Inyo National Forest

Recreation Report
Last Update: November 29, 2006

Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center
2510 Hwy 203, P.O. Box 148
Mammoth Lakes, CA  93546
760-924-5500

Please pack out your trash.   Garbage service is over until next spring at most Forest Service sites.

***Tip regarding this report...  everything is alphabetized.  Road conditions are under "R" and Hiking is under "H."

Bodie State Historic Park: The road to Bodie State Historic Park is open.  Park hours are 8:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. daily, and the charge is $3.00 per adult.  Please call 760-647-6445 for more information.

CAMPING:

Dispersed Camping: Dispersed primitive camping is tent or self-contained RV camping in undeveloped areas.  Visitors may access camping points along any public dirt road within BLM or Forest Service property.  Campsites must be 2 miles outside of any established campground, recreation area, wilderness area, or town limits.  A valid California Campfire Permit is required for the use of a cook stove or campfire outside of established campgrounds.  These permits are free and available at Forest Visitor Centers.  Please be extremely careful with stoves, fires, and cigarettes.  Be aware that we do have black bears in the Mammoth Lakes and Mono Basin areas, and that proper food storage is required.  Please take measures to minimize food smells and visibility.  The Forest Visitor Centers have various sizes of bear boxes rentals for campers.  No camping is allowed in closed campgrounds including self-contained RVs.

Fire Restrictions: There are currently no fire restrictions on the Inyo National Forest.  Please be extremely careful with any type of flame or combustible engine while recreating or working on our public lands.  A valid California Campfire Permit is required for the use of a cook stove or campfire outside of established campgrounds.  These permits are free and available at Forest Visitor Centers.  For further information, you may call 760-873-2555 for fire danger status updates.

Fishing: Fishing season has ended in Mono County.  The 2007 season will begin on the last Saturday in April.  Pleasant Valley Dam and Owens Lake in Inyo County are open to fishing year-round.

Golden Passports: Golden Age passports are issued for a $10 fee to persons over 62 years of age and a U.S. Citizen.  Golden Access Passports are issued at no charge to persons who are blind or permanently disabled.  Golden Eagle passports are $65 and are good for entrance to National Parks, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife, and National Forests, and are accepted at most forest recreation fee areas.  Both the Golden Age and Golden Access are lifetime passes and provide free access to most National Parks, as well as 50% off National Park and National Forest campgrounds.   National passes are not valid for expanded amenity sites such as the Reds Meadow/Devils Postpile fee area.

Hiking/Backpacking: Trails in the area and in the Ansel Adams, John Muir, and Hoover Wilderness areas may be muddy in spots and snow may be present at higher elevations.  Be aware of quickly changing trail and weather conditions during the fall season.

HIKING TRAILS:

Wilderness permits are required for any overnight stay in the wilderness.   Bear canisters are required in many areas from May 25^th – October 31^st.  All trailheads in the Ansel Adams, John Muir, and Dinky Lakes Wilderness areas have entry quotas that are in effect from May 1^st to November 1^st. Reservations may be made up to six months in advance of your entry date. There is a fee of $5 per person for reservations.  You may download a reservation application and then mail or fax it to the Wilderness Permit Office.  Phone reservations can be made 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 760-873-2483.  Sixty percent of trail quota spots are reserve-able, and the remaining 40% are open on a “first-come-first-serve” basis after 11 AM on the day before entry into the wilderness.  For wilderness information or questions please call 760-873-2485.  For the 2007 Mt. Whitney Lottery, fax applications will not be accepted.  Check for full details before you apply.  There is also a trail quota for exiting the main Mt. Whitney Trail.   For trips that originate in a national park, you must obtain a permit from the appropriate national park office.  Wilderness permits for trips beginning in the Inyo National Forest may be obtained at Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center, Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center, White Mountain Ranger Station, or the InterAgency Visitor Center.   During the non-quota period from November 2nd to April 30th self-issue permits are also available after hours at these locations.  Wilderness permits for entering the main Mt. Whitney Trail must be obtained at the InterAgency Visitor Center in Lone Pine.

Hot Creek Geological Site:  Due to increased geological activity, swimming is prohibited.  Please come see the geysers, mud pots, and other changes. 

Interpretive Programs: From December 15th through April 14th(weather permitting), tours are conducted at   

Mammoth Mountain:  Intermediate level alpine ski nature tours at 10:30am and 1:30pm Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.  Meet at the bottom of Stump Alley Express.  Valid lift ticket or pass required.    

June Mountain:  Intermediate level alpine ski nature tours at 10:30am and 1:00pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.  Valid lift ticket or pass required.    

Tamarack Cross Country Ski Center: Snowshoe and cross country ski tours at noon on Fridays, Saturdays and holiday Sundays. Meet at the Ski Center.  Valid trail pass required.

Lakes Basin:  The Lake Mary road is now closed for the winter season.

Lodging: For lodging information please call 1-888-466-2666 Monday thru Friday, or log onto www.visitmammoth.com and click on “LODGING” on the left side of the web page. 

Mammoth Lakes Town Events and Activities: For information on Mammoth Lakes’ town events and activities, go to their website at www.visitmammoth.com and click on “EVENTS” or call 1-888-466-2666 or 1-888-GO-Mammoth Monday through Friday.

Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area:  The Mono Basin Visitor Center is closed for the winter season from  November 28 and will reopen on March 15, 2007.

ROADS:

Reds Meadow and Devils Postpile:  road  has closed for the winter season. 

Minaret Vista:  is closed at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area.

For local road conditions please call: 760-934-7669.

Major highways, including mountain passes: 1-800-427-7623 (1-800-427-ROAD). Yosemite National Park, 24-hour road and weather line: 1-209-372-0200

Mountain Biking:  Mammoth Mountain Bike Park is closed for the winter.

Skiing and Snowboarding:  Mammoth Mountain Ski Area and snowboard park is now open and making snow.  Call 800-MAMMOTH or visit www.mammothmountain.com for more information.

Reds Meadow/Devils Postpile: The road to Reds Meadow/Devils Postpile is closed to automobiles for the winter season.

Sled Dogs: Mammoth Dog Teams are closed until we get more snow.  Please call 760-934-6270 for more details on fall kennel tours.

Visitor Center and Ranger Station Hours:

Wood Burning: Air quality may change daily.  Call 760-934-1010 for current restrictions. For more information call 934-7669.

Wood Cutting: Fuelwood collecting season is closed for the winter season.