Rock Creek | |
Map Size: | 250 |
Pushpin Map: | USA California |
Pushpin Map Size: | 250 |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth of Rock Creek in California |
Subdivision Type1: | Country |
Subdivision Name1: | United States |
Subdivision Type2: | State |
Subdivision Name2: | California |
Subdivision Type3: | Region |
Subdivision Name3: | Mono County |
Subdivision Type4: | District |
Subdivision Name4: | Inyo National Forest |
Length: | 30milesRock Creek plus Lower Rock Creek[1] |
Source1: | Rock Creek Lake |
Source1 Location: | John Muir Wilderness, Inyo National Forest |
Source1 Coordinates: | 37.4555°N -118.7357°W |
Mouth: | Owens River |
Mouth Location: | Owens River Gorge |
Mouth Coordinates: | 37.561°N -118.6801°W |
River System: | Long Valley—Crowley Lake Watershed |
Tributaries Right: | Witcher & Pine Creeks |
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 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 northeast 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 long. Lower Rock Creek, below Tom's Place, flows an additional to the Owens River.[1]