Inyo National Forest Visitor Guide $1.00 Suggested Donation Joel Sladky © Inspiring Destinations Mt. Whitney. Welcome to the Inyo National Forest The Inyo National Forest is a Golden Trout, Inyo Mountains, and fishing attract thousands of “Inyo” is a Paiute land of superlatives: the oldest Boundary Peak, South Sierra, visitors during the summer months. trees, the tallest mountains in White Mountain, and Owens River Beginner to expert anglers can try Indian word meaning California, among the oldest Headwaters wildernesses. their luck fishing at more than 400 inland lake (Mono Lake), desert, lakes and 1,100 miles of streams “Dwelling Place of glaciers, and the dramatic Eastern Devils Postpile National that provide habitat for golden, Sierra escarpment. Get ready for a Monument, administered by the brook, brown and rainbow trout. memorable visit. National Park Service, is located a Great Spirit.” within the Inyo National Forest Mountain bike enthusiasts can ride Extending 165 miles along the in the Reds Meadow area west California/Nevada border between the challenging Kamikaze Trail of Mammoth Lakes. In addition, from the top Mammoth Mountain Contents Los Angeles and Reno, the Inyo the Inyo shares the tallest peak in or one of many other trails that National Forest, established May the lower 48 states, Mt. Whitney Wildlife 2 transect the front country of the 25, 1907, includes over two (14,494 feet) with Sequoia forest. Sixty-five trailheads provide Wilderness 3 million acres of pristine lakes, National Park. winding streams, rugged Sierra access to over 1,200 miles of Regional Map - North 4 Nevada peaks and arid Great trail in the 1.2 million acres of Spring/Summer Basin mountains. wilderness for hikers seeking to The wildflowers start to bloom Mono Lake, June Lake 5 escape into pristine areas. in the desert and continue El e va tions range from 3,900 to Mammoth Lakes, Rock Creek 6 throughout the summer months, 14,494 feet, providing diverse Many resort facilities and pack slowly marching up the Sierra Mammoth Lakes Map 7 habitats that sup port vegetation stations operate under special patterns ranging from semiarid Nevada slopes. use permits from the forest to Reds Meadow/ deserts to high alpine meadows. serve additional visitor needs. The Inyo National Forest provides Devils Postpile 8 Off-highway connoisseurs There are nine congressionally a variety of year-round recreational can enjoy over 2,200 miles of Bishop, Big Pine Creek 9 designated wilderness areas: the opportunities for more than four motorized routes. Hoover, Ansel Adams, John Muir, million visitors each year. Camping White Mountains, Ancient Bristlecone Fall Pine Forest 10 The Eastern Sierra is aglow with golden aspen in the fall Independence 11 and many people seek out their favorite drainage for leaf peeping. Lone Pine / Mt. Whitney 12 Climbing and bouldering in the Recreation 13 Buttermilks picks up as the cooler temperatures return. Camping 14 Winter Mountain Biking and 15 The fun continues as the OHV / Tread Lightly temperature drops and the snowfalls, when you can explore Visitor Centers 16 the Inyo on snowshoes, skis, snowboards, and snowmobiles. This includes two ski areas, 25 miles of groomed Nordic ski trails, and 100 miles of groomed snowmobile trails. White Mountain, the third tallest mountain in California at 14, 246 ft. 1 Wildlife One of the exciting things about Black Bears visiting your national forests is the Of all the animals you are likely opportunity to see wildlife. These to see while camping, the black animals are wild, so there are a bear is probably the most exciting. few simple things that you need to Black bears can be brown, blonde, remember to keep yourself, your cinnamon or black. Bears are property and the animals safe while omnivores (they eat everything), you enjoy watching these critters but their diet is 80 to 90 percent in their natural habitat. vegetation. Bears consider odorous products to be food (like toothpaste Though some animals may appear and sunscreen), and they can friendly and tame, wildlife are recognize food and food containers unpredictable and even the cutest by sight and smell. Bears will visit little squirrel can bite you. Some your campsite if you don’t take animals may carry disease such the precaution of storing your food as the plague, rabies, or Lyme properly. If you are more than an arm’s length away from your food, disease. NEVER feed animals! It’s American black bear store it in bear-resistant canisters. not good for them and can put you in harm’s way. WILDLIFE VIEWING TIPS Bear and animal resistant food In addition to bears, mountain lions and coyotes, there are lots of lockers in campgrounds are deer, squirrels and birds to watch and enjoy. The following tips will normally 48 inches wide, 29 help you get to know na