Inyo National Forest

Recreational Activities - White Mountain Ranger District

December 9, 2009

Winter conditions have arrived on the White Mtn Ranger District.  All Sierra trailheads are snowed in with winter road closures in place.  The road into the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is closed just past the Sierra View Vista, 2 miles south of eh Schulman Grove.  Scroll down this page to access additional information on campgrounds and road access.

Campgrounds

Big Pine Area

Bishop Creek Area

Rock Creek Area

McGee Creek Area

White Mountains Area

Other Campgrounds - Owens Valley

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 national forest lands.  Dispersed camping is not allowed within an area of concentrated public use.  The areas of concentrated public use are defined on the Forest Recreation Map and often include developed recreation areas and campgrounds.  You should check with the Ranger Station in the area you plan to disperse camp to locate an appropriate area to camp.  A California Campfire Permit is required for the use of a cook stove or campfire outside of developed campgrounds.  These permits are free and available at Forest Service Visitor Centers. Please be extremely careful with stoves, fires, and cigarettes.

Roads

Fall weather and road conditions can change rapidly. Mountain passes are subject to immediate controls and/or closures.

Call 1-800-427-ROAD (1-800-427-7623), or visit the web at www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo for California highway conditions and construction schedules,   For Nevada roads, call 1-877-NVROADS (1-877-687-6237), or visit the website at www.nevadadot.com/traveler/roads.

Bristlecone Pine Forest - Closed at the Sierra View Vista point 2 miles south of Schulman Grove.  White Mountain road to that point may be impassable due to changing conditions.

Big Pine Canyon - Closed 3 miles east of the Glacier Lodge/campground area.

Bishop Creek Canyon - (Highway 168 west); Open

Cottonwood Road - Closed

Horseshoe Meadow Road - Closed

McGee Creek Road - Closed due to snow

North Fork Bishop Creek -Closed due to snow

Onion Valley - Open but snow covered

North Lake Road - Closed due to snow, closed at Aspendell

Pine Creek Road - Open to trailhead, conditions may change throughout the winter.

Road to South Lake - Closed at Bishop Creek Lodge.

Rock Creek Road - Closed at the sno-park site, 5 miles west of Tom's Place.

South Fork of Bishop Creek - Closed at Bishop Creek Lodge.

White Mountain Road - Currently impassable at the intersection with State route 168 - 10 miles from the bristlecone forest.

Whitney Portal Road - Open but snow covered

Call the White Mountain Ranger Station at (760) 873-2500 for updated conditions.

Trails & Backcountry Information

Hikers in the Eastern Sierra Wilderness Areas should anticipate encountering all types of weather. Spring storms can produce light to torrential rain, hail and occasionally snow. Flash floods are always a concern and campers should stay 100 feet or more away from streams, creeks, rivers and dry washes. Campfires are prohibited or restricted in many areas. Check with Forest Service employees when you get your wilderness permit to see if campfires are legal in your travel area. Hiker Warning: Never drink directly from wilderness water sources. Carry approved devices for filtering or treating water before drinking or boil water for an appropriate length of time to kill harmful bacteria and germs.

WILDERNESS PERMITS are required for any overnight stay in the wilderness. All trailheads in the wilderness areas have entry quotas that are in effect from May 1st to November 1st. Reservations may be made up to six months in advance of your entry date by calling 760-873-2483. There is a non-refundable fee of $5 per person to use the reservation service.

Sixty percent of trail quota spots may be reserved, and the remaining 40% are open on a "first-come-first-serve" basis after 11 AM on the day before entry into the wilderness. Bear canisters are required in many areas from May 25th - October 31st. For wilderness information or questions please call 760-873-2485.

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 Mt. Whitney Trail and the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek must be obtained at the InterAgency Visitor Center in Lone Pine.

Visitor Centers & Ranger Stations

White Mountain Ranger Station
760-873-2500
760-873-2501 TDD
798 North Main Street
Bishop, CA 93514
Open Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm, closed for lunch 12:00 - 1:00

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center - Schulman Grove
Closed for the Season,; road closed at Sierra View Vista Point but may not be passable tot he view point due to storms.

Maps, Books and Guides

Please visit our ESIA bookstore for publications about the Eastern Sierra. We have a wide range of Eastern Sierra Maps, Books and Gifts and shipping is available. The Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association (ESIA) is a nonprofit organization which works in cooperation with the Inyo National Forest to promote and enhance the visitors' understanding and enjoyment of the natural, cultural, historic and recreational resources of the National Forests. Proceeds from bookstores at each of our locations and your donations support interpretive programs, printed materials and visitor center displays on the Inyo, Tahoe and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests. Donations are welcome! Donation boxes are located at all Visitor Centers and Ranger Stations or by mail to:

Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association
798 N Main St
Bishop, CA  95314