| BISHOP, Calif., Jan. 6, 2026—Inyo National Forest, Mt. Whitney Ranger District is implementing a seasonal area closure for Monache Meadows to prevent permanent road damage, protect water quality and aquatic habitats, and address public safety and access concerns.
This order applies to all motorized wheeled use, including trucks, off highway vehicles, dirt bikes, and airplanes within Inyo National Forest lands. It does not apply to or impact roads or trails on the Sequoia National Forest. It places no new limits on nonmotorized or tracked over snow vehicle use.
An access exemption process for administrative entities, permittees, and landowners will be implemented during the closure period; limited travel does not pose the same potential for impacts as full public access.
“The seasonal closure in Monache Meadows is an important land management tool to prevent impassable roads, limit stranded people and vehicles, and protect the natural resources that make the area so unique and popular,” said Mt. Whitney District Ranger Tawny Melville.
The order will be in place until June 30. However, Inyo National Forest staff will modify closure dates based on road and meadow conditions and readiness. In 2025, the area opened on June 9, when conditions were deemed dry enough.
The opening date in the order is based on when the ground is dry enough to support vehicle travel without significant compaction. Going forward, the closure dates for the Monache Meadows area can be anticipated to be December 1 through June 30, depending on moisture levels.
To access the full Forest Closure Order and map, please visit: www.fs.usda.gov/r05/ inyo/alerts/monache-meadows-area-seasonal-road-closure
About the Forest Service : The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
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