Inyo National Forest is a vast protected area in eastern California with a small extension into western Nevada, spanning the eastern Sierra Nevada, White Mountains, and much of Owens Valley. Though called a forest, it is notable for its mix of high desert, alpine, and volcanic landscapes, rising from about 4,000 feet to Mount Whitney’s 14,505-foot summit. Established in 1907 and enlarged in 1945, it includes nine wilderness areas and forms part of a broad protected expanse along the Sierra crest. Its landmarks include Mount Whitney, Boundary Peak, and the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, home to some of Earth’s oldest living trees.