Fire Restrictions: Inyo National Forest and Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office Enter Fire Restrictions May 24, 2021. Campfires, briquette BBQ and stove fires limited to developed campgrounds only.
If you plan to use a gas stove or lantern in a dispersed camping site, you must obtain a Campfire Permit.
Many people enjoy the solitude and primitive experience of camping away from developed campgrounds and other campers. Dispersed camping is the term used for campin...
Fire Restrictions: Inyo National Forest and Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office Enter Fire Restrictions May 24, 2021. Campfires, briquette BBQ and stove fires limited to developed campgrounds only.
If you plan to use a gas stove or lantern in a dispersed camping site, you must obtain a Campfire Permit.
Many people enjoy the solitude and primitive experience of camping away from developed campgrounds and other campers. Dispersed camping is the term used for camping anywhere in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a designated campground. Dispersed camping means no services, such as trash removal, tables, or toilets. There are extra responsibilites and skills that are necessary for dispersed camping. Camping rules and regulations apply to make your experience safe, and to keep the natural resources scenic and unspoiled for other campers.
Most of the land in Inyo and Mono counties is publicly owned. Dispersed camping (camping outside of designated campgrounds) is allowed throughout much of the area. If you plan to backpack into a wilderness area to camp, you will need a wilderness permit, issued at Inyo National Forest visitor centers. If you wish to camp outside of developed campgrounds/sites, there are a few things you need to know:
Land Ownership: The three major land-owning agencies in the Eastern Sierra are the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the City of Los Angeles. Dispersed camping is allowed on most Forest Service and BLM land. However, camping is prohibited on land owned by the City of Los Angeles. This website has an interactive map so you can find out where it is legal to disperse camp in the Eastern Sierra.
Maps: Anyone planning a dispersed camping trip should invest in a copy of the Inyo National Forest map, which depicts land ownership as well as roads, streams, trails and other features. The map also shows “restricted use areas” where dispersed camping is not allowed.
Restricted Use Areas: Certain high-use recreation zones, including those along paved roads leading into the mountains, are not open to dispersed camping (see Inyo National Forest map). Dispersed camping is not allowed in the following areas: Horseshoe Meadow, Onion Valley, Big Pine Creek, Bishop Creek, Rock Creek, McGee Creek, Convict Lake, Mammoth Lakes, Reds Meadow Valley, June Lakes Loop, Lee Vining Canyon, Lundy Canyon, Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, and any research area.
Owens River: All land along the Owens River is owned by the City of Los Angeles, and is closed to camping.
Length of Stay: On Inyo National Forest land, you may camp up to 14 days at one location and up to 28 days per year on the forest.
Locating a Dispersed Campsite: Look for an area at the end of a spur road or a pullout that is clear of vegetation and has a hard, compacted surface. These sites might have a primitive fire ring. Stay on established roadways; do not drive off-road to camp. Select a campsite at least 100 feet from lakes and streams. Bring along a portable toilet or have a plan to dispose of human waste properly. Pack out all garbage.
