The Whitney Portal Road opened today. The State of the Inyo, current as of 06/18/20
Inyo National Forest – California – June 19, 2020 – For now, Mt. Whitney Permits continue to be cancelled out one week in advance of the hiking date at this time. A permit is required to hike to Mt. Whitney (day and overnight use).
Virtual wilderness permits for other trailheads are being issued at all visitor centers and through the Wilderness Permit Office, daily from 8:00am to 4:30 pm, 760-873-2483. Call volume has been significant, so if you have a permit later in the year, we advise waiting to call until your reservation gets closer.
Lastly, please check here for current conditions since there may additional update as conditions change: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/inyo/recreation
Have a great day!
As a reminder, the state’s shelter in place order and local counties’ public health guidance still advises local recreation and travel for only essential needs. “You can travel for urgent matters or if such travel is essential to your permitted work. Even though businesses around the state are opening up, avoid travelling long distances for vacations or pleasure as much as possible. This is to slow the spread of the coronavirus.” https://covid19.ca.gov/stay-home-except-for-essential-needs/
The State of the Inyo, current as of 06/18/20
Mono Lake Ranger District
Roads open: Monitor Pass (Hwy 89), Ebbetts Pass (Hwy 4), Sonora Pass (Hwy108), Bodie Rd. (Hwy 270), Lundy Lake Rd. Hwy 120 E (Benton), Hwy 158., Saddlebag Rd.
Campgrounds open: Lundy Canyon (county), Aerie Crag, Silver Lake, Reversed Creek, Gull Lake, June Lake, Oh Ridge.
Campgrounds opening June 19: Tioga Lake, Junction, Saddlebag Lake, Sawmill Walk-in, Ellery Lake, Big Bend.
Campgrounds closed: Saddlebag Lake Group. Aspen, Moraine, Lower Lee Vining , Hartley, Obsidian Flat Group, Glass Creek, Big Springs, Upper Deadman, Lower Deadman.
The Mono Basin Visitor Center is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone call daily, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, 760-647-3040 or 760- 647-3044.
Mammoth Ranger District
Roads closed: Reds Meadow Rd. at Minaret Vista (estimated opening June 26), Lake Mary Rd. at Tamarack Ski Area, Old Mammoth Rd. to Lake Mary Rd (upper gate).
Roads open: Mammoth Scenic Loop.
Campgrounds Open: Brown’s Owens River (private). Mammoth Mtn. RV Park.: Old Shady Rest, New Shady Rest, Pine Glen Family, Sherwin Creek, Crowley (BLM) .
Campgrounds closed: Upper Soda Springs, Pumice Flat, Pumice Flat Group, Reds Meadow, Agnew Meadows Horse, Agnew Meadows Group, Agnew Meadows Family, Minaret Falls, Twin Lakes, Lake Mary, Lake George, Pine City, Coldwater, Pine Glen Group,
The Mammoth Welcome Center is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone call daily, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, 760-924-5500.
The Devils Postpile Ranger Station is closed.
White Mountain Ranger District
Roads open: McGee Creek Rd., Rock Creek Road, Buttermilk Rd., Hwy 168, North Lake Rd., South Lake Rd. (construction underway, M – F, 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, expect up to 30 minute delays), White Mountain Rd. Silver Canyon Rd. (4×4-high clearance expect winter damage), Wyman Canyon Rd. (4×4-high clearance, snow), Big Pine Canyon.
Campgrounds Open: Horton (BLM), Goodale (BLM).Convict Lake, McGee Creek, East Fork, French Camp, Pleasant Valley (County), North Lake, Bitterbrush, Big Trees, Sabrina, Baker Creek (County), Big Pine Creek, Taboose Creek (County), Tinnemaha Creek (County).
Campgrounds opening June 19: Tuff, Rock Creek, Iris Meadow, Big Meadow, Mosquito Flat Backpacker, Pine Grove, Upper Pine Grove, Four Jeffrey (no water), Sage Flat.
Campgrounds closed: Holiday, Aspen Group, Palisade Group, Rock Creek Group, Pleasant Valley Pit (BLM), Forks, Intake 2, Bishop Park, Table Mountain Group, Mountain Glen, Bishop Park Group, Willow, Grandview, Cedar Flat Group, Upper Sage Flat, Clyde Glacier Group, Palisade Glacier Group.
The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center is closed.
The White Mountain Ranger Station Visitor Center is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone call Thursday- Monday (Closed Tuesday/Wednesday), 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, last call at 4:45pm, 760-873-2500 , 760-873-2501. 760-873-2503.
Mt Whitney Ranger District
Roads closed: . Horseshoe Meadow Rd at the Forest Service boundary.
Road opening June19: Whitney Portal Rd.
Roads open: Onion Valley, Foothill Road, Division Creek, Horseshoe Meadow to the Forest Service boundary.
Campgrounds open: Upper and Lower Grays Meadow, Onion Valley, Tuttle Creek (BLM), Lone Pine, Boulder Creek RV Resort (private). Independence Creek (county), Portuguese Joe (county), Diaz Lake (County).
Campgrounds opening June 19: Whitney Portal , Whitney Portal Trailhead
Campgrounds closed: Whitney Portal Group, Cottonwood Lakes, Cottonwood Pass, Horseshoe Meadows Equestrian. Kennedy Meadows.
The Eastern Sierra Visitor Center in Lone Pine is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone call daily , 8:00 am to 5:00 pm last call at 4:45 pm, 760-876-6200. 760-876-6222.
Virtual wilderness permits are being issued at all visitor centers and through the Wilderness Permit Office, daily from 8:00am to 4:30 pm, 760-873-2483. Call volume has been significant, so if you have a permit later in the year, we advise waiting to call until your reservation gets closer.
Mt. Whitney Permits continue to be cancelled out one week in advance of the hiking date at this time.
The Inyo National Forest and Bishop BLM Field Office are in Fire Restrictions