ture from a new perspec tive: inches deep and 38 inches high (24 cubic feet) – large enough to Bring along binoculars and cameras with zoom lenses so you can store coolers. get a close look at wildlife without disturbing them. Take along a good field guide so you can identify any The preferred method of storing food is to use the food lockers unfamiliar wildlife. provided in campgrounds and at At sunrise and sunset check the edges of habitats for the best trailheads, or to plan so that no Mountain lion views of wildlife. food is left in your car. Mountain Lions Avoid disturbing nests and wildlife with their young to encourage Bears won’t usually bother you Mountain lions, or cougars, roam their return in the future. while you are eating or cooking, but always clean up your camp throughout the Sierra Nevada Enjoy the quiet. Tread softly to avoid scaring off wildlife. Observe mountain range. They are a shy and of food and trash promptly after wildlife behaving naturally. meals. Tents are not smell-proof or secretive animal and your chances bear-proof, therefore you shouldn’t of encountering a mountain lion are Try a new perspective – bring a magnifying glass for a macro-view store food or anything with a small. It is wise to be prepared – in of micro-insects. fragrance inside them. California there have been instances Try your hand at tracking, or look for other signs of wildlife – like of mountain lions attacking humans. fur rubbed against a tree trunk, scat, or where beavers have When backpacking, food storage Humans can be either the predator been busy. containers such as canisters are the or the prey of cougars. Keep these best method to protect your food tips in mind: and the bears. DO NOT FEED BEARS OR ANY WILDLIFE! Do not Run! Mountain lions associate running with prey. PROPER WILDERNESS FOOD STORAGE • The use of bear-resistant food containers is mandatory Do not crouch down. in most Sierra Nevada wilderness areas from May 25 to Try to appear as large as possible. Act aggressive, wave your hands, October 31. shout, and throw sticks or stones at it. • You can be cited for improperly stored food. Hold your ground – • The counterbalance method of food storage is not or move away slowly while facing the lion. recommended; it is only a delay tactic. Bear-resistant containers are the best method available for protection of If attacked – fight back! Protect children. food and wildlife. If small children (or pets) are with you, pick them up. • Bear-resistant containers care available to rent at the visitors centers (except the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Report sightings. Forest Visitor Center) or for purchase or rental from Report any moun tain lion sightings or encounters in detail to a ranger station or visitor center as soon as possible. various businesses throughout the Eastern Sierra. 2 Wilderness Wilderness is a place where “... that limits the number of people in contrast with those areas where allowed to enter the wilderness each man and his works dominate the day from May 1 to November 1. landscape, an area where the earth In the Golden Trout Wilderness, a and its community of life are quota applies from the last Friday in untrammeled by man, where man June through September 15. himself is a visitor who does not remain.” (1964 Wilderness Act). Reservations John Muir said, “Thousands of Wilderness permits can be reserved tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized up to six months in advance at: people are beginning to find out www.Recreation.gov. Reserved that going to the mountains is going permits are picked up at any Inyo National Forest Visitor Center. Mt. home; that wildness is a necessity; Thousand Island Lake and Banner Peak and that mountain parks and Whitney permits must be picked for backpacking multiple nights on reservations are useful not only as up at the Eastern Sierra Visitor Mt. Whitney Trail or to begin trips WILDERNESS CONTACTS fountains of timber and irrigating Center in Lone Pine. Reservations on the John Muir Trail. rivers, but as fountains of life.” that are not picked up before the Wilderness information confirmation deadline will be Trips to Mt. Whitney have a specific and reservation service cancelled. Be sure to review permit quota and lottery application is available 7 days Wilderness Permits and reservation guidelines carefully. process. Applications to the Mt. Wilderness Permits are utilized to Whitney lottery are accepted from a week from May 15 minimize the impacts to an area February 1 to March 15. Results are to October 15 and Mt. Whitney Reservations and maximize the experience of announced the last week of March. Monday thru Friday the those visiting. They are required The two most popular permits Starting on April 1, reservations remainder of the year, for Mt.