7 Things You Will Love About Bridgeport
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The small mountain town of Bridgeport in Eastern California is one of our favorite places in the country. There’s so much much to do in town and so much within a close proximity, you could spend an eternity exploring the area.
The following list is by no means exhaustive, but it’s a combination of what the town is most known for and what we feel you would enjoy most about it. So let’s get into it!
1) Twin Lakes
Located just 10 miles from town down highly scenic Twin Lakes road (which is honestly an attraction all its own), Twin Lakes is both easy to get to, features top notch views, and offers great recreational opportunities.
Twin Lakes is made up of two separate lakes (lower & upper) and covers a combined 650 acres. Lined with evergreens and towered by the Sawtooth Mountain Range, many activities such as fishing, boating, and more can be enjoyed here.
2) Soak in the Hot Springs
There are two hot springs within close proximity of Bridgeport. Travertine Hot Springs (pictured above) is just up the road from the Bridgeport Ranger Station and the other, Buckeye, is located near Twin Lakes.
Both springs are clothing optional, however, we have been to Travertine numerous times and people have always been respectful whenever families were there. Just something to keep in mind if you decide to go.
READ ALSO: Soak and Relax At Travertine Hot Springs
3) Hiking & Camping
If you’re into hiking, camping, or both, Bridgeport is where you’ll want to be. At Twin Lakes there are at least half a dozen wonderful campgrounds to choose from including Mono Village, Doc & Al’s, Twin Lakes Resort, and Lower Honeymoon.
Pictured above is Barney Lake and can be accessed via a 4-mile hike on the Roberson Creek trail. Other popular trails include Green Lake, Benson Lake Loop, and Virginia Lakes.
READ ALSO: Take A Day Hike To Beautiful Barney Lake
4) Local Restaurants
After hiking all day, there’s nothing more we want to do than head to the nearest burger joint and chow down. Bridgeport has many local eateries serving up delicious food daily. These include Burger Barn, Nugent’s High Sierra Bakery, Jolly Kone, and more!
5) Fishing Galore!
Bridgeport is one of the premier fishing destinations in Mono County and is often touted for having the best trout fishing in the entire state. In fact, back in 1987, the current record holding brown trout was caught in Upper Twin Lake and weighed a whopping 26 pounds, 8 ounces.
Who knows? Perhaps you could be the one to catch the next record breaker.
6) Historic Buildings
There are numerous historic buildings in Bridgeport but perhaps the most known are the Mono County Courthouse and the (old) Mono County Jail. The courthouse was built in 1880 and is the 2nd oldest operating courthouse in California.
The old jail was built in 1863 and is located behind the courthouse. The new and far more modern jail was built directly adjacent to the old one. Due to Covid-19, the interior is closed off to all visitors for the remainder of 2020.
7) Bodie State Historic Park
If exploring abandoned places is your thing then you need to head to the Disneyland of ghost towns, Bodie State Historic Park. The turn off to Bodie is just 7 miles outside of Bridgeport and then another 13 miles to the park itself.
If you’ve never heard of Bodie, it’s an abandoned gold-mining town that’s being preserved in a state of arrested decay. Multiple original buildings remain (including the mill) and the interiors remain as they were back in the day.
We highly recommend spending a full day exploring Bodie and everything it has to offer.
Bonus! Proximity to Yosemite East
Bridgeport is a fairly short drive (about 45 minutes) from the east entrance of Yosemite National Park. This will take you through the charming town of Lee Vining and up Tioga Pass to the gate.
You won’t see the likes of Tunnel View or Yosemite Falls (those are an additional hour or so away) but you will find equally awesome sights on this seldom known area of the park.
You can wander through Tuolumne Meadows, see the infamous Half Dome from Olmsted Point, hang out on the beach of Tenaya Lake, or take in a hike to the famous Cathedral Lakes. These are just a few mentions of the many things to do here.
Your Thoughts…
Does Bridgeport seem like a place you’d want to visit for yourself? Perhaps with your family? Are there any special places in or near Bridgeport we left out? Let us know in the comments below. We love hearing from our readers!
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in October 2020 and has been recently updated for comprehensiveness and accuracy.