Hi, Friend,

It's been a crazy winter with tons of snow in the Eastern Sierra. When
will your favorite campgrounds open for the season? Which roads are
still closed and when will they open?

The Forest Service reveals all below in its latest update (4/28/17). Just
remember that estimated opening dates for campgrounds could change
depending on a number of factors:

Mono Lake Ranger District

Roads open: Lundy Canyon (to the resort), Panum Crater, Hwy 120 E
(Benton), June Lake Loop (Hwy 158).

Roads closed: Tioga Pass (Hwy 120 W) at the winter gate closure,
Saddlebag Lake Rd., Sonora Pass (Hwy 108), Monitor Pass (Hwy 89),
Bodie (Hwy 270), Parker Lake Rd.

Campgrounds open: Lundy Canyon (county- limited sites due to snow,
first-come, first served), Aerie Crag, Gull Lake, June Lake, Oh Ridge,
Silver Lake.

Campgrounds closed: Aspen Grove, Big Bend, Moraine, Lower Lee Vining,
Sawmill Walk-in, Saddlebag Lake, Saddlebag Trailhead Group Camp, Tioga
Lake, Reversed Creek (5/12), Upper and Lower Deadman, Big Springs,
Obsidian Flat Group, Ellery Lake, Hartley Springs, Glass Creek, Junction.

The Mono Basin Visitor Center is open Thursday through Monday, 9:00 am
-4:00 pm.

Mammoth Ranger District

Roads open: Convict Lake, Hot Creek Hatchery, Inyo Craters, Laurel
Canyon (snow level 7,500 ft.), Mammoth Creek, Mammoth Scenic Loop.

Roads closed: Lakes Basin, Old Mammoth Rd. to Lakes Basin, Reds Meadow
Valley Road.

Campgrounds open: Crowley Lake (BLM), Convict Lake, Mammoth Mtn.
RV Park (private, year round).

Campgrounds closed: Agnew Meadows (7/30), Agnew Meadows Group (7/30),
Agnew Meadows Horse Campground (7/30), Brown’s Owens River (private),
Coldwater (6/2), Devils Postpile (NPS), Lake George (6/2), Lake Mary (6/2),
Minaret Falls (7/15), New Shady Rest (5/5), Old Shady Rest (6/2), Pine City (6/2),
Pine Glen Family/Group (6/20), Pumice Flat (7/15), Pumice Flat Group
(7/15), Reds Meadow (7/15), Sherwin Creek (5/15), Twin Lakes (6/1), Upper
Soda Springs (7/15),

The Mammoth Welcome Center is open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily.

Devils Postpile Ranger Station is closed for the season.

White Mountain Ranger District

CARMA restoration area remains closed.

Roads open: Rock Creek Rd to the Sno Park Gate, Buttermilk Rd. (storm
damage), Hwy 168 to Lake Sabrina (limited parking at lake, expect snow),
South Lake Rd. to Parchers Resort (limited parking, icy conditions), Big
Pine Canyon (Glacier Lodge) Rd.

Roads closed: McGee Creek Rd (snow berm), Rock Creek Road (at the
Sno Park Gate, plowing is 4 miles from lake, one lane), North Lake, South
Lake Rd. at Parchers Lodge, White Mt. Rd. at the Sierra View gate, Silver
Canyon Rd. at gate, Wyman Canyon Rd. at gate.

Opening 4/29: Bishop Park, Bishop Park Group Camp, Forks, Intake II.

Campgrounds open: Grandview (no water, no trash service, firewood is
limited, under snow), Holiday open (no water, no fee), Tuff, Bitterbrush,
Big Trees, Pleasant Valley Pit (BLM), Horton Creek (BLM), Goodale (BLM),
Pleasant Valley (County).

Campground closed: Pine Grove, Big Meadow, Iris Meadow, French Camp,
Mosquito Flat Backpacker, McGee Creek, Rock Creek Lake, Cedar Grove
Group Camp, Aspen Group Camp, Big Trees, Four Jeffrey, Mountain Glen,
Willow, North Lake, Clyde Glacier Group Camp, Palisade Glacier Group Camp,
Table Mountain Group, Sabrina, Big Pine Creek, Sage Flat, Upper Sage Flat.

The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center is closed – not
estimated opening date.

The White Mountain Ranger Station Visitor Center is open Monday-Friday,
9:00 am to 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm- 5:00 pm. It will be open seven days a week,
8:00 am - 5:00 pm starting May 1.

Mt Whitney Ranger District:

Roads open: Foothill Rd., Division Creek Rd., Haiwee Canyon Rd., Mazourka
Canyon Rd., Movie Rd., Sage Flat Rd., Onion Valley Rd. (icy conditions at
times), Whitney Portal Rd.

Roads closed: Horseshoe Meadow Rd. (damaged, county estimates June
opening).

Campgrounds open: Boulder Creek RV Resort, Diaz Lake (County), Upper
and Lower Grays Meadow, Lone Pine Campground, Independence Creek
(County), Portagee Joe (County), Tuttle Creek (BLM, no water or dump
station).

Campgrounds closed: Onion Valley, Whitney Portal, Whitney Portal
Trailhead, Cottonwood Lakes/ Pass Trailhead, Horseshoe Meadow
Equestrian.

The Eastern Sierra Visitor Center in Lone Pine is open daily from 9:00 am
to 5:00 pm, ranger desk is closed noon to 1:00 pm. It will be open 8:00 am
to 5:00 pm starting May 1.

Remember, if you want to know which campsites in the Eastern Sierra
have the most privacy, read our Eastern Sierra And Death Valley
Camping With Privacy book available at Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Eastern-Sierra-Valley-Camping-Privacy/dp/1515196208/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493778362&sr=8-1&keywords=eastern+sierra+and+death+valley+camping+with+privacy

Wishing you many adventures in the Eastern Sierra,

Kim and Patrick Wilkes

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