Inyo National Forest

Recreational Activities - Mount Whitney Ranger District

10/15/09

Eastern Sierra InterAgency Visitor Center
Visitor Services/Wilderness Permits
Hours: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm/Daily
Junction Highway US 395 & SR136 (1 mile south Lone Pine)
Lone Pine, CA 93545
760-876-6200

General Conditions

Campgrounds

Lone Pine Area

Some Forest Service campgrounds are reservable through recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777; family sites 240 days in advance and group sites 360 days in advance.

Bears

The largest of the Sierra mammals, the Black Bear is found in and around the Inyo National Forest.  There are an estimated 25,000 to 35,000 Black Bears in California. Bears are located throughout most of California where suitable habitat exists.  Black Bears range in color from blonde to black, with cinnamon brown being the most common color.  Black Bears are omnivores.  A typical wild bear diet consists of berries, plants, nuts, roots, honey, honeycomb, insects, larvae, carrion and small mammals.  As winter approaches, bears will forage for food up to 20 hours a day, storing enough fat to sustain them through winter.  Black bears are wonderful to observe in the wild and we hope you will have a chance to do so while visiting the forest.  Bears in the wild will seek to avoid confrontation with humans.  If encountered, always leave them an escape route.

However, when bears and humans get too close, the result can be disastrous--for you or the bear.  It is important to remember that bears will change their behavior if they become habituated to humans (get used to our presence) which will happen if we crowd them or observe them too closely.  Bears also change their behavior if they obtain human food--even just one time.  They begin to break into cars, tents, and cabins and may become aggressive.  If a bear becomes a safety hazard, they sometimes have to be destroyed by wildlife managers.  Other habituated and food-conditioned bears are killed by cars because they spend more time along roads and in campgrounds.

Precautions for Camping in Bear Territory

• All food must be stored properly DAY AND NIGHT!!  Store food in containers designed to prevent access by bears or bear-proof lockers (if provided).  Never leave food, toiletries and/or anything with a scent in your tent, sleeping bag or car.  The trunk of your car and coolers are not bear-proof!

• Check for local regulations and recommendation regarding bears.

• Clean everything after preparing a meal.

• Dispose of garbage properly.  If a bear-proof dumpster is not available, store your garbage in bear-proof lockers often provided at campgrounds, until it can be disposed of properly.

• Report all bear incidents.

Food includes food, trash, recyclables, toiletries, candles, first-aid kits, window cleaner, pet food, dirty dishes, dirty diapers, baby wipes, scented tissue, air freshener, bottled and canned beverages, canned food, coolers (full or empty), mosquito repellent, lipstick, tobacco products, and any other items with a scent.

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 should be 2 miles outside of any established campground, recreation area, wilderness area, or town limits.  Dispersed camping is not permitted along Whitney Portal or Onion Valley roads.  A 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 Visitor Centers.  Please be extremely careful with stoves, fires, and cigarettes. Be aware that we do have black bears in the Lone Pine and Independence areas, and that proper food storage is necessary. Please take measures to minimize food smells and its visibility.

Campfire Permits

Campfire Permits are available free-of-charge at offices of the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and the Eastern Sierra InterAgency Visitor Center.

On National Forest Land:  With a valid Campfire Permit, you may have a wood fire, a charcoal fire or use a portable gas stove.  The permit holder must:

1. Clear all flammable material away from the fire for a minimum of five feet in all directions to prevent escape of the fire
2. Have a shovel available at the campfire site for preparing and extinguishing campfires.
3. Have a responsible person in attendance at all times.
4. Extinguish campfire with water, using the drown, stir, and feel method.

Special Regulations:  Some areas have special rules regarding campfire use.  It is your responsibility to find out what  are the limitations. The best way to do this is by contacting a local agency office in the area you intend to visit.  Throughout the year, as fire danger increases, additional fire restrictions may be put into effect.  Strict compliance with fire restrictions is required.

Dogs

Dogs are allowed in recreation areas unless posted. They must be on a leash when in a developed site.  Including your pet on a travel trip can enhance enjoyment of the experience for both parties!  As you are packing up for your hike, camping trip, or other outing, please consider what would happen if you became separated from your dog.  Be sure to have accurate identification on its collar, and consider obtaining a microchip in case its collar is lost.

