Hiking

Hiking is the most popular way to see and experience the many wonders of the Inyo National Forest! Some visitors plan a year or more in advance for their trips. If you are planning to camp overnight in the wilderness, a Wilderness Permit is required, for up to 6 months in advance. The only trail that requires a day use permit is the Mount Whitney Trail.

Get ready

Generally speaking, hiking trails on the Inyo National Forest are not for the faint of heart... but with arguably the most rewarding views around. Elevations range from 3,900 to 14,494 feet, providing diverse hiking experiences from the semiarid deserts and great basin sagebrush to the magical, high-alpine meadows bursting with summer wildflowers. Each season brings a completely different landscape views, and corresponding gear you might need to tackle the trails. 

One thing is a constant: you need to ensure you are physically fit enough and prepared for any weather, changes in elevation, and a plan for your safety. Get ready and train for the trip you are planning, as this will help your experience be the most enjoyable it can be!

Top 10 Hiking Essentials

Are you ready for weather, darkness or an injury? Inyo and Mono County Search and Rescue organizational staff are highly skilled and essential professionals who can help, but it will never be guaranteed or provided in a swift manner due to logistical or terrain challenges or even staffing availability.
• Map and compass
• Extra food & water
• First aid kit
• Flashlight, extra batteries & bulb
• Sunglasses & sunscreen
• Pocketknife
• Extra clothing & rain gear
• Emergency shelter
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Signal (whistle and a mirror)

Maps

Visit a ranger district office or visitor center, our Visitor Maps and Guides page, or the USGS Store to obtain a trail map to help you plan your route based on your ability, available time and interest. 

Happy trails!

General Hiking

Mono Lake Ranger District

• Black Point Fissures Trailhead
• June Lake Loop
• Bloody Canyon Trail
• Fern / Yost Lake Trail
• Glass Creek Meadow Trailhead
• Parker Lake Trail
• Rush Creek Trail
• Gardisky Lake Trail
• Gibbs Lake Trail
• Glacier Canyon
• Lake Canyon Trail
• Lundy Canyon Trail
• Saddlebag Lake Trail
• Warren Fork Trail
• Nunatak Tioga Tarns Trailhead
• Panum Crater Trailhead

Mammoth Ranger District

• Mammoth Lakes Area
• Deer Lake Trail
• Duck Pass Trail
• Laurel Lakes Trail
• Mammoth Pass - Red Cones
• Mammoth Pass Trailhead
• Sherwin Lakes Trail
• Valentine Lake Trail
• Beck Lake Trail
• Fern Lake Trail
• Fish Creek Trail
• High Trail
• John Muir Trail - North of Devils Postpile
• John Muir Trail - South of Devils Postpile
• Minaret Lake Trail
• River Trail
• Shadow Creek Trail
• Long Valley Caldera
• Hot Creek Geologic Site
• Inyo Craters
• Inyo Craters Trailhead
• Convict Lake
• Convict Lake Day Use Picnic Area- East Shore Trail
• Mammoth Mountain Bottomless Pit Trail
• Mammoth Rock Trailhead
• Panorama Dome Trailhead
• T.J. Lake Trailhead
• Agnew Meadow Wildflower Trailhead
• Rainbow Falls Trailhead
• Shadow Creek Trail
• Sotcher Lake Trailhead

White Mountain Ranger District

• Big Pine Area
• Baker Lakes Trail
• Big Pine Creek North Fork Trail
• Big Pine Creek South Fork Trail
• Birch Lake Trail
• Red Lake Trail
• Taboose Pass Trail
• Bishop Pass Trail - South Lake
• Gable Lakes Trail
• George Lake Trail
• Horton Lakes Trail
• Italy Pass Trail
• Lamarck Lakes Trail
• Pine Creek Pass Trail
• Piute Pass Trail - North Lake
• Sabrina Lake Trail
• Treasure Lakes Trail
• Tyee Lakes Trail
• Upper Buttermilk Trail
• Hilton Creek Trail
• Little Lakes Valley Trail
• McGee Pass Trail
• Mono Pass Trail
• Tamarack Lakes Trail
• White Mountains
• Boundary Peak Trailhead
• Queen Canyon
• Trail Canyon
• Upper Rock Creek Canyon Trail
• Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
• Patriarch Grove Trailhead
• Schulman Grove
• White Mt. Peak / Barcroft Trailhead

Mt. Whitney Ranger District

• Cottonwood Lakes Trail
• Cottonwood Pass Trail
• Trail Pass
• Baxter Pass Trail
• Sawmill Pass Trail
• Shepherd Pass Stock Trail
• Shepherd Pass Trail
• Blackrock Trail
• Haiwee Pass Trail
• Kennedy Meadows - Pacific Crest Trail
• Olancha Pass Trail
• Wildrose Trail
• Onion Valley Area
• Golden Trout Lakes Trail
• Kearsarge Pass Trail
• Robinson Lake Trail
• Whitney Portal Area
• Meysan Lakes Trail
• Mt. Whitney Trail
• North Fork Lone Pine Creek Trail
• Tuttle Creek Trail
• Whitney Portal National Recreation Trail

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Showing: 111 - 120 of 132 results

T.J. Lake Trailhead

Site Open

See three lakes in one short walk. Abundant wildflowers can be found at the upper end of T.J. Lake. The trailhead is near the campground at Lake George. T.J. Lake is named for Tom Jones, one of the…

Taboose Pass Trail

Experience many biologic zones as this strenuous trail begins from the black lava rocks and sage of the Owens Valley floor then climbs more than 6,000 feet following the canyon of Taboose Creek…

Tamarack Lakes Trail

Starting from Rock Creek Lake Campground, the Tamarack Lake trail climbs up the ridge east of the lake and connects to Sand Canyon Road along the shoulder of the Wheeler Crest. This section of trail…

Tioga Lake Overlook Info Site

Site Open

This roadside overlook is near the top of 120 aproximatly 1 mile east of Yosemite's Tioga Pass east entrance. With great views of this glacier carved valley, the overlook has scenic views of…

Trail Canyon

Trail Canyon Trail provides access to Boundary Peak, the highest point in Nevada at 13,140 feet. From the summit, the view takes in the Mono Lake basin to the north, the Sierra Nevada Mountains to…

Trail Pass

"Trail Pass" provides access to the northeastern portion of Golden Trout Wilderness. Small streams meander through tree-rimmed meadows in this wilderness area, which is named for California's state…

Treasure Lakes Trail

Starting at South Lake, the trail is combined with the Bishop Pass trail until the first trail junction. Treasure Lakes trail goes to a beautiful, less visited, granite basin surrounded by talus…

Tuttle Creek Trail

The Tuttle Creek Trail leads to an abandoned stone building known as "The Tuttle Creek Ashram" located at an altitude of 7,600 between two forks of Tuttle Creek in the John Muir Wilderness. Beyond…

Tyee Lakes Trail

Beginning near Willow Campground, the Tyee trail crosses the bridge over Bishop Creek. This steep trail with many switchbacks has great views of the Inconsolable Range and the peaks that surround…

Upper Buttermilk Trail

The trail is easier than the road, but the road is not easy. After bouncing over the rugged, high clearance dirt road beyond Bishop's Buttermilk Mountains, the Upper Buttermilk trail leads up to…