Inyo National Forest

The great eastern front of California's Sierra Nevada and the parallel, similarly high White and Inyo Mountains; these are the lands of "the Inyo," one of the most spectacular and popular national forests in America. Established at the dawn of the 20th century to secure more water for Los Angeles, the forest now spans 165 miles and two million acres. From the Kern Plateau south of Mount Whitney to the peaks above Yosemite, plus Mono Lake, the mountains, lake basins, and canyons here have become some of America's favorite places for fishing, hiking, climbing, and skiing. The Inyo National Forest is also America's refuge for Sierra bighorn, golden trout, and bristlecone pines, the world's oldest living trees.