My short hike had a bit of a climb up to a pretty lake with late summer wildflowers still blooming and nearby mountains reflecting in its clear water. Waterfowl were feeding, frogs were swimming and Clark’s Nutcatchers were busy harvesting! Where: Inyo National ForestDistance: 3.19 MilesDifficulty: Moderate Elevational Range: 9,730′ to 10,526′Elevation Gain: 869′Date: September 1, 2022CALTOPO: Hiking to Gardisky ...

MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — The Sierra National Forest High Sierra Ranger District will be closing Dinkey Creek Visitor Center on September 4th and High Sierra Visitor Center (at Kaiser Pass) on September 19th for the 2022 season. The High Sierra Ranger District Office remains open all year around. The District Office is currently open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to ...

SACRAMENTO – The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) is pleased to announce the winner of the 2022 Rural County Photo Contest, with this year’s first place prize going to Jay Coberly for his spectacular photo of a mountain range and surrounding valley in Inyo County. Photographers, amateur and professional alike, from all over California submitted photographs in this year’s ...

White puffy clouds danced across the blue sky, casting their reflections in turquoise glacial-fed lakes. And those wildflowers were putting on a show along the trail that miners of yesterday utilized as they searched for their lucky strike! Where: Harvey Monroe Hall Research Natural Area, Hoover Wilderness, Inyo National ForestDistance: 10.05 Miles (shorter by about 2.6 miles if the water ...

Can you picture a wildflower-lined trail leading you by small reflective tarns, beautiful lakes and wildly colorful mountains? That was my adventure with Fannie the Corgi, along with some snow-playing, fishing, rain and rumblings of thunder. Where: Inyo National Forest, Hoover WildernessDistance: 10.3 MilesDifficulty: ModerateElevation Range: 10,090′ – 10,359′Elevation Gain: 1,100′Date: July 18, 2022CALTOPO: Hiking 20 Lakes Loop with FannieDog ...

It was that magical day when Tioga Road reopened and I wandered across to say hello to some of my old friends: Tenaya Lake, Tuolumne Meadows, Tioga Lake and Saddlebag Lake. I never know how much snow or ice I will see until I make the trek. Please join me on my wandering. Where: Hoover Wilderness, Inyo National ForestElevation Range: ...

There is no need to travel far to see fall colors, just a drive or walk where you live will deliver. But I put in some extra miles because I just couldn’t resist heading over to the Sierra’s eastside to do some leaf peeping at Convict Lake, even more beautiful with a dusting of snow up high on those rugged ...

I thought of the people whose footsteps walked before me on the historic trail Mono Pass Trail. Native Americans have been using this trail to travel from the Mono Basin toward Tuolumne Meadows and beyond for eons. Miners with dreams of hitting a big gold strike walked on it. Mules carrying loads of whisky, and apparently sardines, to those miners ...

Sally the Weimaraner, Fannie the Corgi and I headed up to the glacial-fed Conness Lakes in the Tioga Pass area. I have no doubt they enjoyed their adventure but I especially love to visit these magical lakes that change color before my eyes. Where: Harvey Monroe Hall Research Natural Area, Hoover Wilderness, Inyo National ForestDistance: 9.95 Miles (includes about 2.6 ...

Sally the Weimaraner and Fannie the Corgi loved their adventure on the 20 Lakes Loop Trail, especially the part where they got to play in the snow! Located in the Hoover Wilderness, this trail led us by beautiful lakes, small tarns and mountains still streaked with snow. Where: Inyo National Forest, Hoover WildernessDistance: 8.7 MilesDifficulty: ModerateElevation Range: 10,092′ – 10,359′Date: ...