Inyo County
United States · Americas
About Inyo County
Inyo County is in California extending from the Eastern Sierra region east into the Desert. Known as "the Other Side of California," the county is a vast expanse along the eastern edge of California that covers 10,000 square miles (16,000 km2), an area greater than six U.S. states (VT, NH, NJ, CT, DE and RI). The county is sparsely populated, with a total population of 19,016 and much of the county's area having few or no residents.
Inyo County travel guide
Understand
Inyo County is a land of extremes. It claims the highest and lowest points in the 48-contiguous states. You'll find hot and cold, wet and dry, barren and lush, refined and common at different times and in different parts of the county. The two most distinct aspects of Inyo County are Death Valley and the Eastern Sierra. Within these destinations are such natural wonders as Death Valley National Park, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, the Palisade Glacier, Mt. Whitney, Rock Creek Canyon, the High Sierra and a classic western landscape that has been seen in countless motion pictures. With six million acres (2.4 million hectares) of public land, Inyo County offers numerous opportunities to explore, recreate and be amazed. Inyo County was historically land of the Mono, Timbisha, and Paiute Native American tribes. It was organized as county in 1866. In its early days, Inyo County's main industry was mining, first gold and silver, then borax. A major event in Inyo County history was the 1913 diversion of the Owens River Valley by Los Angeles water interests. During World War II, Inyo County interred Japanese-Americans at Manzanar. The county boasts one famous institution of higher education, Deep Springs College. The century-old, tuition-free two-year college is located on a remote cattle ranch near the Nevada state border. Students operate both the ranch and the tiny but highly selective college.
Getting there
US 395 is known as "California's back road". The highway traverses 100 miles of Inyo County from north-to-south and provides non-stop views of the scenic side of the Sierra Nevada mountains. You can take US 395 north to Carson City and Reno, or south to the 14 (toward Mojave and Los Angeles) or the 15 (toward the Inland Empire). There is one daily flight between Bishop Airport and San Francisco, another between Bishop and Denver. Airports with more flights, such as LAX and Las Vegas, are several hours away by car.
Getting around
US 395 connects Bishop, Big Pine, Independence, Lone Pine and Olancha. State Route 190 runs from Olancha into Death Valley National Park.
See
Inyo National Forest and the John Muir Wilderness – For complete retreat, backpack or take a mule pack trip to the high country; to dozens upon dozens of remote glassine lakes with romantic names like Lake Helen of Troy, Elinore Lake, Moonlight Lake and the Treasure Lakes. You will understand why John Muir wrote, "Climb the mountains, and get their good tidings." Few experiences are as emotionally satiating as being in the rarefied air of the Eastern High Sierra in settings whose beauty defy description. Palisade Glacier – The southernmost glacier in the U.S. and the largest in the Sierra Nevada is located west of Big Pine and is visible from U.S. 395. The glacier sits at the base of Palisade Crest in the North Fork Basin. The scenery attracts hikers to trails that follow the ancient glacier. California Bighorn Sheep – Flocks of endangered Sierra Bighorn and threatened Desert Bighorn can be seen within minutes of one another, north of Bishop. The Sierra Bighorn are seen in at the end of roads leading up into Sierra Canyons west of U.S. 395. The Desert Bighorn are seen near the end of roads leading up into the White Mountains, east of U.S. 395. Bring binoculars and look for duff-colored coats. Rock Creek Canyon – Between Bishop and Mammoth Lakes is picture-perfect Rock Creek Canyon. Rugged Eastern Sierra sawtooth peaks rise above emerald meadows, populated with fluttering aspens and cut my meandering clear streams. The Backcountry – Follow CA-168 west from Bishop, 23 miles to trails that lead to the Green Lakes, Treasure Lakes and Bishop Pass. The pass is an 11-mile hike beyond the end of the road at 11,980 ft/3,651 m. Bring a fishing rod for entertainment along the way. Fall color - The Weather Channel picked the Inyo National Forest as having the second best fall color in America.
Do
The Buttermilks - One of the most diverse, renowned and accessible bouldering areas in the county. The Happy and Sad Boulders - Located in the Volcanic Tablelands Area north of Bishop, and contain hundreds of routes and problems. Baxter Pass Trailhead—John Muir Wilderness - This trailhead is located at the end of a good Forest Service road out of Independence that is steep but doesn't require 4WD.
Sleep
Lodging is limited in the county but can be found in Shoshone, Lone Pine and Bishop.
Go next
1 San Bernardino County - Inyo County's southern neighbor, massive San Bernardino County covers 20,000 miles of the California Desert, an area larger than nine of the US states. The Mojave National Preserve is a centerpiece of the region, spanning portions of the Mojave, Great Basin, and Sonoran deserts. Fans of Americana will enjoy cruising historic Route 66, which bisects the county across its southern half and includes the ghost town of Amboy. The western side of the county spans both the outskirts of Los Angeles and the San Bernardino mountains, including popular destinations such as Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead. 2 Kern County - Bordering Inyo County to the southwest, Kern County extends across a number of geographic regions: the western portion is in the San Joaquin Valley, the northeastern portion is in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and the southeastern part is in the Desert. Visitors to the county are most likely to be heading to Bakersfield, one of California's largest cities, or traveling along Interstate 5 past oil fields and agricultural areas. 3 Tulare County - Neighboring Inyo County to the west, Tulare County has two distinct personalities. The western half of the county lies within the agricultural Central Valley, offering rural landscapes as well as plenty of hotels and other amenities for travelers. The eastern portion of the county features the wilderness and high elevation of the Sierra Nevada range, including the largest trees on earth in Sequoia National Park, and the western slopes of Mount Whitney. 4 Fresno County - Inyo County's neighbor to the northwest, sprawling Fresno County is home to Fresno, California's fifth-largest city, and vast agricultural areas. The eastern side of the county is mountainous, featuring the remote wilderness of Kings Canyon National Park, which attracts visitors to its giant sequoias and unspoiled meadows that lie at the crest of the Sierra Nevada range. 5 Mono County - Located north of Inyo County, remot
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.