Inyo National Forest

Inyo National Forest encompasses a total area of about 1.9 million acres and spreads across several counties including Esmeralda and Mineral counties in Nevada as well as Inyo, Tulare, Fresno, Mono, and Madera counties in California. The closest and most significant city to the forest is Bishop city, but you can also find called Mammoth Lakes town nearby. 

Generally, Inyo National Forest spreads 165 miles along the California and Nevada border between Reno and Ridgecrest. The forest's headquarters are in Bishop, but there are also ranger district offices in Bishop, Lone Pine, Lee Vining, and Mammoth Lakes. The forest was established on May 25, 1907, and is managed by the USDA/U.S. Forest Service. 

Several features make Inyo National Forest an exquisite place to visit. First, the forest is home to the Mono Basin National Scenic Area which is an area of unusual geological formations known as tufa. The forest is also home to Mono Lake which is estimated to be over 700,000 years old and is today a curiosity because its waters are two and a half times saltier than typical seawater. 

Third, the forest is home to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest which is the habitat of the world's oldest known living trees. Some trees in the forest are over 40 centuries old. Fourth, the forest is also a favorite location for Hollywood wild-west movies near attractive rock formations like Mount Whitney which is California's highest peak. 

All the above attractions are just a part of the things that you can enjoy in the forest. For example, visitors can also enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities like camping, fishing, mountain biking, water-skiing, boating, swimming, horseback riding, cross-country and downhill skiing, sledding, hiking, snowmobiling, and ice skating. 

If you love to bring your dog along for your recreational activities, you will be happy to know that Inyo National Forest allows a wide variety of pets including dogs. That said, all dogs must be under the immediate control of their owner and dogs must always be well-behaved as well. Before you can venture into the forest, it is a good idea to ask about areas of the forest that you can and cannot visit when you are with your dog.