>>> >>> Inyo National Forest >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Visitor Guide >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> $1.00 Suggested Donation FRED RICHTER Inspiring Destinations © Inyo National Forest Facts “Inyo” is a Paiute xtending 165 miles Bound ary Peak, South Si er ra, lakes and 1,100 miles of streams Indian word meaning along the California/ White Mountain, and Owens River that provide habitat for golden, ENevada border between Headwaters wildernesses. Devils brook, brown and rainbow trout. “Dwelling Place of Los Angeles and Reno, the Inyo Postpile Nation al Mon ument, Mam moth Mountain Ski Area National Forest, established May ad min is tered by the National Park becomes a sum mer destination for the Great Spirit.” 25, 1907, in cludes over two million Ser vice, is also located within the mountain bike en thu si asts as they acres of pris tine lakes, fragile Inyo Na tion al For est in the Reds ride the chal leng ing Ka mi ka ze Contents Trail from the top of the 11,053-foot mead ows, wind ing streams, rugged Mead ow area west of Mam moth Wildlife 2 Sierra Ne va da peaks and arid Great Lakes. In addition, the Inyo is home high Mam moth Moun tain or one of Basin moun tains. El e va tions range to the tallest peak in the low er 48 the many other trails that transect Wildflowers 3 from 3,900 to 14,494 feet, pro vid­ states, Mt. Whitney (14,494 feet) the front coun try of the forest. Wilderness 4-5 ing diverse habitats that sup port and is adjacent to the lowest point Sixty-five trailheads provide Regional Map - North 6 vegetation patterns ranging from in North America at Badwater in ac cess to over 1,200 miles of trail Mono Lake 7 semiarid deserts to high al pine Death Val ley Nation al Park (282 in the 1.2 million acres of wil der- meadows. feet below sea level). ness backcountry for hikers seeking Lee Vining and Tioga Pass 8 There are many specially­ to escape into prim i tive and pris tine June Lake Loop 9 classified areas within the Inyo ar eas. There are 32 in ter pre tive Mammoth Lakes 10-11 National Forest, including the Mono Summer sites of his tor i cal or nat u ral history Reds Meadow/ Basin National Forest Scenic Area, The Inyo National Forest provides a interest. More than one hun dred Devils Postpile 12-13 seven Natural Research Areas, variety of year­round recreational camp grounds and picnic areas three wild and scenic rivers and the opportunities for more than four pro vide more than 2,200 fam i ly Eastern Sierra Geology 14-15 Ancient Bris tle cone Pine Forest. million visitors each year. Camping camp sites, 78 group camp sites and Mammoth Lakes Map 16 There are nine congressionally­ 30 picnic sites. Many resort fa cil i- and fishing at tract thousands of Rock Creek 17 des ig nat ed wil derness areas: the visitors during the summer months. ties and pack sta tions operate under Hoover, Ansel Adams, John Muir, Be gin ner to expert anglers can try special use per mits from Bishop Area 18 Gold en Trout, Inyo Moun tains, their luck fishing at more than 400 the Forest to serve additional Big Pine Creek 19 vis i tor needs. Off-highway White Mountains, connoisseurs can enjoy over 2,200 Ancient Bristlecone miles of motorized routes. Pine Forest 20 Independence 21 Lone Pine / Mt. Whitney 22-23 Winter The fun doesn’t stop when win ter Fishing / Pack Trips 24 arrives. Mam moth Moun tain and Campgrounds 25 June Moun tain ski areas provide a RV Dump Stations/ to tal of 34 lifts, including two Showers for Campers 26 aeri al gon do las, and many miles Mountain Biking and 27 of groomed trails for be gin ner to OHV / Tread Lightly expert skiers and snowboarders. Visitor Centers 28 Cross country ski areas of fer over 40 ki lo me ters of groomed ski trails and skat ing tracks. Try the Service maintains over 100 miles ungroomed blue diamond trails of groomed trails leading to to re al ly get away from it all. thousands of acres of un­groomed snowmobile play areas. Mammoth Lakes Basin For snowmobilers, the Forest © LAURA PATTERSON 1 >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Wildlife >>> >>> Wildflowers >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> take a long time, but the goal is to >>> “teach” bears that humans are not hat’s really great about desert scrub, sagebrush scrub, ne of the exciting things an op por tu ni ty for a free and easy wildflower viewing on pinyon woodlands, forests of Jeffrey about visiting