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 Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Agnew Meadows Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. closing 9/23.
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 Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. Closing 10/8.
Aspen Grove Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Big Bend Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. Closing 10/7.
Big Meadow Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Big Pine Canyon Group- Clyde & Palisade Glacier Closed to Visitor Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Big Pine Creek Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Big Springs Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Big Trees Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. Closing 10/15.
Bishop Park Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. Closing 10/15.
Bitterbrush Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. After 10/30 no water or trash service, no fee.
Cedar Flat Group Camps Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Coldwater Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. Closing 9/23.
Convict Lake Campground Open to Visitor
Cottonwood Lakes Walk in Campground Open to Visitor Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Cottonwood Pass Walk in Campground Open to Visitor Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Deadman Campground, Upper and Lower Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
East Fork Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. Closing 10/13.
Ellery Lake Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. Closing 10/7.
Forks Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Four Jeffrey Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
French Camp Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Glass Creek Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Grandview Campground Open to Visitor Open. No Water. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Gull Lake Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Hartley Springs Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Holiday Campground Closed to Visitor
Horseshoe Meadow Equestrian Camp Open to Visitor Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Intake 2 Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. Closing 10/15.
Iris Meadow Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Junction Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. Closing 10/7.
June Lake Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Lake George Campground Closed to Visitor Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Lake Mary Campground Closed to Visitor Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Lone Pine Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Lower Grays Meadow Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Lower Lee Vining Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
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.
McGee Creek Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Minaret Falls Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. closing 9/23.
Mono Lake Ranger District    Mono Basin Visitor Center is open daily 8:00 to 5:00.Roads may close during winter storms, check for highway closures.
Moraine Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Mosquito Flat Backpacker Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Mountain Glen Campground Closed to Visitor Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Mt. Whitney Ranger District    Onion Valley Road is open.Horseshoe Meadows Road is open, Whitney Portal Road is open.
Mt. Whitney Trailhead Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
New Shady Rest Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
North Lake Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. Closing 10/9.
Obsidian Flat Group Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Oh! Ridge Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Old Shady Rest Campground Closed to Visitor Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Onion Valley Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Palisade Group Camp Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. Closing 10/7.
Pine City Campground Closed to Visitor Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Pine Glen Group Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. closing 9/23.
Pine Grove Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. Closing 10/13.
Pumice Flat Campground Closed to Visitor Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Pumice Flat Group Campground Closed to Visitor Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Reds Meadow Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. Closing 10/7.
Reversed Creek Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Rock Creek Lake Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. Closing 10/5.
Sabrina Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. Closing 10/9.
Saddlebag Lake Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. Closing 10/7.
Sage Flat Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Sawmill Walk-in Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. Closing 10/7.
Sherwin Creek Campground Closed to Visitor Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Silver Lake Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Table Mountain Group Campground Closed to Visitor Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Tioga Lake Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings. Closing 10/7.
Tuff Campground Open to Visitor
Twin Lakes Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Upper Grays Meadow Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Upper Sage Campground Closed to Visitor Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Upper Soda Springs Campground Closed to Visitor Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
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 Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.
Willow Campground Open to Visitor Open. Campfires only in the provided campfire rings.

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

Mono Basin Summer Activities 2018

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”.