Camping Sites

Shoot. I'm planning to head up there on December 1st. I'm praying the weather isn't too bad. Are the majority of the roads closed?

 

We won't know until the winter hits and the closures happen. Every year is different and it isn't realistic to try to forecast such things two months out.

 

It is if you live on the East Side. We have a closing and opening date pool every year. lol

 

For Yosemite camping I can highly recommend Yosemite Creek Campground (SE of White Wolf). Haven't been up there in years, but in the past there was always camping even when the park was peaking with campers. Several miles of very rough road (old mining road I think) and then a shaded creek with camp sites. The "tourists" simply don't want to deal with the rough road.

 

Anyone have suggestions on where to camp along berdoo if it’s even possible?

 

I made my first trip through there last Friday so this is a first impression. No. I wouldn't camp there.

Of course in the park you can only camp in the campgrounds and there aren't any along Berdoo.

BLM land is fine for dispersed camping of course and there is plenty of that just outside of the park. It seems that area is also used to shoot at whatever crap people brought so it is full of shot up crap. It was a regular Shooter's Gallery when I drove through. Somebody every quarter to half mile was set up. Most were set up to shoot 90º from the road but when I first came out of the park and down the canyon there were a couple of groups who had targets set up about 30 yards from the road and downrange was at about a 45º angle. I found that concerning and kept moving.

 

I ended up camping along Berdoo in the NP. Chatted with a Ranger as I was heading in and he didn't seem bothered asking if I was camping or not.

 

The State of the Inyo, current as of 12/02/20:

As a reminder of State Directives: Stay in your county if you can. Don’t drive more than 2-3 hours. The California Department of Public Health has issued a Travel Advisory encouraging Californians to avoid non-essential travel.https://covid19.ca.gov/stay-home-except-for-essential-needs

Mono Lake Ranger District:
Roads closed: Tioga Pass at the lower gate, Saddlebag Rd.Hwy 4 (Ebbetts Pass), Hwy 108 (Sonora Pass).

Roads open:Hwy 89 (Monitor Pass), Bodie Rd. (Hwy 270), Lundy Lake Rd. Hwy 120 E (Benton), Hwy 158.

Campgrounds closed for the season: Lundy Canyon (county), Tioga Lake, Junction, Moraine Saddlebag Lake, Saddlebag Lake Group, Sawmill Walk-in, Ellery Lake, Big Bend, Aspen, Lower Lee Vining, Hartley Springs, Glass Creek, Obsidian Flat Group, Upper Deadman, Lower Deadman, Aerie Crag, Reversed Creek, Gull Lake, June Lake, Silver Lake, Oh Ridge, Big Springs.

The Mono Basin Visitor Center is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone call daily,8:00 am to 4:30 pm, 760- 647-3044.

Mammoth Ranger District
Roads closed: Hwy. 203 (continuing to the Reds Meadow Rd.) at Mammoth Mountain Inn, Old Mammoth Rd., Lake Basin Rd.

Roads open: Mammoth Scenic Loop.

Campgrounds open: Mammoth Mtn. RV Park.

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

The Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association is operating their bookstore at the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center, Friday through Monday 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Visitor questions are being answered via phone call daily, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, 760-924-5502.
The Devils Postpile Ranger Station is closed for the season.

White Mountain Ranger District:
Roads open: McGee Creek Rd., Rock Creek Road to the pack station, Buttermilk Rd., Hwy 168 to Aspendell, South Lake Rd to Bishop Creek Lodge., White Mountain Rd., Silver Canyon Rd. (4x4-high clearance expect winter damage), Wyman Canyon Rd. (4x4-high clearance), Big Pine Canyon.

Road closed: Rock Creek Rd after the pack station, Hwy 168 from Aspendell to Sabrina Lake, North Lake Rd., South Lake Road after Bishop Creek Lodge.

Campgrounds Open: Horton (BLM), Goodale (BLM), Pleasant Valley (County), Pleasant Valley Pit (BLM), Bitterbrush (winter ops), Baker Creek (County), Taboose Creek (County), Tinnemaha Creek (County).

Campgrounds closed: Convict Lake, Holiday , Aspen Group, Palisade Group, McGee Creek, Tuff, Rock Creek, Iris Meadow, Big Meadow, East Fork, French Camp, Rock Creek Group, Mosquito Flat Backpacker, Pine Grove, Upper Pine Grove, Table Mountain Group, Forks, Intake 2, Four Jeffrey, Sabrina, Bishop Park, Big Trees, Bishop Park Group, Willow, Mountain Glen, North Lake Grandview, Cedar Flat Group, Clyde, Sage Flat, Upper Sage Flat, Big Pine Creek, Glacier Group, Palisade Glacier Group.

The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center is closed.
The White Mountain Ranger Station Visitor Center is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone , 760-873-2500., Monday – Friday, 8:00 am -4:30 pm, closed federal holidays.

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

Campgrounds open:Independence Creek (county), Tuttle Creek (BLM), Lower Grays Meadow (winter ops), ), Lone Pine (winter ops), Boulder Creek RV Resort (private), Portuguese Joe (county), Diaz Lake (County).

Campgrounds closed: Upper Grays Meadow, Onion Valley, Whitney Portal, Whitney Portal Group, Whitney Portal Trailhead Campground, Cottonwood Lakes, Cottonwood Pass, Horseshoe Meadows Equestrian, Kennedy Meadows.

The Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association is operating their bookstore at the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center in Lone Pine, Friday through Monday 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Visitor questions are being answered via phone , 760-876-6200, Monday- Friday, 8:00 am -4:30 pm, closed federal holidays

Bishop BLM Field Office is in fire restrictions.

Christmas Tree Permits are online this year:
Traditionally, the Inyo National Forest has sold Christmas Tree permits for the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and the Bishop BLM Field Office at our visitor centers.
The Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association (ESIA) is also selling permits for the Humboldt-Toiyabe NF at the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center Friday through Monday 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the ESIA office in Bishop (behind the White Mountain Visitor Center) Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Permits are also online: for the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest: Visit Recreation.gov and search for Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Christmas Tree permit.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/htnf/passes-permits/?cid=fseprd564027
For the Bishop BLM Field Office:
https://www.blm.gov/press-release/b...-offers-christmas-tree-cutting-permits-online

 

Sadly I have to report that the state of California has issued a ban on short-term lodging in both Inyo and Mono Counties starting on Sunday/Monday. The ban will last 3 weeks and then be evaluated weekly after that time frame.
Mammoth Mountain plans to stay open for locals and for people who own homes and condos in the area. What lifts and runs will be open starting on Monday is not clear at this time.
If you’re a person who prays please lift us up and all those around this state who are going to lose part or all of their incomes with this new round of shutdowns.

 

Damn. How will the mountain be able to tell for ticket purchases?

 

USFS Closing Developed Campgrounds on Eight National Forests in California
USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region has decided to close developed campgrounds on eight National Forests in California to provide consistent COVID-19 mitigation response in accordance with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Stay-at-Home Order of December 3, 2020. The eight National Forests are in California’s Southern and San Joaquin zones: Angeles NF, Cleveland NF, Inyo NF, Los Padres NF, San Bernardino NF, Sequoia NF, Sierra NF, and Stanislaus NF. These Regional Orders will be in effect from December 8, 2020, through January 6, 2021. Additional Regional Orders affecting other zones are possible as well.


Day use of National Forests will remain open for the health and welfare of Californians. We urge all visitors to follow CDC guidelines to recreate responsibly and check with your local National Forests before visiting.
“This order will protect visitors and our employees by reducing exposure to COVID-19 and mitigating the further burden on limited healthcare facilities,” said Randy Moore, Regional Forester of the USDA Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest Region. “Campgrounds, like other overnight accommodations, create opportunities for people from differing households and communities to gather, require maintenance and regular cleaning, and entice the public to travel distances far enough from home to necessitate overnight accommodation. Taking those things out of the equation is a prudent measure at this time.”


The Pacific Southwest Region’s eighteen National Forests align with the state of California’s zones as follows:


Southern – San Bernardino, Los Padres, Cleveland, Angeles, Inyo National Forests


Northern – Mendocino, Modoc, Six Rivers, Shasta-Trinity, Klamath, Lassen National Forests


San Joaquin – Stanislaus, Sierra, Sequoia National Forests


Greater Sacramento – Eldorado, Tahoe, Plumas National Forests, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU).


We continue to recommend that you not travel long distances to recreate and, again, check with your local National Forest before visiting. If you or anyone in your household is feeling sick, please remain at home and plan your trip for another time. All visitors should practice self-sufficiency during your visits to national forests. Recreating responsibly will help ensure that expanded access to recreational facilities, services, and opportunities continues. Responsible recreation practices should be maintained at all times, including:

• Research winter road conditions and make sure your vehicle is snow ready;

• Maintaining at least six feet distancing from others;

• Do not gather in groups and please follow the latest guidance from officials;
• Communicate with others as you pass. Alert trail users of your presence and step aside to let others pass;
• Pack out your trash and leave with everything you bring in and use; and
• All services may not be available, so please plan accordingly.

 

Has anyone heard anything regarding dispersed camping on BLM land being restricted?

 

I haven't, but it's harder to find info on many BLM areas unless they are part of a designated recreation area or similar.

Keyesville OHV area near Kernville, CA is BLM land and it was Covid-closed to all access back in May. So it's possible developed campgrounds and some other BLM sites could be closed, but a lot of their land doesn't have any special designation and would be very hard to close.

 

Even if it is BLM, some areas are "environmental sensitive" and always closed to camping. Found that out in an area just north of Bishop - one side of the road is ok the other side gets you a ticket

 

Hopefully there was signage and/or fencing to let people know where it was ok or not ok to camp. I only dispersed camp in established spots, presuming those are ok.

 

Yes they put out a press release on it, all BLM land is still open.
https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-continues-encourage-responsible-recreation-public-lands

 

These are the best maps I have found for BLM/DFS trails and everything else:
I got mine for free from the BLM office in Bishop - West Line st, big bldg north of the parking lot of the DMV.
They also say you can download/view some at owlsheadgps.com probably find them elsewhere.

 

USFS Closes Developed Campgrounds on Four Additional National Forests
USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region has decided to close developed campgrounds on four additional National Forests in California to provide consistent COVID-19 mitigation response in accordance with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Stay-at-Home Orders. The Sacramento Region is being added to the Stay-at-Home Order and, in turn, developed campgrounds will now be closed on the Eldorado NF, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Plumas NF, and Tahoe NF. These Regional Orders will be in effect from December 11, 2020, through January 6, 2021.

 

Angeles National Forest has some nice spots. Check out Chialo Flats. Also Joshua Tree!

 

All the closures earlier in the year only forced people into other areas they may not have previously known about. Attempting to keep people inside has negative outcomes.