Wilderness Regulations

In addition to all county, state and federal laws, the following acts are prohibited in the Ansel Adams, John Muir, Hoover, Golden Trout and South Sierra wildernesses: 

• Camping overnight in the wilderness without a valid wilderness permit or entering or being in the Mount Whitney Zone without a valid wilderness permit at any time.
• Possessing camping or pack-outfitting equipment, including one or more of the following: tents, sleeping bags, bear canisters, camp stoves, without a valid Forest Service Wilderness Permit.
• Entering or being in the wilderness in a group larger than 15 persons.  Large groups cannot exceed group size limits even if they have separate permits.
• Leaving any debris, garbage or refuse within the wilderness.
• Storing or leaving unattended equipment, personal property or supplies for more than 24 hours.
• Shortcutting a switchback on any forest trail. 

The above include enforceable Forest Service regulations with maximum penalties of $5,000 and/or 6 months in jail. Violation of permit terms or other Forest Service regulations may also invalidate an issued permit, requiring a group to terminate their visit. 

The full Wilderness Use Restrictions Forest Order and its associated maps can be found here.

Food and refuse storage requirements are in effect year-round for all wilderness areas in Inyo National Forest. 

Storing food and scented items in containers designed to prevent access by bears is required in 8 areas with a history of conflict between bears and humans:  

• Bishop Pass area (includes Treasure Lakes)
• Cottonwood Lakes / Cottonwood Pass area
• Duck Pass / Purple Lake area (includes John Muir Trail to Lake Virginia)
• Fish Creek area
• Kearsarge Pass area
• Little Lakes Valley area (includes to the crest of Mono Pass)
• Mammoth Lakes / Rush Creek area (includes John Muir Trail to Yosemite)
• Mount Whitney area 

In areas where food storage containers are not mandatory you may use either containers the counter balance method to hang food at least 15 feet above the ground and 10 feet horizontally from a tree trunk. Bear container use is also required when camping in any area without trees adequate to hang food at least 15 feet above ground and 10 feet from tree trunk.  No other methods of food storage are allowed. More information can be found in Traveling in Bear Country.   

Do not feed any wildlife. It is not acceptable to burn or bury food or trash.

The above include enforceable Forest Service regulations with maximum penalties of $5,000 and/or 6 months in jail. Violation of permit terms or other Forest Service regulations may also invalidate an issued permit, requiring a group to terminate their visit. 

The full Food and Refuse Storage Restrictions Forest Order and its associated maps can be found here.

Campfires are prohibited year round for all areas above 10,000 ft. north of the Mt Humphreys and Mt Emerson ridgeline and all areas above 10,400 ft. south of the Mt Humphreys and Mt Emerson ridgeline.  Portable stoves using gas, petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel may be used, but stoves that burn twigs or trash, charcoal briquettes, or other solid fuel are not allowed in these areas. 

Additional areas closed to campfires: 

• Saddlebag Lake area (20 Lakes Basin) Map C
• Bloody Canyon & Parker drainages Map E
• Rush Creek, Thousand Island Lake & Garnet Lake Map F
• Shadow Creek & Minaret Lake area Map G
• King Creek drainage (Fern and Beck Lake trails) Map H
• Coldwater drainage (Duck Pass trail) Map I
• Duck Creek & Purple Lake area Map J
• Upper Fish Creek Map K
• Convict Creek & McGee Creek Map L
• Hilton Creek drainage Map M
• Pine Creek & Horton Lakes Map N
• Big Pine North & South Forks Map O
• Taboose Creek drainage Map P
• Kearsarge Pass & Onion Valley area Map Q
• Shepherd Pass / Anvil Camp Map R
• Mt Whitney area  Map S
• Cottonwood Pass /Chicken Spring Lake Map B
• Rocky Basin Lakes Map B 

The above include enforceable Forest Service regulations with maximum penalties of $5,000 and/or 6 months in jail. Violation of permit terms or other Forest Service regulations may also invalidate an issued permit, requiring a group to terminate their visit. 

The full Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness Campfire Restrictions Forest Order and its associated maps can be found here.

Where you camp matters.  Please choose an existing campsite at least 100 feet from trails and water sources. Specific campsites are not reserved or assigned by your permit.   Avoid damaging new areas. Do not camp on vegetation, move rocks, build walls, or disturb soils or plants to create a camp site. 

Site specific camping closures are in effect to protect fragile areas that have been over-camped in the past and need restoration. 

Ansel Adams Wilderness   

• Shadow Lake: no camping at the lake, or between Shadow Creek and the trail.
• Ediza Lake: no camping within 1/8 mile of the south side of the lake.
• Garnet Lake: no camping within ¼ mile of the outlet.
• Thousand Island Lake: no camping within ¼ mile of the outlet. 

John Muir Wilderness 

• Mt Whitney area:  no camping at Mirror Lake or Trailside Meadow on the Mt. Whitney trail.
• Duck Lake: no camping within 300 feet of the outlet.
• Purple Lake: no camping within 300 feet of the outlet. 

The above include enforceable Forest Service regulations with maximum penalties of $5,000 and/or 6 months in jail. Violation of permit terms or other Forest Service regulations may also invalidate an issued permit, requiring a group to terminate their visit. 

The full Wilderness Use Restrictions Forest Order and its associated maps can be found here.

Dogs or other pets are allowed for trips staying in the National Forest. 

• Dogs should be under control, on leash or responsive to verbal command.
• Do not allow pets to chase or harass wildlife.
• Pet food must be stored the same as required for your food.
• Pet waste should be treated like human waste and not left on trails, in campsites, or within 100 feet of water sources. 

Dogs are prohibited, as are any other pets, on trips visiting the wilderness of Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.  The summit of Mt. Whitney is in Sequoia National Park; pets are not allowed. 

Stock includes traditional saddle and pack animals like horse and mules, as well as other animals like llama, burro, and goats. Dogs are considered pets even if they carry a pack.  Seasonal grazing restrictions apply where grazing is allowed. 

The following are prohibited in Inyo National Forest wilderness: 

• Possessing or transporting more than 25 head of saddle or pack animals.
• Camping with a saddle or pack animal within a ¼ mile of either side of the trail between Shepherd Pass Trailhead and Shepherd Pass. .
• Grazing saddle or pack stock within a ¼ mile of either side of the trail between the Shepherd Pass Trailhead and Shepherd Pass.
• Possessing a saddle or pack animal within a ¼ mile of either side of the trail between Trail Crest and Whitney Portal
• Transporting a saddle or pack animal on any trail by loose herding or driving, except on portions of trails where it is unsafe to keep the animals tied together.  

To prevent disease transmission that endangered bighorn sheep use of pack goats is prohibited west of Highway 395 in Inyo National Forest. 

In Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness areas, the number of stock will affect your group size limit and grazing restrictions may apply. Contact the parks. 

The above include enforceable Forest Service regulations with maximum penalties of $5,000 and/or 6 months in jail. Violation of permit terms or other Forest Service regulations may also invalidate an issued permit, requiring a group to terminate their visit. 

The full Wilderness Use Restrictions Forest Order and its associated maps can be found here.

The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace provide an easily understood framework of minimum impact practices for anyone visiting the outdoors.  

• Plan Ahead and Prepare
• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
• Dispose of Waste Properly
• Leave What You Find
• Minimize Campfire Impacts
• Respect Wildlife
• Be Considerate of Others 

Watch this: Leave No Trace Principles on Mount Whitney