Exploration

Friends of the Inyo believes the more people connect with nature’s beauty, the more compelled they will be to protect public lands.

On foot, skis or 4×4, the Friends of the Inyo community gets outside and encourages others to come along. By exploring new places and sharing your own stories of this place, you can become part of the family of people who love and care for the Eastern Sierra today and tomorrow.

Where to explore in the Inyo

The name Inyo comes from a Native American word meaning “dwelling place of the great spirit.” As a region, Inyo can be defined a number of different ways—it includes the counties of Inyo and Mono, with nearly twenty named mountain ranges and valleys, a land area of some 13,000 square miles (that’s over eight million acres!) and both the highest (Mount Whitney) and the lowest (Badwater Basin, in Death Valley National Park) points in the US.

More than 90% of the Inyo region is in public ownership. That explains why it’s a bit difficult to simply list our work areas and all the cool places there are to explore in the Inyo region. Below are some options to explore not only where Friends of the Inyo does the majority of our work, but also some of our favorite areas and areas of special significance or concern.

Featured Trips

Every 6 months Friends of the Inyo features special places and trips in our magazine the Jeffrey Pine Journal. Members receive physical copies, but digital copies are available for everyone interested in exploring the beautiful public lands in our area Jeffrey Pine Journal E-Edition & Archives. Another great resource is our Wilderness Guide and Bodie Hills Map.

Special Areas