Winter Recreation

Mono County offers an awesome assortment of winter recreation opportunities outside of the traditional ski-resorts, including extensive groomed and un-groomed trail systems, snow mobile riding areas, sno parks, ice skating, back-country touring, and more.

When recreating in winter, along with the snow comes several additional responsibilities for respecting our lands, neighbors, and safety. Please read on below to see how you can be a good winter steward for the Eastern Sierra.

* Grooming and plowing operations are weather dependent.

* Please respect TEMPORARY winter closures - NO WHEELED VEHICLES BEYOND CLOSURES.

* Please park in staging areas identified on map. DO NOT BLOCK ROADWAY - PROVIDE ACCESS FOR SNOW PLOWING AND EMERGENCY VEHICLE OPERATIONS

*Please respect our lands and trail systems by having a plan for where you will dispose of your trash and your waste (pet waste too!). Public restrooms and dumpsters for waste disposal are located in the Town of Bridgeport (Bridgeport County Park). Bathrooms are limited within the Twin Lakes Valley. Please do NOT poop on the trail or leave your dogs waste on the trail. Pack out ALL trash, toilet paper, and dog bags.

* Camp Like a Pro! ESSRP.org/camping RESPECT PRIVATE PROPERTY - NO TRESPASSING

* Do not ride or walk in cross country ski tracks.

* Respect other trail users. Be courteous and yield right of way according to etiquette code. All users yield to grooming machines

* Over-Snow-Vehicles (OSV) yield to all other users. SPEED LIMIT IS 15 MPH

* FAT BIKES: Yield to other non-motorized users. Do not ride in soft conditions - If you leave a rut deeper than 2 inches, it’s too soft.

*For current conditions and avalanche snow summaries please check the following links:

https://www.esavalanche.org/

https://bridgeportavalanchecenter.org/

Featured Updates: Winter Recreation

Paha -Lower Twin Winter Trail Debut:

Come check out the newest addition to the Bridgeport Winter Trail System, the Paha - Lower Twin trail! Wind through 3 miles of the Twin Lakes Valley while enjoying tranquil sights of Robinson Creek and a scenic view of a wintery Lower Twin Lake. This is the result of partnership between the Humboldt-Toyiabe NF, Mono County, and local volunteers. The trail is groomed on a volunteer basis thanks to the Little family of the local Virginia Creek Settlement.

Buckeye Road - Seasonal Closure by Forest Order

As of winter 2024, the HTNF has declared Buckeye Road (Forest Service Road 32017) to be a seasonal closure by Forest Order. This seasonal closure is meant to keep wheeled motor vehicles off Buckeye Road in the interest of public safety and resource protection (fat bikes and snow mobiles are OK). There are now gates at both the north and south entrance of Buckeye Road to prevent vehicular trespass. Bypassing these gates with a wheeled motor vehicle is illegal, is punishable by citation, and is not safe. Please respect our local trails by obeying this new Forest Order (attached below). 12/16/2024 With the December storms, HTNF staff will soon be assessing when to close Buckeye Road to wheeled vehicles. If you choose to recreate there now, please be mindful of soft road conditions and to not tear up the road, and be aware that the gates will be closing SOON (date TBD).

Buckeye Road will continue to be impassible as the snow melts. Roads are often muddy and driving on soft and unstable road surfaces can cause long-term damage, while also increasing the risk of getting stuck. Causing damage to roads and other Forest resources can be a violation of federal regulations, which could carry a fine up to $5,000 and/or six months in jail.

Grooming Information

FOR GROOMING INFORMATION ON THE INYO NATIONAL FOREST, PLEASE VISIT THEIR WEBSITE OR THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/inyo/recreation/wintersports

https://www.facebook.com/inyonf/

FOR GROOMING INFORMATION IN THE TOWN OF MAMMOTH LAKES, PLEASE VISIT THE MAMMOTH LAKES TRAIL SYSTEM CONDITIONS PAGE:

https://www.mammothtrails.org/trail-conditions/

FOR GROOMING INFORMATION ON THE BRIDGEPORT WINTER TRAIL SYSTEM, PLEASE SEE HERE:

Grooming for the Bridgeport Winter Trail system has not yet started for the season as we await sufficient snow-fall. Stay tuned for updates! :)

Winter Recreation Opportunities

There's a winter adventure waiting for you all throughout Mono County, whether you want to motor around on your snow mobile or enjoy some tranquility on non-motorized trails.