Hot Creek Ranch

Hot Creek Ranch is a pleasant respite from the combat fishing that has started to prevail in Hot Creek canyon. With a limited number of anglers allowed, it gives you a chance to test your skills against trout with PhD’s in dry fly refusal. And all in a setting that gives pause and makes one appreciate the good things in life.
Kevin and Lisa are down to earth friendly hosts who are willing to chat and offer advice. They stock a small shop for go to flies and other accessories.
HCR is often booked out prior to the season. While it’s good for the actual owner of the ranch, it also means there isn’t as much impetus for improvement. And here is where HCR loses the 5^th star.
The cabins need a little facelift. They remind me of the classic Mammoth condo’s of the 70’s what with wood paneling and mismatch art on the walls. Even the bedding needs a sprucing.
This is in no way a reflection on Kevin or Lisa. They are the caretakers. The owner just needs to decide to loosen the purse strings a bit.
I’d stay again in a heartbeat for a guys weekend. But if I was gonna bring the wife, I’d opt for nicer digs.

Hot Creek Ranch remains an enigma in the world of fly fishing. In this magnificent Eastern Sierra setting, thousands of wild trout roam its ¹¹⁄₄ mile section of the famed Hot Creek. A serious dry fly fisher is presented the opportunity to test his or her skills on highly technical waters, then to relax at your private creekside cabin, or walk to the marmot village, or sit upon a ledge next to an old Indian grinding rock, or just to sip some wine and scan the horizon in your adirondack chair. No where do you get more, and few can truly compete with the whole Ranch experience. No wonder reservations are so hard to obtain, and few cancel when their time comes.

(The listing says this place is «Closed» for some reason. It continues to be open seasonally.)
If you love to Fly Fish this is a wonderful place to be!
A private ranch with 9 cabins in a huge, beautiful meadow with a spring creek meandering through it. Only guests are allowed to fish on the property and is is dry-​fly only, no wading, catch and release fishing which has allowed this fishery to be remarkably maintained in comparison to many of the public areas.
The ranch is operated by some of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet and has a small shop with basic flies, tippet, etc. should you need something.
Cabins are clean and simple with a small kitchen and a weber grill outside. I can’t think of a more beautiful place to grill up some grub after a day of spectacular fishing. A very short drive from Mammothand a truly relaxing place to get away.