Don’t forget your dog should be in good physical condition for forest adventures.  If your dog hasn't walked anywhere but in your yard or around the block lately, it will need to adjust to the altitude, the physical effects of extra exercise and walking on rocky trails.  Dogs can injure their sensitive paws and become unable to walk while hiking long distances.  Be aware of the distance from your vehicle, and consider whether you could carry your dog back to your starting point if it couldn't walk.

Roads

Major Eastern Sierra roads are open. California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) maintains and operates the State Highways around and within the Inyo National Forest. Trans Sierra roads - SR 120 (Tioga Pass) and SR 108 (Sonora Pass) are closed due to recent snow.  These roads will open when conditions allow.  SR 4 (Ebbets Pass) is open.  SR 89 (Monitor Pass) is open.  Weather and road conditions can change rapidly this time of year; mountain passes are subject to immediate controls and/or closures.  Drivers headed to the mountains need to be sure their vehicles are equipped with chains, including those with snowtires. Call 1-800-427-ROAD (1-800-427-7623), or visit the website at www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi, for California highway conditions and construction schedules. For Nevada roads, call 1-877-NVROADS (1-877-687-6237) or visit the web at www.nevadadot.com/traveler/roads.

Ranger District Roads: Getting around on roads in the forest is different from driving on streets or highways. Most forest roads are narrow, steep and winding with safe travel speeds averaging 25 mph on paved roads. Safe travel on gravel and dirt roads can be slower. Use caution and be alert to rough road conditions. Drivers may encounter rocks or logs on these roads.

* For more information contact the Inyo County Road Department, 1-760-878-0202.

Hiking and Backpacking

Winter has arrived in the Eastern Sierra.  Backpackers should be prepared with winter gear for snowy/icy terrain, cold temperatures and sudden weather changes.  Recent snow make trails difficult to locate and passes very slick. Be Bear Aware when parking at trailheads – cars must not be left with any food, or related items that will attract these animals and result in significant damage to the vehicle.

Bears (and other hungry animals, including marmots) are active in the backcountry. Backpackers should be prepared to protect their food (and all other items that emit odors) from such animals at all times! Backpackers are required to use portable, bear - resistant food canisters on many trails of the Inyo National Forest and some Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park trails. They are available to rent at many locations.

Wilderness Permits are required for overnight travel all year long. Trailhead quotas, which daily limit the number of hikers on trails, are in effect for Eastern Sierra wilderness areas. Reservations for wilderness permits can be made up to six months in advance of the starting date of a trip, by phone at 1-760-873-2483 or by mail - 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 200, Bishop, CA 93514. For more information, including an application form and fees, visit the Inyo National Forest wilderness permit information on the web site.

Trail Conditions

Bighorn Sheep Restricted Areas

California Bighorn Sheep Zoological Area
Visitors entering or passing near California Bighorn Sheep Zoological Areas should be aware of restrictions created to protect these endangered animals; if you are accessing Baxter Pass, Sawmill, Shepherd Pass, Golden Trout, or George Creek/Mt. Williamson trails, these restrictions may affect your trip.  With Forest Order # 04-02-07, "possessing, transporting, or storing domestic goats" in established California Bighorn Sheep Zoological Areas is prohibited.  In addition, Forest Order # 04-81-03 prohibits possession, transportation, or allowing entrance of dogs in these areas.

Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Habitat
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Habitat may affect visitors traveling on or near, Taboose, Meysan Lake, Cottonwood Lakes and Tuttle Creek trails, per Forest Order No. 04-02-08, which states: "dogs must be under immediate verbal or physical control of their owners at all times."

Message from the Mt. Whitney Rangers

At 14,496 feet elevation, Mt. Whitney is the highest peak in the lower 48 states. The peak and the trails that approach it lie within the John Muir and Sequoia National Park Wilderness Areas. In contrast to areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, wilderness areas are places where the earth and its communities of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. These areas were set aside by Congress and the President to provide opportunities for solitude and unconfined, primitive types of recreation.

