Inyo National Forest

Home to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest with the oldest known living trees on Earth, Inyo spans the dramatic eastern Sierra from the Owens Valley to the crest, encompassing Mount Whitney (14,505 ft), the highest peak in the contiguous United States. The forest covers over 1.9 million acres along the Eastern Sierra escarpment, one of the most dramatic mountain fronts in North America, where peaks rise nearly 10,000 feet above the Owens Valley floor. Nine designated wilderness areas protect over 800,000 acres of alpine terrain, including the John Muir and Ansel Adams Wilderness areas traversed by the famous John Muir Trail. The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains contains Methuselah, a Great Basin bristlecone pine over 4,850 years old, making it one of the oldest known non-clonal organisms on Earth. Mammoth Mountain ski area, natural hot springs of the Long Valley Caldera, and world-class rock climbing at the Buttermilks and Owens River Gorge draw visitors year-round. The forest provides critical habitat for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, an endangered species recovered through careful management, while iconic landscapes including the Alabama Hills, Convict Lake, Rock Creek Canyon, and the June Lake Loop offer legendary trout fishing and photography opportunities.