Rock Creek Road

Rock Creek Road · Tom's Place → Mosquito Flat

Sweeping10.2 mi25 min3,200 ft climbHigh point ≈ 10,200 ftOne way

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The drive

Rock Creek Road is a dead-end climb into the high Sierra. It leaves Highway 395 at Tom's Place, about 13 miles south of Mammoth Lakes and 30 miles north of Bishop, and follows Rock Creek canyon uphill for about ten miles to Mosquito Flat, which at about 10,200 feet is one of the highest trailheads in the Sierra Nevada.

The road climbs past Palisade Campground and the winter trailhead and sno-park at about 8,900 feet. Rock Creek Lakes Resort sits beside the road near Rock Creek Lake, a small summer resort known for its pies, with a cafe and a little general store. Above the lake, past the Hilton Lakes trailhead, the pavement gets much narrower for the last stretch to the road's end.

Mosquito Flat is the start of the trails into Little Lakes Valley and over Mono Pass, and the road ends there; you come back down the same way.

Along the way

Tom's Place
Rock Creek Lakes Resort
Mosquito Flat

Elevation

3,200 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 10,200 ft

Tom's PlaceMosquito Flat

Curves

Mostly gentle, with two twisty stretches

mi 1–3mi 8–9

Tom's PlaceMosquito Flat

GentleHairpins

Good to know

The top stretch above Rock Creek Lake is much narrower than the road below; take it slowly, since there's little room to pass oncoming cars.
The upper road is closed by snow in winter and reopens in late spring; Inyo County posts its status.
Overnight trips from Mosquito Flat need a wilderness permit from the Inyo National Forest.

Upper road closed by snow from about November to late May. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Inyo County road open/closed status.

Questions about this drive

How long is Rock Creek Road?

Rock Creek Road runs about 10 miles from Tom's Place on Highway 395 to Mosquito Flat and takes about 25 minutes uphill, climbing 3,200 feet.

How high does Rock Creek Road go?

Rock Creek Road ends at Mosquito Flat at about 10,200 feet, one of the highest trailheads in the Sierra Nevada.

Is Rock Creek Road open in winter?

The upper part of Rock Creek Road closes for snow in winter and reopens in spring; check Inyo County's road status page before going in late fall or spring.

Is Rock Creek Lakes Resort open year-round?

No. Rock Creek Lakes Resort on Rock Creek Road is a summer operation, open from about mid-May to mid-October.

What you get in the app

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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