Mt. Whitney is an extremely popular wilderness destination. To preserve its wilderness character, all who choose to visit must also choose to adhere to the highest ethical standards. Mt. Whitney visitors should always practice Leave-No-Trace and always pack-out their solid human waste.

Although this can be a beautiful time of year to climb Mt. Whitney, please remember that it is winter. Conditions may quickly change. Storms may be severe and will include sub-freezing temperatures, extreme wind, ice and heavy snow. Even on a sunny day, do not be surprised to encounter treacherous trail conditions. Be prepared for extreme weather, regardless of the weather forecast. Safety is your responsibility! You must recognize and mitigate all hazards. Failure to do so may result in serious injury and/or death. You may encounter conditions that exceed your abilities. Know your limits. Every year people become sick or injured while climbing Mt. Whitney. Most such incidents are avoidable.

Thank you and enjoy your visit to Mt. Whitney,
Mt. Whitney Wilderness Rangers

Permits & Passes

Year-round, everybody in the Mt. Whitney Zone must possess a valid wilderness permit for day and overnight trips (including the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek). Permits are issued only at the InterAgency Visitor Center, 1 mile south of Lone Pine, CA on Highway 395.

From May 1 to November 1, quotas limit the number of people that may visit the area. Permits for the quota period may be reserved in advance. Most permits for the Mt. Whitney Trail are reserved in February, during the Mt. Whitney Lottery.

Visit our Wilderness Permits & Reservations page for more information about Inyo National Forest Wilderness Permits.

Managing Your Human Waste at Mt. Whitney

All Mt. Whitney visitors must pack-out their solid human waste. Packing-out solid waste helps maintain wilderness character and protects public health and safety. Pack-out kits are available at the InterAgency Visitors Center, south of Lone Pine.

This year, visitors have packed out about 2 tons of human waste! Every day more waste is packed out.

To all the visitors who make this program succeed, THANK YOU!!!

Follow this link for more information about Pack-It-Out.

Leave No Trace at Mt. Whitney

Visitors who choose to visit an area as popular as Mt. Whitney must also choose to Leave-No-Trace. If you can’t state all seven Leave-No-Trace principles, then you're not ready for Mt. Whitney.

Follow this link to learn how to Leave-No-Trace at Mt. Whitney.

Plan Ahead and Prepare

Careful planning and preparation are essential for a safe and successful trip to Mt. Whitney. Also, well prepared visitors are much more likely to protect and preserve the areas that they visit.

Planning and preparation should begin at home, not at the trailhead. Follow this link for more information about trip planning.

Bears and Proper Food Storage

From May 1st to November 1st, all food, trash, toiletries and scented items must be stored in containers designed to prevent access by bears. Hanging food from trees is unacceptable and ineffective.

Day-hikers do not need to carry a bear-proof canister, but food must remain in their possession of at all times.

At Whitney Portal, all food, trash, toiletries and coolers must be removed from your vehicle and stored in bear-proof lockers. Failure to comply may result in extensive damage to your vehicle.

Follow this link for more information about bears and food storage.

Fishing

The general fishing season is open in the Eastern Sierra and its waters are stocked regularly by the California Department of Fish and Game.  The 2009 Eastern Sierra Fishing Guide is now available at sporting good stores throughout the region. Copies of California fishing regulations are available at the Visitor Center, many sporting good stores, or visit the web site www.dfg.ca.gov.

Hunting

Hunting is permitted throughout the Inyo National Forest during hunting seasons designated by the California State Department of Fish and Game. Hunters should keep in mind that many people use forest land for other types of sports; it’s much safer to avoid hunting near developed sites, roads and trails.  Hunting is prohibited in the National Parks. 

Hunting is not permitted in those areas where the discharge of firearms is prohibited by County Ordinance, State law, or Federal regulations and hunters must follow all laws, including no hunting within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area. A California hunting license is required for any person taking birds or mammals.  Hunters must carry licenses and be prepared to show them on request.  Copies of California hunting regulations are available at the Visitor Center, many sporting good stores, or visit the web site www.dfg.ca.gov.

