Inyo National Forest

Celebrating 100 Years!

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The Inyo National Forest Celebrates its Centennial

Welcome to the official Centennial website for the Inyo National Forest. Located in California's beautiful Eastern Sierra, the Inyo offers clean air, crystal blue skies, mountain lakes and streams, challenging trails, high mountain peaks, and beautiful scenery. It is a land of inspiring destinations, with the name Inyo coming from the local Paiute word meaning "the dwelling place of a great spirit."

With over two million acres, the Inyo National Forest is home to many natural wonders that draw visitors from around the world. Mono Lake, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, Mt. Whitney, and the Ansel Adams and John Muir Wildernesses are some of the most well known and popular, but beautiful and lush canyons, numerous lakes basins, and awesome winter recreation opportunities have all helped to make the Inyo National Forest the most visited national forest in California.

This year the Inyo is celebrating its Centennial. It was one century ago on May 25, 1907 that the Inyo National Forest was established by special proclamation of President Teddy Roosevelt. For 100 years the Inyo has hosted visitors, helping to provide them with recreational opportunities and the information they need to better understand and responsibly recreate in this unique environment. Looking through historical photos and hearing tales of those who visited long ago, it is clear that many of the things people came to experience and enjoy over the last century remain the same as what people are seeking today.

1907 - 2007 - THE INYO NATIONAL FOREST - A BIT OF HISTORY

The Inyo National Forest was created by presidential proclamation in 1907 as a small forest reserve along the banks of the Owens River. Originally known as the Inyo Forest Reserve it grew over the years to include much of the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada range and the Inyo/White Mountain Ranges of the far western Great Basin. Its mission as a national forest has also grown from an emphasis on commodity production to providing recreation opportunities and the protection of watershed and habitat.

In order to protect the lands along the Owens River for the establishment of the Los Angeles aqueduct the "original" Inyo National Forest of 220,000 acres was established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907. It was realigned and enlarged in 1908 by adding nearly 1 1/2 million acres from the Kern and Sierra National Forests, which at the time were managing lands on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada range, a 3 day horseback ride from forest headquarters!

The few rangers that were transferred to the "east side" spent much of their time on grazing issues and surveying the vast open land of the new Inyo National Forest. Ranger Stations were little more than patrol cabins and were frequently located a days ride apart, not unlike pony express stations. Rangers were expected to provide their own equipment including saddle, ax and shovel and were advised to be of sound mind and sturdy body.

It was 1920 when Tom Jones became Forest Supervisor of the Inyo National Forest. He helped to start the Rainbow Club and began to otherwise emphasize the great and unique recreational aspects of the Inyo. Jones wrote, "To start with, I convinced the chamber of commerce that we needed a fish and game club which the public in general would help sponsor. We organized under the name of the Rainbow Club of Bishop." Jones' visionary approach to the future was impressive. [Photo Inset: CCC at Lone Pine on an Easter Sunday]

The depression in the 1930s gave rise to the Civilian Conservation Corps which established three main camps on the Inyo National Forest in the Lone Pine, Rock Creek and Mammoth Lakes areas. The 'Cees', as they came to be known, were instrumental in building much of the original infrastructure of the Inyo National Forest. They were almost entirely strong, young men who needed work, a paycheck and a direction in their lives. Construction of fire stations, trails, bridges, roads and even airport runway strips were included in their duties. Lillian Guesman of Mammoth Lakes recalls: " ...they were great kids. I'd play the piano and they'd sing...we always had such a good time."

After the CCC programs ceased and World War II ended, the Inyo National Forest added acreage in the Mono Basin, constructed "modern" ranger stations and began to resemble the organization we see today. Emphasis was still on timber production, cattle and sheep grazing and insuring a stable water supply from the mountains. While fishing was (and still is!) an important recreation activity, the door was just beginning to open for the multitudes of recreation users that would spend their vacation time here on the Inyo National Forest.

While still providing a stable water supply and commodities, the emphasis of the forest has clearly shifted to providing a broad range of quality recreation experiences. Traditional activities such as camping, fishing and hiking have been joined by more contemporary recreation pursuits such as mountain biking, extreme skiing, off-highway vehicle touring, and nature/learning based recreation.

The inspiring destinations of the Inyo National Forest such as Mono Lake, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, Mt. Whitney and the John Muir and Ansel Adams Wildernesses have drawn people to explore this country, in one way or another for most of the Forest's 100 year history. People have looked for and found ways to connect to this special place, many visiting year after year for recreation and renewal.

Our future points to a continued supply of quality recreation experiences and continued habitat and land restoration. We hope you take time in this Centennial year of 2007 to get out and explore old haunts and some new places too, connecting and re-connecting to this special place known as the Inyo National Forest. [Photo Inset: Old Forest Service vehicle and burro]

Join us in the celebration of your national forest lands!!

 

US Forest Service - Inyo National Forest
Last Modified: Friday, 01 February 2008 at 09:07:06 EST