Inyo National Forest

Recreational Activities - White Mountain Ranger District

10/11/2008

It continues to be a beautiful fall in the Eastern Sierra particularly at the higher elevations. Colors will be near or at their peak this week at Lake Sabrina, South Lake and North Lake in the Bishop Creek Recreation Area and at Rock Creek Lake and Mosquito Flat in the Rock Creek Area. Now is the time! As you travel up into the mountains on paved roads you will see the foliage go from brilliant green to yellow to bright orange at the lakes. Bring your camera. Come in the morning for the best light. Bring a lunch and hike, picnic or take a boat out to the back of the lakes and see for yourself.

Campgrounds

Big Pine Area

Bishop Creek Area

Rock Creek Area

McGee Creek Area

White Mountains Area

Other Campgrounds - Owens Valley

Roads

All major eastern Sierra roads and passes are now open. Weather and road conditions can change rapidly this time of year; 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 - Road is open to the Schulman Grove Visitor's Center.

Big Pine Canyon - Open

Bishop Creek Canyon - (Highway 168 west); Open to Lake Sabrina

Cottonwood Road - open to Horseshoe Meadow TH.

Horseshoe Meadow Road - Open

McGee Creek Road - Open

North Fork Bishop Creek - Open

Onion Valley - closed just above Greys Meadow Campground.

North Lake Road - Open

Pine Creek Road - open to trailhead.

Road to South Lake - Open to South Lake.

Rock Creek Road - Open to Rock Creek Lake.

South Fork of Bishop Creek - Open to South Lake.

White Mountain Road - Road is open to the Schulman Grove Visitor's Center.

Whitney Portal Road - Open.

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. Fall 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.

Bridge Washed Out by Avalanche
White Mountain Ranger District reports that the bridge at the first water crossing on McGee Creek has been displaced during the winter by an avalanche. Located approximately 2 1/2 miles from the McGee Creek trailhead, the bridge was a welcome site for hikers since it's placement there in 2003. The log remains downstream but hikers are cautioned not to use this unsafe bridge to cross the creek. The best crossing is 1/2 mile down stream at the stock/horse crossing. The time frame for replacement of the bridge is unknown at this time.

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 Daily, 8:00am - 5:00pm

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center - Schulman Grove
Rangers are on duty at the Schulman Grove daily. Call 760-873-2500 for hours and a schedule of interpretive programs at the grove. All hiking trails at Schulman are currently open for day hikes.

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. The Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association (ESIA) is a non-profit 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 welcomed! Donation boxes are located at all Visitor Centers and Ranger Stations.