Press releases

Tioga Pass is listed as open in the State of the Inyo for now, although the pass closes at 5:00 pm tonight. This has not been announced at the season closure– instead the pass is closing with the incoming snow in the forecast and Yosemite and Caltrans will evaluate based on what the weather does.  Still, visitor centers will want to keep an eye on the road conditions updates.

The State of the Inyo, current as of 10/19/17

Mono Lake Ranger District

tioga pass

Roads open: Monitor Pass (Hwy 89), Sonora Pass (Hwy 108), Tioga Pass (Hwy 120 W), Saddlebag Lake Rd., Bodie (Hwy 270), Lundy Canyon, Panum Crater, Hwy 120 E (Benton), June Lake Loop (Hwy 158), Parker Lake Rd.

Campgrounds open: Lundy Canyon (county), Aerie Crag (est. closing 10/22), Gull Lake (est. closing 10/22), June Lake (est. closing 10/22), Oh Ridge (est. closing 10/22), Reversed Creek (est. closing 10/22), Silver Lake (est. closing 11/5), Glass Creek (est. closing 10/31).

Campgrounds closed: Lower Lee Vining, Moraine, Aspen Grove, Big Bend, Ellery Lake, Tioga Lake, Junction, Sawmill Walk-in, Saddlebag Lake, Saddlebag Lake Group Camp, Big Springs, Hartley Springs, Obsidian Flat, Upper and Lower Deadman.

The Mono Basin Visitor Center is open seven days a week, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Starting 10/15, it will be open 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, ThursdayMonday. Estimated closing is 12/1.

Mammoth Ranger District

Roads open: Convict Lake, Hot Creek Hatchery, Inyo Craters, Lakes Basin, Old Mammoth Rd. to Lakes Basin, Reds Meadow Rd. (no overnight parking starting 10/15, est. closing 10/29), Mammoth Creek, Mammoth Scenic Loop, Laurel Canyon.

Campgrounds open: Crowley Lake (BLM), Convict Lake (est. closing 10/31), Mammoth Mtn. RV Park (private, year round), New Shady Rest (est. closing 11/5), Twin Lakes (est. closing 10/22).

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

The Mammoth Welcome Center is open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily. Starting 11/27/17, it will open daily8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Devils Postpile Ranger Station is closed for the season. No potable water at DEPO.

White Mountain Ranger District

CARMA restoration area closure. The main entrance gate on road 8S40 (east gate) to the restoration site is locked.  The western entrance of 8S40 is open, allowing access to the roads 8S40B and 35E306.  At road 35E306, road 8S40 is gated and closed to motorized vehicle travel.  Respect the restoration efforts being made and not travel w/motorized vehicles beyond closed gates or park off of established roadways where vegetative seeding has occurred.

Roads open:  McGee Creek Rd., Rock Creek Rd., Buttermilk Rd. (storm damage), North Lake Rd., Hwy 168 to Lake Sabrina, South Lake Rd., Big Pine Canyon (Glacier Lodge) Rd., White Mt. Rd to the Barcroft Gate Silver Canyon Rd., Wyman Canyon Rd. (expect difficult conditions).

Campgrounds open: McGee Creek (est. closing 10/31), Iris Meadow (est. closing 10/23), Big Meadow (est. closing 10/23), Mosquito Flat Backpacker, Tuff (est. closing 10/31), French Camp (est. closing 10/31), Aspen Group Camp, Bitterbrush (winter ops starting 10/30), Forks (est. closing 10/30),  Four Jeffrey (est. closing 10/30),  Willow (est. closing 10/30),  Big Pine Creek (no water, est. closing 10/24), Sage Flat (est. closing 10/24),  Goodale  (no water, BLM), Grandview (no water, no trash service, firewood is limited), Horton Creek (BLM), Pleasant Valley Pit (BLM),  Pleasant Valley (County).

Campground closed: Holiday, Pine Grove, East Fork, Rock Creek, Bishop Park, Bishop Park Group, Big Trees, Intake 2, Mountain Glen, Table Mountain Group, Sabrina, North Lake, Upper Sage Flat, Clyde Glacier Group Camp, Palisade Glacier Group Camp, Cedar Flat Group Camp.

The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center is open, seven days a week, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The BCVC is open Friday through Sunday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The last day of BCVC operation will be Sunday, October 29th, weather permitting.

The White Mountain Ranger Station Visitor Center is open seven days a week, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, closed for lunch (noon- 1:00 pm).

Mt Whitney Ranger District:

Roads open: Foothill Rd., Division Creek Rd., Haiwee Canyon Rd., Mazourka Canyon Rd., Movie Rd., Sage Flat Rd., Whitney Portal Rd, Horseshoe Meadow Rd., Onion Valley Rd.

Campgrounds open: Boulder Creek RV Resort, Diaz Lake (County), Upper and Lower Grays Meadow (est. closing 10/31), Lone Pine Campground (winter ops starting  10/31), Independence Creek (County), Onion Valley (no water, est. closing 10/31), Kennedy Meadows, Portagee Joe (County), Tuttle Creek (BLM) Whitney Portal (no water, est. closing 10/31), Whitney Portal Trailhead (no water), Cottonwood Lakes/ Pass Trailhead (est. closing 10/31), Horseshoe Meadow Equestrian (est. closing 10/31).

The Eastern Sierra Visitor Center in Lone Pine is open daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The Inyo National Forest is NOT in Fire Restrictions for fire hazard.

Tioga Pass

BISHOP— The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is closing the lower gate on State Route 120 West (Tioga Pass) to the Yosemite National Park entrance gate today, Thursday, October 19th at 5:00 p.m. due to incoming inclement weather. This closure is in conjunction with the closure of the Yosemite National Park gate also scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

The partial reopening of SR 120 West is dependent upon favorable weather.  Please check local highway conditions before planning to use SR 120 West.

For the latest highway information please visit the Caltrans QuickMap site at quickmap.dot.ca.gov orcall the Road Condition Hotline at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623).

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BISHOP – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is scheduled to close State Routes 4 and 108 in the Sierra Nevada today, Thursday, October 19th, due to incoming inclement weather. The closures will be as follows:

  • State Route 4 (Ebbetts Pass) from Lake Alpine to gate #3 (west of Silver Creek campground) at 9:00 p.m.
  • State Route 108 (Sonora Pass) from Kennedy Meadows to the east side winter closure gate (west of Pickle Meadows) at 3:00 p.m.
    The partial reopening of these routes is dependent upon favorable weather.  Please check local highway conditions before planning to travel to the high country.

For the latest highway information please visit the Caltrans QuickMap site at quickmap.dot.ca.gov orcall the Road Condition Hotline at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623).

For road conditions in Yosemite National Park, please visit https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm  or call 209-372-0200.

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