Still time for Fall Camping in the Eastern Sierra
Sierra REC Magazine – Eastern Sierra – October 17, 2019 – For some Fall season can not last long enough. For those that are in no hurry to slip on the skis and snowshoes for winter and are looking to get out in the Eastern sierra to Camp, hike and ride, and fish Inyo National forest does a great job in updating their weekly availability int he regions they manage. Here are the current Camping and road access reports for Inyo National Forest which encompasses the Mono Lake region, Mammoth Regions and Bishop regions of the Eastern Sierra.
Mono Lake Ranger District
Roads open: Sonora Pass (Hwy 108), Monitor Pass (Hwy 89), Ebbetts Pass (Hwy 4), Bodie Road (SR270), Lundy Canyon Road, Tioga Pass (Hwy 120 W), Saddlebag Road, Hwy 120 E (Benton), June Lake Loop (Hwy 158).
Campgrounds open: Lundy Canyon (closing 11/15, county), Lower Lee Vining (closing 10/28), Aerie Crag (closing 10/20), Silver Lake (closing 11/3), Reversed Creek (closing 10/20), Gull Lake (closing 10/20), June Lake (closing 10/20), Oh Ridge (closing 10/20), Glass Creek (closing 10/28).
Campgrounds closed: Tioga Lake, Junction, Sawmill Walk-in, Saddlebag Lake, Saddlebag Lake Group, Ellery Lake, Big Bend, Aspen, Moraine, Hartley, Obsidian Flat Group, Big Springs, Upper Deadman, Lower Deadman.
The Mono Basin Visitor Center is open daily, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Fuelwood Permits on sale Monday-Sunday, 8:00 am to noon and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm.
Mammoth Ranger District
Roads open: Mammoth Scenic Loop, Old Mammoth Road to Lake Mary Road, Lake Mary Road, Reds Meadow Road (no overnight parking starting 10/15, road closes 10/27).
Campgrounds open: Twin Lakes (closing 10/20), Mammoth Mtn. RV Park (private, year-round), New Shady Rest (closing 11/3), Convict Lake (closing 10/28), Crowley (BLM, closing 10/30).
Campgrounds closed: Upper Soda Springs, Pumice Flat, Pumice Flat Group, Reds Meadow, Agnew Meadows Horse, Agnew Meadows Group, Agnew Meadows Family, Minaret Falls Old Shady Rest, Pine Glen Family/Group, Sherwin Creek, Lake Mary, Lake George, Pine City, Coldwater, Brown’s Owens River (private).
The Mammoth Welcome Center is open daily 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Fuelwood Permits on sale Monday-Friday, 8:30 am – 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
The Devils Postpile Ranger Station is closed for the season.
White Mountain Ranger District
Roads open: McGee Creek Rd. Rock Creek Road, Buttermilk Rd., Hwy 168 to Sabrina, North Lake Road, South Lake Rd., Silver Canyon Rd. (4×4-high clearance), Wyman Canyon Rd. (4×4-high clearance), White Mountain Road (4×4, high clearance vehicle recommended beyond Schulman Grove), Big Pine Canyon (Glacier Lodge) Road.
Campgrounds open: McGee Creek (closing 10/28), Tuff (closing 10/28), French Camp (closing 10/28), Iris Meadow (closing 10/21) Big Meadow (closing 10/21), Mosquito Flat Backpacker, Horton (BLM) (10/30), Pleasant Valley (County), Pleasant Valley Pit (BLM – no water), Bitterbrush (closing partial 10/28), Big Trees (closing 10/28), Forks (closing 10/28), Intake 2 (closing 10/28), Bishop Park (closing 10/28), Four Jeffrey (closing 10/28), Grandview (no water, no trash service, firewood is limited), Cedar Flat Group, Sage Flat (closing 10/28), Big Pine Creek (closing 10/28).
Campgrounds closed: Holiday, Aspen Group, Palisade Group, Rock Creek, Rock Creek Group, East Fork, Pine Grove, Upper Pine Grove, Sabrina, North Lake, Table Mountain Group, Mtn. Glen, Bishop Park Group, Willow, Cedar Flat Group, Upper Sage Flat, Clyde Glacier Group, Palisade Glacier Group.
The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center is open – 10:00 am – 5:00 pm daily. Starting Oct. 18, the visitor center will be open Friday-Sunday 10 am – 4:30 pm, closed Monday-Thursday. It will close for the season after the last day of operation on 11/3.
The White Mountain Ranger Station Visitor Center is open daily, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Fuelwood Permits are on sale Monday-Sunday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Starting 11/2: open Monday-Friday 8:00 am-4:30 pm.
Mt Whitney Ranger District
Roads open: Foothill Road, Division Creek, Onion Valley Road (no water at trailhead), Whitney Portal Road, Horseshoe Meadow Road., Sherman Pass Road – (across Kern Plateau, access to Blackrock and Monache).
Campgrounds open: Independence Creek (County), Upper Grays Meadow (closing 10/31) Lower Grays Meadow (closing partial closing 10/31), Onion Valley (no water, closing 10/31), Lone Pine (closing partial closing 10/31), Whitney Portal Campground (closing 10/31), Whitney Portal Group (closing 10/31), Whitney Portal Trailhead, Tuttle Creek (BLM), Portagee Joe (County), Boulder Creek RV Resort, Diaz Lake (County), Cottonwood Lakes (no water), Cottonwood Pass (no water), Horseshoe Meadows Equestrian (no water), Kennedy Meadows.
The Eastern Sierra Visitor Center in Lone Pine is open daily from 8:00 am- 5:00 pm. Starting 11/2: open daily 8:30 am-to 4:30 pm.
Trail Reports: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/inyo/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5403387&width=full
The Inyo National Forest is not in Fire Restrictions for fire hazard. BLM is in Fire Restrictions for the season.