwestern ridgeline! The climb from the ridgeline will be slightly longer, but not quite as steep!

A quick note to all of you thirsty, late season hikers out there!: Horton Lake is your last water source, and your next water source! There is no water in the basin over the next pass, and there is no water on the final ascent to the summit either! (This is true for routes through both the western couloir above the mineshaft, as well as the southwestern ridgeline)! Early-Mid season hikers, you might get lucky with some snow runoff somewhere, but 🤷‍♀️ So! Horton Lake! Or rather, Horton Lakes! According to local legend, Upper Horton Lake used to be know for growing unusually large trout, allegedly upwards of 20 inches. All three lakes used to be stocked with trout, though the fish have now been removed from the uppermost lake in order to facilitate the growth of the Yellow-Legged Frog population, a species native to the Sierra Nevadas! The lake(s) reside beneath Basin Mountain (southeast) and Four Gables (west)! To the south, Mt Humphreys peaks out from behind Basin Mountain! There is also a myriad of tentsites by the lake! Bonus tip: There are some cute lil’ cabins here too!

Rock formations similar to those in Joshua Tree National Park, but with the snow-capped Sierra Nevada in the background. The boulders are a popular climbing area. All around there are many dispersed campsites.