Inyo Mountains Wilderness
The Inyo Mountains are a north-south trending desert mountain range between the Owens Valley to the west, and Death Valley National Park to the east. The 198,360 acre Inyo Mountains Wilderness was designated by Congress in 1994, and is jointly administered by the U.S. Forest Service (73,300 acres in the northern portion of the range) and the Bureau of Land Management (125,060 acres in the southern portion of the range).
The Inyo Mountains offer wilderness visitors opportunities to experience solitude, historical values and dark night skies that are for excellent star gazing. Although the mountains appear extremely rugged, they are actually quite fragile. Animal and plant life in the desert depend upon the limited water and soil resources in these mountains. For this reason, it is especially important for visitors to practice Leave No Trace principles in this wilderness.
Before visiting, familiarize yourselves with regulations and appropriate Leave No Trace practices.
More information about Inyo Mountains Wilderness and its designating legislation can be found at wilderness.net.
More information about the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) portion of the wilderness can be found at the BLM California website.
Maps and guidebooks can be purchased at sierraforevor.org.