“Good morning. Please see the attached. I was watching and waiting to make sure the continuing resolution was passed before sending. I am thrilled to share this out. Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the fall color.” – Deb Schweizer, Public Affairs Specialist

State of the Inyo, current as of 10/01/21

Mono Lake Ranger District:

Roads open: Monitor Pass (Hwy 89), Ebbetts Pass (Hwy 4), Sonora Pass (Hwy108), Bodie Rd. (Hwy 270), Lundy Lake Rd. Hwy 120 E (Benton), Hwy 158., Saddlebag Rd. Tioga Pass (Hwy 120 W) at Yosemite National Park Boundary is open to vehicular traffic w/ day use reservation, proof of overnight accommodation in park, or for qualified pass-through traffic. Reservation requirement ends October 1.

Campgrounds open: Lundy Canyon (county, est. close 11/15,), Aspen (no water after 10/3), Lower Lee Vining (est. close 11/8), Hartley, Glass Creek, Silver Lake (est. close 10/31), Reversed Creek (est. close 10/17), Gull Lake(est. close 10/17), June Lake(est. close 10/17), Oh Ridge(est. close 10/17).

Campgrounds closing 10/3: Tioga Lake, Junction, Ellery Lake, Big Bend, Saddlebag Lake Trailhead

Campgrounds closed: Saddlebag Lake, Sawmill Walk-in, Moraine, Aerie Crag, Obsidian Flat Group, Upper Deadman, Lower Deadman, Big Springs.

Closing for the Season on 10/2: This week, the Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center is open Thursday through Saturday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. ESIA will operate the bookstore Thursday-Saturday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Mammoth Ranger District

Roads open:

Reds Meadow Rd., Lake Basin Rd., Mammoth Scenic Loop.

Campgrounds open: Crowley (BLM, est. close 11/1), Mammoth Mtn. RV Park, New Shady Rest (est. close 10/31), Twin Lakes(est. close 10/17.

Campgrounds closed: Brown’s Owens River (private), Old Shady, Sherwin Creek, Pine City, Lake George, Lake Mary, Pine Glen, Coldwater, Reds Meadow, Agnew Meadows Family, Agnew Meadows Horse, Agnew Meadows Group Pumice Flat, Pumice Flat Group, Minaret Falls, Upper Soda.

Devils Postpile is open. The Devils Postpile Ranger Station is closed. The Reds Meadow Shuttle is not operating for the remainder of this season. Minaret Vista is staffed seven days a week and will manage traffic issues as needed.

Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center: Open to virtual services seven days a week, 8:30 am-4:30 pm. ESIA is operating the bookstore daily, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

White Mountain Ranger District

Roads open: McGee Creek Rd., Rock Creek Road, Buttermilk Rd., Hwy 168, North Lake Rd., South Lake Rd., White Mountain Rd., Silver Canyon Rd. (4×4-high clearance), Wyman Canyon Rd. (4×4-high clearance), Big Pine Canyon.

Campgrounds Open: Convict Lake (est. close 10/30), McGee Creek (est. close 10/30), Mosquito Flat Backpacker, Upper Pine Grove (est. close 10/11), Pine Grove (est. close 10/11), East Fork (est. close 10/11), Palisade Group (est. close 10/11), Big Meadow (est. close 10/18), Iris Meadow (est. close 10/18), Aspen Group (est. close 10/18), French Camp (est. close 10/30),Tuff (est. close 10/30), Horton (BLM, est. close 11/1 ), Pleasant Valley (County), Pleasant Valley Pit (BLM, no water), North Lake (est. close 10/12), Sabrina(est. close 10/12), Bishop Park (est. close 10/26), Intake 2 (lower loop only, (est. close 10/26), Forks (est. close 10/26),Bitterbrush (est. close 10/26), Four Jeffrey (est. close 10/26), Willow (est. close 10/12), Grandview, Cedar Flat Group (est. close 10/15), Baker Creek (County), Upper Sage Flat (est. close 10/26), Big Pine Creek (est. close 10/26), Taboose Creek (County), Tinnemaha Creek (County), Goodale (BLM, no water).

Campground closing 10/4: Rock Creek, Rock Creek Group

Campgrounds closed: Holiday (summer closure),Bishop Park Group, Big Trees, Mountain Glen, Table Mountain Group, Sage Flat, Clyde Glacier Group, Palisade Glacier Group.

The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center is open 10:00 am. to  5:00 pm. Thursday through Sunday. Closed Mon-Wed. Closed for the season October 31.

The White Mountain Public Lands Information Center in Bishop: Virtual service, 7 days a week, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, closed for lunch noon to 1:00 pm through Oct. 1. Beginning October 4^th , 5 days a week virtual service Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30 pm, closed for lunch noon to 1:00 pm Virtual services only.

Mt Whitney Ranger District

Roads open: Onion Valley, Whitney Portal Rd., Foothill Road, Division Creek, Horseshoe Meadow.

Campgrounds open: Upper and Lower Grays Meadow (est. close 10/31), Onion Valley (est. close 10/31), Independence Creek (county), Whitney Portal (est. close 10/31), Whitney Portal Trailhead Campground(est. close 10/31), Whitney Portal Group (est. close 10/31), Tuttle Creek (BLM), Lone Pine(est. close 10/31), Portuguese Joe (county), Diaz Lake (County), Cottonwood Lakes, Cottonwood Pass, Horseshoe Meadows Equestrian. Kennedy Meadows with no services (no toilets, no water, no trash cans, no fee) .

The Eastern Sierra Visitor Center in Lone Pine: Open Thursday through Monday, 8:00 am to 4:30 am. ESIA will operate the bookstore daily, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

The Inyo National Forest and Bishop Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are in Stage II fire restrictions. That means no campfires, even in developed recreation sites. Visitors with a valid California Campfire permit may use a portable stove or lantern using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel.

News Staff