Deer Hunting
Deer hunting begins with the archery season in mid August and continues through early September.  General Deer Season opens in early September and continues through October depending on the zone.

Upland Birds
Upland bird hunting begins with the archery season in mid August and continues through January depending on the bird species.  General Season opens in early September and continues through January depending on the species.

Waterfowl
Waterfowl Season for ducks (including Mergansers), common Moorhen, American Coot and geese generally open in the fall and continues through early winter.

Lone Pine and Independence Area Attractions

Beverly and Jim Rogers Museum of Lone Pine Film History
Lights!  Camera!  Action!  Lone Pine and the Alabama Hills have been a favorite location for Hollywood’s movies since the 1920s.  Visit the Museum of Lone Pine Film History, with exhibits celebrating the heroes, the films and the locations of the many movies shot in the area.  A special orientation film is available on request at the museum with classic Lone Pine movies playing on Thursday and Friday evenings at 7:00pm or on Saturday at 4:00pm.  The museum opens daily at 10:00am; closing at 6:00pm Monday through Wednesday, at 7:00pm Thursday through Saturday and at 4:00pm on Sunday.  The museum is located on HWY US 395 at the south end of Lone Pine.

Alabama Hills
Welcome to the Alabama Hills Special Recreation Area, managed by the Bishop BLM.  The amazing scenery – oddly rounded rocks backed by the jagged high peaks of the Sierra – creates a wonderful setting both for recreation and the film industry.  The hills are made of granite and weathering has created the unusual shapes, arches, and canyons particular to the area.  Hike, run, motor tour, horseback ride, bike any route not signed as closed, try rock climbing on one of the 200 sport routes, or explore some of the movie locations (pick up the Movie Road Self-Guided Tour at the Museum of Film History). 

Alabama Hills Arch Trail (1/4 mile one-way)
This geologic wonder is within easy distance of its Movie Road starting point.  Park in the dirt lot just after Movie Road forks (go to the right).  Follow the stone-lined trail through the desert vegetation and peculiar rock formations typical to the Alabama Hills.  Capture the dramatic vista of Mt. Whitney through both the arch and your camera lens.  Movie Flat Road is located 3 miles west of Lone Pine on the Whitney Portal road (turn at the only traffic light in "downtown" Lone Pine from US HWY 395).

Owens River and Owens Dry Lake
Owens Lake was formed from glacial melt during the last ice age. As a Great Basin Lake, it has had no outlet to the sea for almost 4000 years. The lake was fed by the freshwater Owens River, but without an outlet, the waters become saline in character.  During the early mining days of the 1870's, the thirty-foot deep lake was used to transport bullion and supplies for the mines at Cerro Gordo aboard two steamships, the "Bessie Brady" and the "Mollie Stevens." Today, the Owens River has had water restored, thanks to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s efforts to bring back the river’s natural ecology.  You can kayak and fish along the meandering 62 "river miles" portion of the lower Owens River!

Manzanar National Historic Site
Located 7 miles north of Lone Pine on Hwy 395, Manzanar War Relocation Center was one of ten camps where Japanese American citizens and resident Japanese aliens were interned during World War II.  The historic high school auditorium now serves as the site’s interpretive center, featuring extensive exhibits and audio-visual programs. You can also tour the grounds and see many of the foundations and remnants of the elaborate gardens. Open 9am - 5:30pm daily April through October, 9am - 4:30pm November through March.

Eastern California Museum

The Eastern California Museum, in Independence, features exhibits that reflect the diverse natural and cultural heritage of Inyo County and the Owens Valley. Unique exhibit topics include the artistry of local Owens Valley Paiute and Shoshone Indians as demonstrated through basketry and other crafts, and the story of Manzanar, the Japanese American World War II Internment Center.  Included on the museum grounds are remnants of an abandoned landscape - a collection of historic agricultural and mining implements used by early Inyo County residents, and equipment used during construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct.  In addition to exhibits, the Eastern California Museum offers resources for research including an historic photograph collection, local history files, transcripts from the Community Oral History Program, and the Frank Parcher Memorial Library.  Located on the west side of town, turn on Onion Valley Road (at the only flashing traffic light in "downtown" Independence).  The museum is open daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm.