Inyo National Forest
 

Recreation

 Summer

Moonlight FallsIn summer, anglers can try their luck at countless lakes and streams. Mammoth Mountain becomes a mecca for mountain biking. Over 1,200 miles of hiking and equestrian trails provide access to vast areas of wilderness. OHV enthusiasts have access to over 2,200 miles of routes.

Plan Ahead: Campground Information
Backroad Tours in the Eastern Sierra:Inyo County

Hiker Shuttle Services

 

Winter

Mammoth Ski AreaThe fun doesn’t stop when winter arrives. The forest is home to one of the largest ski resorts in the country.

For Nordic skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilers, there are over 100 miles of groomed trails. To really get away from it all, there are miles of ungroomed routes, and thousands of acres of backcountry to explore.

Plan Ahead:  Eastern Sierra Winter Recreation Map
 Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center

Recreation Conditions Report

 Area Name Status Area Conditions
Aerie Crag Rv Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Agnew Meadows Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest    Road is not maintained in the winter.
No camping or overnight parking.
No water. No cell phone service.
Click for weather forecast 
Visitor center is open daily 10AM-5PM.  
Aspen Group Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Aspen Grove Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Big Bend Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Big Meadow Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Big Pine Canyon Group- Clyde & Palisade Glacier Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Big Pine Creek Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Big Springs Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Big Trees Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Bishop Park Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Bitterbrush Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. No water or trash service, no fee.
Cedar Flat Group Camps Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Coldwater Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Convict Lake Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Cottonwood Lakes Walk in Campground Open to Visitor
Cottonwood Pass Walk in Campground Open to Visitor
Deadman Campground, Upper and Lower Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
East Fork Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Ellery Lake Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Forks Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Four Jeffrey Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
French Camp Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Glass Creek Campground Open to Visitor Closing 11/30.
Grandview Campground Open to Visitor Open. No Water. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Gull Lake Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter. .
Hartley Springs Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Holiday Campground Open to Visitor Open, no water or trash service.
Horseshoe Meadow Equestrian Camp Open to Visitor
Intake 2 Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Iris Meadow Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Junction Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
June Lake Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Lake George Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Lake Mary Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Lone Pine Campground Open to Visitor Open. no water or trash service. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Lower Grays Meadow Campground Open to Visitor Open. No water or trash service. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Lower Lee Vining Campground Open to Visitor Closing 11/30.
Mammoth Ranger District    Lakes Basin Road and Old Mammoth Road to Lakes Basin Road are open, Reds Meadow Road is open, will close for the winter October 9th no overnight parking starting 10/7.
McGee Creek Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Minaret Falls Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Mono Lake Ranger District    Mono Basin Visitor Center is closed for the winter. Roads may close during winter storms, check for highway closures.
Moraine Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Mosquito Flat Backpacker Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Mountain Glen Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Mt. Whitney Ranger District    Onion Valley Road is open.Horseshoe Meadows Road is open, Whitney Portal Road is open.
Mt. Whitney Trailhead Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
New Shady Rest Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. Closing 11/4.
North Lake Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Obsidian Flat Group Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Oh! Ridge Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Old Shady Rest Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Onion Valley Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Palisade Group Camp Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Pine City Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Pine Glen Group Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Pine Grove Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Pumice Flat Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Pumice Flat Group Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Reds Meadow Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Reversed Creek Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Rock Creek Lake Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Sabrina Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Saddlebag Lake Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Sage Flat Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Sawmill Walk-in Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Sherwin Creek Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Silver Lake Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Table Mountain Group Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Tioga Lake Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Tuff Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Twin Lakes Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Upper Grays Meadow Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Upper Sage Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Upper Soda Springs Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
White Mountain Ranger District    Rock Creek Road is open to Mosquito Flat, N.F. Bishop Creek is open, S.F. is open to South Lake.
Whitney Portal Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.
Willow Campground Closed to Visitor Closed for the winter.

Spotlights

Mt. Whitney Ranger District

Mount Whitney Zone

The Mt. Whitney Ranger District is the southernmost district in the Inyo National Forest. On its western edge is Mt. Whitney, highest point in the contiguous United States. The district extends from the crest of the Sierra Nevada to the Inyo Mountains.  Recreation activities include hiking, fishing, climbing, horse riding, and more.

Current Conditions for Mt. Whitney Ranger District

Mono Lake Ranger District

Mono Lake from the West

Mono Lake Ranger District is the northernmost district of Inyo National Forest. The western portion of the district is adjacent to Yosemite National Park, and includes one of the most spectacular and accessible areas of the Sierra Nevada. To the east is Mono Lake, and the world's largest stand of majestic Jeffrey Pines.

Current Conditions for Mono Lake Ranger District

 

White Mountain Ranger District

Coyote Flat

White Mountain Ranger District extends from the Sierra Nevada to the White Mountains.  There are hundreds of lakes, ponds, rivers and creeks for fishing and many roads and trails to explore the wide variety of terrain and life zones.  Elevations accessible by car range from 3,900 ft in Big Pine to 10,100 ft at the Mosquito Flat trailhead at the end of Rock Creek Road.

Current Conditions for White Mountain Ranger District

Mammoth Ranger District

Convict Lake

Mammoth Lakes Ranger District is located in the northern half of Inyo National Forest, and is centered around the town of Mammoth Lakes, CA.  The area is most well known for winter sports. When the snow melts, it is a mecca for mountain biking and fishing enthusiasts. Hiking and equestrian trails access huge areas of Sierra Nevada wilderness.

Current Conditions for Mammoth Lakes Ranger District

Wilderness Areas

Inyo National Forest contains approximately one million acres of wilderness, in nine wilderness areas. Wilderness areas include the Hoover,  Ansel Adams, Owens River Headwaters, John Muir, Golden Trout, South Sierra, Boundary Peak, White Mountains and Inyo Mountains. Three of these were among the first wilderness areas designated by Congress in 1964.

Approximately 30 million people live within a few hours’ drive. Forest visitors may use a network of trails that extend from Inyo National Forest into adjacent wilderness areas of Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. The iconic John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails pass through these continuous wilderness areas and encompass some of the most spectacular landscapes in the United States and provide forest visitors with "outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation”.

Related Information

Alerts & Warnings

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Quick Links
Areas & Activities

Related Links

Highlights

  • Fee revenues make a diffrence
    Thank you. Your fees make a difference!

    National Forests in California are using recreation fee revenues to improve and enhance recreation opportunities. See how your fees have made a difference!
Food Storage Order Exhibit A

Inyo National Forest Wilderness Food Storage Requirements


USFS Emblem and Travel Management

OHV & Travel Management Information Link opens in a new window

 


https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/inyo/recreation