Firewood Permits

Firewood collection permits available starting May 15

Special log deck collection outside of firewood collecting area also available north of Mammoth Lakes

Inyo National Forest will begin issuing personal firewood collection permits at varying dates and hours depending on the ranger district.

Inyo National Forest Service staff is partnering with Sierra Forever to issue these permits later in the season to make wood tags more readily available to the public.

Visitor center wood tag availability days, hours, and locations:

Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center:
Available daily from May 15 to May 30, from 8 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.; available June 1 when Sierra Forever staff is onboarded for collections – 1 day/week (TBD; please call).
Location: 2510 Main Street, Mammoth Lakes, CA. (760) 924-5500
Eastern Sierra Visitor Center:
Available every other Friday starting May 16, from 8:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. Appointments may be scheduled in advance.
Location: Highway 395 and State Route 136, Lone Pine, CA. (760) 876-6200
White Mountain Public Lands Info Center:
Available every other Friday starting May 23, from 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 – 4:15 p.m.
Location: 798 N. Main Street, Bishop, CA. (760) 873-2500
Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center:
Available on Sundays and Mondays from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Highway 395 (at Mono Lake), Lee Vining, CA. (760) 647-3044

Credit card transactions preferred. If credit card transactions are not possible, exact amount for cash payment is required (that is, no change is available). When Sierra Forever staff assist Forest Service staff later in the season, Sierra Forever will only accept credit card transactions. If credit card transactions are not possible, woodcutters will need to make a special appointment with Forest Service employees to buy tags with cash.

All firewood collection permits must be purchased in-person at one of the above visitor centers because permits are not issued via email or mail. To ensure securing your permit is a success, please call visitor centers beforehand because wood tag availability dates and times may change due to unforeseen circumstances.

Electronic versions of firewood maps are available down below. Maps are also mobile-friendly without the need for cell service, navigable on Avenza for free, available down below.

Special log deck collection area outside of open firewood collection areas

Log decks created during past forest health treatments will be open for public fuelwood collection, accessible from Deadman Creek Road and the Mammoth Scenic Loop (shown in purple dots on map below).

Certain log decks remain closed for public fuelwood collection due to deck height and safety concerns (shown in orange dots on map below). Woodcutters can be injured or killed from rolling, unstable, tall wood decks closed for public fuelwood collection.

All firewood collection rules and regulations apply to these special areas. All open log decks have posted signs stating that the area is open for firewood collection. All closed log decks have posted signs stating that the area is closed for firewood collection. Please do not disassemble slash burn piles.