Climbing and Caving
Climbing on the Inyo National Forest is a major attraction with opportunities for a variety of sport or traditional climbs, bouldering, and mountaineering in hundreds of places and thousands of routes which oftentimes share boundaries with other public land agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management and the LA Department of Water and Power.
Discovering where to go next is all a part of the adventure!
To get more familiar with the area, please visit the Bishop Climbers Coalition website for tips on where to climb and what guidebooks to get.
To see the latest climbing conditions for the Bishop area, visit the Climbing Rangers Report page.
Mountain Climbing
A wide range of classes of mountain climbing can suit people of all abilities on the Inyo National Forest.
From a long walk-up to a non-technical approach such as Mount Langley from Horseshoe Meadows, or highly technical approach such as the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek on Mount Whitney, there is something for everyone looking to have a challenging and exhilarating adventure in the Wilderness.
Any mountain can be climbed! However if staying overnight, a Wilderness Permit is required.
Rock Climbing
To get more familiar with the area, please visit the Bishop Climbers Coalition website for tips on where to climb and what guidebooks to get.
To see the latest climbing conditions for the Bishop area, visit the Climbing Rangers Report page.
Buttermilk Country
This area is world-renowned for the enormous granitic boulders that dot the foothills below a stunning skyline of jagged high Sierra peaks. Visitors come from all over the world to visit this extremely popular spot, so visiting on a weekday is best to avoid crowds and parking issues.
Just east of the Horton Creek drainage and approximately 8 miles west of Bishop, the “Buttermilks” (term is used interchangeably) are a dispersed recreation area, which means camping is allowed and campfires are permitted with a valid California campfire permit when conditions allow.
Climbers and campers should be aware that the area is intermingled with private and non-public utility lands, and camping is allowed only on Inyo National Forest land. Many exploration and mapping apps can help you navigate who's land you are on. Several types of mobile compatible maps are available from Avenza Maps. Campers are strongly encouraged to practice leave-no-trace ethics.
Restrooms are available at the main parking area at the boulders. No trash service or water.
Rock Creek
Rock Creek is home to fine bouldering, sport, and traditional climbing in a serene valley. This high-altitude area is a beautiful getaway for climbers looking to escape the blistering heat of summer. Rock Creek is located due West of Tom’s Place off Highway 395 between the towns of Mammoth Lakes and Bishop.
Camping is permitted in any of the numerous campgrounds between Tom’s Place and Mosquito Flats. Check the Inyo National Forest website for updates on seasonal campground opening/closing dates. See Recreation Region: Tom's Place/Crowley Lake.
Restrooms are available at several trailheads, campgrounds, or picnic areas along Rock Creek Road.
Whitney Portal
Above the town of Lone Pine, the towering walls of the Whitney Portal offer some of the finest climbing in the Eastern Sierra for experienced climbers. The Whitney Portal Buttress is the most popular area but numerous other formations in the drainage have established climbing routes.
Bears are extremely active in this area so please store any food, toiletries, and fragrant items in one of many bear boxes in the parking area. Camping is permitted in the Mt. Whitney Group or Whitney Portal Campgrounds just below these cliffs or alternatively, in the Alabama Hills.
Restrooms are available at the campgrounds or at the main Whitney Trailhead.
The High Sierra
The magnificent “range of light” is acclaimed by climbers the world over for its stunning peaks, stable weather, and incredible granite. The High Sierra is also home to the highest peak and largest tract of wilderness in the lower 48 states. A lifetime of climbing opportunities resides in this boundless area of the Sierra Nevada.
A wilderness permit is required for anyone staying overnight in the Golden Trout, Ansel Adams, Hoover or John Muir Wildernesses and for anyone visiting the Mt. Whitney Zone.
Motorized power drills are NOT allowed within wilderness boundaries.
Wilderness visitors need to practice a high degree of self-reliance and responsibility for their own safety. See: Safety and Outdoor Ethics.
Links for more information:
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