Rock Creek (Owens River tributary)

Rock Creek is a stream that flows from the high Eastern Sierra Nevada to the Owens River in Mono County of eastern California. The upper watershed is in the John Muir Wilderness of the Sierra and Inyo National Forests.

Rock Creek
Rock Creek with the Sierra Crest in the background
Location of the mouth of Rock Creek in California
Location
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
RegionMono County
DistrictInyo National Forest
Physical characteristics
SourceRock Creek Lake
  locationJohn Muir Wilderness, Inyo National Forest
  coordinates37.4554886°N 118.7356796°W / 37.4554886; -118.7356796
MouthOwens River
  location
Owens River Gorge
  coordinates
37.5610431°N 118.6801252°W / 37.5610431; -118.6801252
Length30 mi (48 km)Rock Creek plus Lower Rock Creek[1]
Basin features
River systemLong Valley—Crowley Lake Watershed
Tributaries 
  rightWitcher & Pine Creeks

Course

Rock Creek drains from the Sierra Crest near Bear Creek Spire. Additional creek drainage is from the crest's Mount Abbot, Mount Mills, Ruby Peak, and Mount Starr. They combine with flow from Little Lakes Valley to Rock Creek Lake.

From the lake Rock Creek flows north to the location known as Tom's Place along U.S. Route 395, less than two miles from the Owens River. The creek, however, turns southeast and flows parallel to the Owens River (and is shown on maps as "Lower Rock Creek"), eventually joining the river near the mouth of the Owens River Gorge.

Upstream from Tom's Place, Rock Creek is 15.9 miles (25.6 km) long. Lower Rock Creek, below Tom's Place, flows an additional 14.1 miles (22.7 km) to the Owens River.[1]

See also

References

  1. U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed March 17, 2011


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