The Inyo National Forest has rescinded Forest Closure 05-04-51-20-17, effective immediately due to diminished fire risk from the SQF Complex (Castle Fire). This opens the Monache Meadows area.
As a reminder, the following closures are still in effect:
- Inyo National Forest within Madera County remains closed. The most common destinations are Reds Meadow Valley and the Devils Postpile National Monument. This area remains closed due to the Creek Fire to the west.
- Forest order 05-04-54-20-15 remains in effect and includes Navy Beach and the South Tufa Area.
- The Inyo portions of the South Sierra, Golden Trout, John Muir, Ansel Adams, Owens River Headwaters, and Hoover Wilderness Areas remain closed. This closure may be rescinded or extended as needed.
Wildernesses in the Inyo Mountains and the White Mountains, front country dispersed areas throughout the forest, developed sites, resorts, and recreation resident cabins are open.
Visitors to the Eastern Sierra should expect smoky conditions.
The Boundary of the Castle Fire Closure Area starts at the Black Rock Trailhead (36.17802, –
118.26760), then continues east along the Inyo and Sequoia National Forest boundary to its
intersection with the South Sierra Wilderness boundary (36.18110, -118.15632), then continues
north along the South Sierra Wilderness boundary through Anderson Point (36.20524, –
118.14580) to its intersection with Forest Trail No. 36E02 (36.22447, -118.13878), then
continues north/northwest along the South Sierra Wilderness boundary through Hessian Meadow
(36.23711, -118.16704) to its intersection with the Golden Trout Wilderness boundary
(36.26060, -118.16561), then continues west along the Golden Trout Wilderness boundary
through Brown Mountain (36.25904, -118.17993) to its intersection with the South Fork of the
Kern River (36.26436, -118.19904), then continues north/northeast along the South Fork of Kern
River to its intersection with Forest Trail Nos. 35E04 and 34E07 (36.36855, -118.28734),
then continues north along the Golden Trout Creek approximately 3 miles to its
intersection with Forest Trail Nos 34E08 and 34E07 (36.40837, -118.28342), then
continues north along Forest Trail No. 34E07 approximately 5 miles to its intersection
with Siberian Pass (36.46940, -118.27212), then continues southwest along the
Inyo/Sequoia Wilderness boundary to its intersection with the Kern River (36.34206, –
118.40509), then continues south/southeast along the Kern River to its intersection with
Ninemile Creek (36.22105, -118.3533), then continues east along the Inyo/Sequoia
National Forest boundary to its intersection with Manzanita Knob (36.20866, –
118.30815), then continues southeast along the Inyo and Sequoia National Forest boundary
back to the starting point.
Monache Meadows Wildlife Area is 248 acres within the Inyo National Forest. Monache Creek and the South Fork of Kern River cross this area. The river that transverses the meadow is home to some of the last remaining native populations of golden trout in the world. In addition, it includes suitable habitat for the Sierra Nevada fox, wolverine, and the spotted owl.