About
Inyo National Forest lies in eastern California, with a stretch reaching into western Nevada. It takes in part of the Sierra Nevada, the long granite range that runs down the state's eastern side, and it is home to Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States.
What the visit offers
The forest suits visitors who come for mountains. Its terrain is that of the Sierra Nevada, so the landscape is shaped by high peaks and steep relief rather than gentle hills. Mount Whitney draws many people for its height alone, and the wider forest gives the same kind of high-country scenery across its many miles.
Planning a trip
- Location: eastern California, on the Nevada border, along the eastern flank of the Sierra Nevada.
- Who it suits: hikers, mountain walkers and anyone who wants a large, mountainous natural setting.
- Around it: the surrounding eastern Sierra country, which is the natural base for exploring the forest and its high terrain.
Because the forest covers a large and varied area, it is worth deciding in advance which part of it you want to see. Mount Whitney is the best-known feature, but the forest as a whole offers more of the same high Sierra landscape for those who want to go further than one peak.
