Inyo National Forest
 

Recreation

Responsible recreation practices should be maintained at all times, including:

  • Follow CDC guidance before and during your visit to the forest.
  • Properly dispose of your trash or pack it out.

Fire Restrictions: Inyo National Forest and Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office Enter Fire Restrictions May 24, 2021

 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 wilderness trails for hiking and equestrian adventures. OHV enthusiasts have access to over 2,200 miles of routes.

Plan Ahead:
Backroad Tours in the Eastern Sierra:Inyo County
Wilderness Permits
Campground Reservations

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
Agnew Meadows Campground Closed to Visitor Closed
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Open to Visitor No camping or overnight parking.
No water. No cell phone service.
Click for weather forecast
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center    The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center is open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Thursday thru Sunday. No water
Aspen Campground Open to Visitor Open, fires only in provided campfire ring.
Aspen Group Campground Open to Visitor ...
Big Bend Campground Open to Visitor ...
Big Meadow Campground Open to Visitor ...
Big Pine Canyon Group- Clyde & Palisade Glacier Open to Visitor
Big Pine Creek Campground Open to Visitor fires only in provided campfire ring.
Big Springs Campground Open to Visitor ...
Big Trees Campground Open to Visitor fires only in provided campfire ring.
Bishop Park Campground Open to Visitor fires only in provided campfire ring.
Bitterbrush Campground Open to Visitor fires only in provided campfire ring.
Cedar Flat Group Camps Open to Visitor fires only in provided campfire ring.
Coldwater Campground Open to Visitor ...
Convict Lake Campground Open to Visitor Open, fires only in provided campfire ring.
Cottonwood Lakes Walk in Campground Open to Visitor No Water
Cottonwood Pass Walk in Campground Open to Visitor No Water
Deadman Campground, Upper and Lower Open to Visitor ...
East Fork Campground Open to Visitor ...
Eastern Sierra Visitor Center    The Eastern Sierra Visitor Center in Lone Pine is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily 760-876-6200
Ellery Lake Campground Open to Visitor ...
Forks Campground Open to Visitor fires only in provided campfire ring.
Four Jeffrey Campground Open to Visitor fires only in provided campfire ring.
French Camp Campground Open to Visitor ...
Glass Creek Campground Open to Visitor ...
Grandview Campground Open to Visitor no water, fires only in provided campfire ring.
Gull Lake Campground Open to Visitor Open, fires only in provided campfire ring.
Hartley Springs Campground Open to Visitor ...
Holiday Campground Open to Visitor …
Horseshoe Meadow Equestrian Camp Open to Visitor No Water, horse stalls being installed this week (May 12)
Intake 2 Campground Open to Visitor fires only in provided campfire ring.
Iris Meadow Campground Open to Visitor ...
Junction Campground Open to Visitor ...
June Lake Campground Open to Visitor Open, fires only in provided campfire ring.
Lake George Campground Open to Visitor ...
Lake Mary Campground Open to Visitor ...
Lone Pine Campground Open to Visitor Open, fires only in provided campfire ring.
Lower Grays Meadow Campground Open to Visitor
Lower Lee Vining Campground Open to Visitor Open, fires only in provided campfire ring.
Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center    The Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association is operating their bookstore at the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center, Thursday through Monday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Mammoth Ranger District    ...
McGee Creek Campground Open to Visitor fires only in provided campfire ring.
Minaret Falls Campground Closed to Visitor Closed
Monache Meadows Jeep Road Open to Visitor ...
Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area Visitor Cen    The Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association is operating their bookstore at the Mono Basin Visitor Center in Lee Vining, Thursday through Monday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Mono Lake Ranger District    Roads open: Tioga Pass, Lundy Canyon, Highway 120 East (Benton Crossing), June Lake Loop, Bodie Road
Moraine Campground Open to Visitor ...
Mosquito Flat Backpacker Campground Open to Visitor ...
Mountain Glen Campground Open to Visitor ...
Mt. Whitney Ranger District    Roads open: Whitney Portal, Horseshoe Meadow, Onion Valley, Foothill Road, Division Creek.
Mt. Whitney Trail Open to Visitor Check the weather, storms may include lightning,wind, rain, hail, or sleet. Weather forecast: http:www.weather.gov 12.000ft elevation.
Mt. Whitney Trailhead Campground    Some sites closed due to rockfall.
New Shady Rest Campground Open to Visitor ...
North Lake Campground Open to Visitor ...
Obsidian Flat Group Campground Closed to Visitor Closed
Oh! Ridge Campground Open to Visitor Open, fires only in provided campfire ring.
Old Shady Rest Campground Open to Visitor ...
Onion Valley Campground Open to Visitor ...
Palisade Group Camp Open to Visitor ...
Pine City Campground Open to Visitor ...
Pine Glen Group Campground Open to Visitor ...
Pine Grove Campground Open to Visitor ...
Pumice Flat Campground Closed to Visitor Closed
Pumice Flat Group Campground Closed to Visitor Closed
Red Lake Trail Open to Visitor Expect hazards from high severity fire.
Reds Meadow Campground Closed to Visitor Closed
Reds Meadow Road Closed to Visitor Closed
Reversed Creek Campground Open to Visitor ...
Rock Creek Lake Campground Open to Visitor ...
Sabrina Campground Open to Visitor no water
Saddlebag Lake Campground Closed to Visitor Closed
Sage Flat Campground Open to Visitor fires only in provided campfire ring.
Sawmill Walk-in Campground Closed to Visitor Closed
Sherwin Creek Campground Open to Visitor ...
Silver Lake Campground Open to Visitor Open, fires only in provided campfire ring.
Table Mountain Group Campground Open to Visitor ...
Taboose Pass Trail Open to Visitor Expect hazards from high severity fire.
Tioga Lake Campground Open to Visitor ...
Tuff Campground Open to Visitor fires only in provided campfire ring.
Twin Lakes Campground Open to Visitor ...
Upper Grays Meadow Campground Open to Visitor ...
Upper Sage Campground Open to Visitor fires only in provided campfire ring.
Upper Soda Springs Campground Closed to Visitor Closed
White Mountain Public Lands Information Center Closed to Visitor Closed
White Mountain Ranger District    Roads open: Rock Creek Road, McGee Creek, Sabrina Lake, South Lake, North Lake, Glacier Lodge Rd.(Big Pine Creek), White Mountain Rd to Patriarch Grove and White Mountain Peak Trailhead.
White Mountain Ranger Station Closed.
Whitney Portal Campground Open to Visitor ...
Willow Campground Open to Visitor ...

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.

More Information 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.

More Information 

 

White Mountain Ranger District

Coyote Flat

White Mountain Ranger District extends from the crest of the Sierra Nevada to the White Mountains.  There are lakes, ponds, rivers and creeks for fishing. Roads and trails explore a 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 end of Rock Creek Road.

More Information 

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.  While known for winter sports, it is also a mecca for mountain biking and fishing enthusiasts when the snow melts. Hiking and equestrian trails go into wilderness areas of Sierra Nevada.

More Information

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”.


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