By Dallas Maxa

Highway 395 is more than a road. It’s a ribbon of memory that winds through desert, history, and granite peaks. It leads anglers and adventurers into the heart of California’s Eastern Sierras. Every trip north feels like both a return and a discovery. These mountains have captured the imagination of generations for good reason.

This year, our family loaded up the car with tackle boxes, snacks, a nine-year-old chocolate lab, and two energetic kids. We left behind the stress of tents, air mattresses, and water jugs. Instead, we leaned on Adventure in Camping, the service that turns the Sierra wilderness into a home away from home. Founded in 1959 as June Lake Junction Trailer Rentals, the company began as a small family-owned business. It has since grown into the region’s most trusted way to camp. With the largest and newest fleet of vacation trailers, they deliver, park, and set up your rental at over 80 campgrounds across the Sierras. When we arrive, the chairs are around the fire and the beds are made. The focus can shift to fishing, exploring, and simply being together.

This was our first Sierra trip with both boys —Wyatt, age 3, and Waylon, 22 months. We were joined by my oldest friend, Kelsey, and her three-year-old son, Tony, along with our chocolate lab, Chinook, who still thinks she is a puppy. Three adults, three kids, a dog, and a 26-foot trailer became our home for nearly a week. It could have been chaos, but the trailer’s comforts —air conditioning, generator power, outlets everywhere, and even a barbecue added on for a minimal cost —turned what could have been a cramped trip into one of the most enjoyable we had ever had.

 

The Road North

Every Sierra trip starts with a drive. Along Highway 395, the landmarks are stitched into tradition. In Lone Pine, the Alabama Hills and Mt. Whitney loom above. The desert already whispers the promise of cool, crisp air ahead. Not far beyond sits Manzanar, the historic World War II relocation center. Sobering as it is, Manzanar also conceals an often-overlooked story. The Manzanar Fishing Club. Interned Japanese Americans would slip away into creeks and rivers nearby. There, they found dignity, normalcy, and the freedom of casting a line.

Continuing north, Independence, California, greets travelers like a snapshot of small-town Americana. Cottonwoods line the main drag. Café tables spill out onto the sidewalks. The courthouse stands as a reminder that not every place rushes to keep up with time.

Further on, just outside of Fish Springs, we pulled over for one of the trip’s greatest surprises. A herd of thirty elk grazed in a lush green field. Irrigation wheels and the high desert framed the scene. It’s the kind of roadside moment that makes you forget schedules and simply stare.

By Big Pine, hunger set in. Copper Top BBQ is irresistible, its smoky signal as clear as highway markers, and the brisket and pulled pork are true pilgrimages. In Bishop, we stopped at Mahogany Smoked Meals, where legendary bacon is a fireside staple. In this town, both the base camp and the destination, these flavors have become tradition.

Still, this year carried a

 

shadow. In May 2025, the Fish Springs Hatchery experienced a devastating power outage and generator failure. Nearly 80% of their stock was lost. For anglers, it was a gut punch. On the drive north, we wondered. Would the fishing even be worth it this year?

 

Fishing Against the Odds

The answer, as it turned out, was a resounding yes.

Our first casts into the icy waters brought rainbows so healthy and strong that they erased any doubt. In a decade of fishing these mountains, the trout we found this year were amongst the finest we’ve ever seen. For that, we extend our gratitude to the hatchery staff and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Their commitment ensures not only the survival of the species but also the survival of traditions like ours.

This trip was all about sight fishing. Clear Sierra streams gave us perfect views. We watched trout shadows holding in current seams, their sudden turns as they darted for bait. For young anglers, nothing beats seeing the strike—the flash of silver, the flare of fins, the line tightening.

We packed our ultra-light G Loomis rods paired with Shimano Vanford 1000 reels, the perfect setup for delicate presentations and spirited fights. The method that never failed when fishing with toddlers was simple yet deadly: a fly line with a nightcrawler drifted upstream, allowed to tumble naturally into waiting rainbows. Every time the worm passed their lie just right, it was met with a decisive take. With kids on the rods, it was pure magic- squeals of surprise followed by determined reeling as another trout came into hand.

The best part wasn’t the size of the fish, though a few stretched the net, but the joy on the kids’ faces. Wyatt’s wide-eyed grin after his first solo-landing, Tony announcing loudly to the creek that he “got one!”, and Waylon clutching the rod with both hands as the line tugged. It all reminded us why we come back year after year. These waters don’t just provide fish. They provide memories that outlast the catch.

Mammoth: A John Muir Town

For us, no trip is complete without Mammoth. The town is steeped in the spirit of John Muir, whose words, “The mountains are calling, and I must go,” greet you when arriving.

Before lines hit the water, we always stop at Rick’s Sport Center. Their mission is simple. ‘Our Journey began with a simple goal—to help everyone experience the joy of fishing and the outdoors.’ Every time we walk through the door, Brian greets us like family. He points us towards the right bait, the right water, and always the right advice. Shops like Rick’s aren’t just businesses. They’re the heartbeat of a mountain town.

Our campsite near Mammoth quickly settled into a rhythm. Blue jays called from the treetops. Chipmunks made daring raids across the fallen pine tree. A creek ran nearby, its music constant whether we were tying knots, helping kids with arts and crafts, or staring into the fire under the Milky Way sky.

One afternoon, a short drive brought us to June Lake. It was so clear it seemed like glass, reflecting the massive granite peaks that framed it. We spotted Mule deer that are so perfectly camouflaged you’d miss them if not for the flick of an ear or the flash of a white tail.

Watching Wyatt and Tony toss rocks into the shallows while Waylon toddled along the shoreline, our chocolate lab bounded between them. I was reminded of another Muir passage: ‘Keep close to Nature’s heart…and break clear away once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.’

 

Camping Made Simple

It’s worth repeating: this trip wouldn’t have happened without Ryan and Shannon from the Adventure in Camping family. Camping with toddlers and a dog in a primitive, dry site is no small feat. Having a trailer delivered, equipped with air conditioning, a generator, power outlets at every turn, and the option of a barbecue grill made an impossible trip unforgettable. Instead of worrying about logistics, we focused on fishing, storytelling, and toasting marshmallows. Adventure in Camping has helped families do this since 1959, when it was June Lake Junction Trailer Rentals. Now, their reach covers the Sierras, serving over 80 campgrounds. From Bishop to Mammoth Lakes, from Devils Postpile to June Lake, they make trading chaos for comfort easy.

More Than a Fishing Trip

Every Eastern Sierra journey blends the old with the new. The landmarks—Lone Pine, Manzanar, Independence, Bishop—remain the same. Each trip is shaped by the people who come along. This year, with three kids, a loyal lab, and lifelong friends by our side, the mountains felt different. Fuller. Wilder.

We left with sore arms from hauling in trout and bellies full of smoked meats and barbecue. Our hearts were full from nights under the stars. The Eastern Sierras have a way of giving you more than you expect. All it takes is slowing down, looking around, and letting the journey unfold.

In the end, it’s not just about fishing. It’s about hearing the creek while you sleep. It’s about watching elk graze in the desert and catching mule deer in the twilight. It’s about knowing that the mountains will always be there. They’ll keep calling, as Muir said, until you answer.

When you answer the call, you’ll find what we did. With a little help from Adventure in Camping, the mountains don’t just call. They welcome you home.