Located in the heart of the Eastern Sierra, Bridgeport is one of our favorite places to visit with our kids. A small town that all but closes down in the winter, Bridgeport is full of lively activity during the warm spring and summer months, and a great gateway for those seeking some outdoor adventure. Some of the hikes around the area are more intermediate to advanced, and not quite suitable for the youngest of tikes, but we have explored a few kid friendly destinations with our kiddos in tow. If you are looking for ideas on where to eat or stay in town, look for my upcoming blog or feel free to send a message!
Twin Lakes
Tucked away ten miles from town are the Twin Lakes. There is a resort with cabin rentals around the lakes, as well as boat rentals if you wish to spend part of the day fishing the lakes. There are also some great little day hikes around the area. Some of our favorites are the Tamarack Trail, and the Barney Lake Trail, both of which provide for stunning views, but definitely require backpacks for the younger kids as the incline is pretty steep.
If a long day hike or camp trip are not in the cards for you, the beach areas around twin lakes provide for peaceful picnic spots, and there are boat rentals near the resort as well. I would definitely recommend calling and booking in advance as things are reserved very quickly around the lakes.
This is also a very popular camping spot, but is a bit too crowded for our tastes. We attempted to camp here once, but very quickly left as it was not conducive to our kids and dogs.
Bodie
A half day trip to Bodie is a must for kids and history buffs alike. Bodie is a mining ghost town, and the turn off to the dirt road is about 7 miles south of Bridgeport. The town was founded in 1877 and at some point had a population of close to 10,000, who all quickly packed up and left once the gold ran out. What was left was a well preserved ghost-town, with some of the buildings seemingly as if a family had breakfast, went out for the day and simply never bothered to pack or return. There is enough to wander about for a half day or so, and tours are available for those seeking more in depth history tid-bits. Dogs are allowed on leash as well for those traveling with their canine companions.
(the large! Ghost town of Bodie)
Traventine Hot Springs
The traventine Hot Springs are just outside of town and a fun little adventure especially if you are visiting during the cooler months. When we went we were lucky to be the only ones there, but I hear it does tend to get busy at times so be warned you may have harder luck finding an isolated spot. Bring your own canned beverage and enjoy a nice hot soak and spectacular views after a long morning hike.
Because Traventine does get busy, it may be worth it to also check out Buckeye Hot Springs which tend to attract the surrounding campers rather than all the 395 passerbys.
Lundy Canyon
Lundy Canyon also makes for a great hike that is not super strenuous, and provides breathtaking views. Be warned not to try this during the cooler months though like we did, if there is any hint of snow on the ground left, as this area tends to get quite snowed in and muddy. I'd opt for later summer or early fall months.
There you have it, a very short collections of great day trips near Bridgeport to keep you busy on your visit. Keep in mind Bridgeport is close to so many hikes, camping areas, and outdoor attractions other than what is on this list, but these are some tried and tested trips we have recently taken and greatly enjoyed. Happy travels!