your lunch, and that they should stick the Inyo National pine, lodgepole pine, or fir trees, O Na tion al Forests is with the natural forage of ber ries, W Forest, besides the beautiful blooms, high elevation woodlands with the op por tu ni ty to view wildlife roots and plants. on a different and some times remarkable diversity, and relatively whitebark pine or bristlecone pine, personal lev el. These animals are Coyotes untouched wildflower-dotted land­ alpine vegetation dominated by low not in the zoo behind bars, so there Coyotes are cunning adaptors and scapes? It’s the fact that no matter growing cushion plants, and varied are a few simple things that you can thrive in a variety of locations what time of the spring or summer types of riparian habitats, such as need to remember to keep your­ in the Eastern Sierra – mostly at season you visit, there will always meadows, cottonwood forests, and self, your property and the an i mals night. Don’t let “Fluffy” or “Spot” be something to see. Flowers begin stands of willows or the copper safe while you enjoy watching take a walk alone – always keep to bloom at the lower elevations and colored water birch. Each of these these critters in their nat u ral hab­ pets on a leash. These evening southern part of the Forest as early habitats supports a unique collec­ i tat. Remember is that all animals prowlers won’t usually bother you as April, and continue on all the tion of wildflowers. Some wildflow­ if you don’t bother them. way into August, when flowers are er species may occur in a number of in the wild are just that – WILD. Black bear Though some animals may appear © iSTOCK still lingering in the high mountain habitats, while others may be more meadows. One merely has to find choosy, found only in a few loca­ friendly and tame, all wildlife can list on page 5.) not provide them with enough of be un pre dict able and even the cut­ the elevations that are ripe at the tions where the conditions are just Bear­proof food lockers in the right nutrients to sustain them time, and nature will deliver the right. est little squirrel can bite you. Some campgrounds are normally 48 through win ter. In their search for animals may car ry disease such as show. So, pick up a copy of one or inches wide, 29 inches deep and 38 food, bears can become ag gres sive Due in part to the range of more of the helpful local field the plague, rabies, or lyme disease. inches high (24 cubic feet) – large to wards people. Even tu al ly, the NEV ER feed an i mals! It’s not good elevations found on the Inyo Na­ guides, slow down to a walking – enough to store coolers. “prob lem” bear may have to be tional Forest, there are a wide vari­ or crawling! – pace, and see what for them and can put you in harm’s In many areas, storing food in de stroyed. Spotted mountain bells © KATHLEEN NELSON ety of habitats to explore: you can find! way. cars is illegal, and this method Mountain lion © iSTOCK Black Bears should only be used as a last resort Keep Wildlife Wild Of all the forest animals you are in areas that it is allowed. The Is it the bear that’s the prob lem or Mountain Lions Mountain lions, or cougars, roam likely to see while camping, the preferred method of storing food the people that have been feeding throughout the Sierra Nevada black bear is prob a bly the most is to use the food lockers provided it? For tu nate ly, there are solutions. moun tain range. They are a shy and exciting. Black bears can be brown, in campgrounds and at trailheads, The Inyo Na tion al Forest has retro­ secretive animal and your chances blonde, cin na mon or black. Bears or to plan so that no food is left in fitted trash dumpsters to make of en coun ter ing a moun tain lion are are om ni vores (they eat everything), your car. them bear­re sis tant, and all camp­ small. It is wise to be prepared – in but their diet is 80 to 90 per cent Bears won’t usually bother you grounds now have bear­resistant Cal i for nia there have been instanc­ vegetation. Bears consider odorous while you are eating or cook ing, dumpsters. Bear­proof food stor age es of cougars at tack ing humans. products to be food (like tooth paste but always clean up your camp lock ers have been in stalled in most Hu mans can be either the predator and sunscreen), and they can rec­ of food and trash prompt ly after camp grounds. Where lockers are or the prey of cougars. Keep these og nize food and food con tain ers meals.