Bishop Field Office dispersed camping rules

Allowed with restrictions

Dispersed camping is allowed on BLM land in the Bishop Field Office. It is limited to 14 days per year within field office boundaries. Areas posted closed and the Alabama Hills have their own rules.

Where it is not allowed

• Alabama Hills: camp only at designated campsites marked with a tent symbol. You need the free Alabama Hills permit, which is valid for one year and does not reserve a site.
• The Rock Fire and Cinder Complex burn area near Aberdeen (Inyo County) is closed to all public access.

14 days per year

Applies to: Dispersed camping within Bishop Field Office boundaries. The general California BLM rule of 14 days in 28 is less strict.

Restrictions in effect · Fire order CAC09000-26-06

In effect from June 22, 2026

Seasonal Bishop order, in effect until rescinded: no campfires or open flame of any kind. Portable stoves and lanterns with shut-off valves are allowed with a California Campfire Permit. No target shooting, and no engines off designated roads. Statewide year-round order CA910-2026-001 also applies from 2026-02-13 to 2030-12-31.

Alerts and orders

Campfire permit

A free California Campfire Permit is needed for campfires or stoves outside developed campgrounds. It is not needed for fires in established rings at developed campgrounds.

Fees

Horton Creek Campground costs $12 per site per night. Most BLM California campgrounds charge $4–$10 per night. The Alabama Hills camping permit is free.

• Bishop Field Office campgrounds: no more than 14 days at any one campground and 28 days per calendar year across all of them, unless the Field Office Manager gives written permission.
• Alabama Hills: the free permit does not guarantee a site, which is first come, first served. Do not create new campsites or move rocks.
• Alabama Hills: use the porta potties or pack out solid human waste. There is no trash service.
• California BLM lands: do not leave personal property unattended for more than 10 days.
• Long Term Camping Permits are available at the Bishop Field Office on Mondays from 9 am to 1 pm.

Not allowed except in Poleta, the field office's only open riding area. Elsewhere, vehicles must stay on established roads and trails. Vehicles are banned in wilderness areas.

• Rock Fire and Cinder Complex emergency closure (near Aberdeen, Inyo County)Current

  2026-07-30 until conditions allow safe use

  BLM land burned in the fires, plus some adjacent land, is closed to all public access. You may pass through on open county roads.

• Mono Basin temporary closure outside Montgomery Pass Wild Horse TerritoryExpired

  Rescinded 2026-07-13

  This closure was rescinded after the wild horse gather ended.

• Recreational target shooting is prohibited under the seasonal Bishop order. Hunting with a California license is allowed.
• Fireworks, including Safe and Sane fireworks, are prohibited.
• Alabama Hills: drone operators need a drone use permit.
• Much of the land around BLM parcels belongs to LADWP or private owners. Obey posted signs.
• No overnight parking at the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center.

Gaps and conflicts in the official pages when they were checked.

• Stove rules conflict. Order CAC09000-26-06 (D8) allows stoves with shut-off valves if you have a permit. The June 2026 announcement (D1) and the fire restrictions page (D3) say no stove fires outside developed campground fire rings or barbeques.
• Campfires in developed campgrounds also conflict. D8 bans open flame of any kind, while D1 and D3 allow agency-provided fire rings at developed campgrounds.
• D8 cites the statewide order as CA910-2020-001, but the current statewide order is CA910-2026-001 (D7).
• Office hours differ: M-Th 8:30-4:30 (D2), M-F 9-4 (D8), and M-F 8-4:30 (D10).
• D2 refers to a July 31, 2026 Rock Fire order, but the order itself is dated July 30, 2026. The exact closure boundary is shown only on the map.
• The documents do not state wilderness permit requirements for the Inyo Mountains or Granite Mountain wildernesses.
• Fees for Tuttle Creek, Crowley Lake, Pleasant Valley Pit and Goodale Creek campgrounds are not stated.
• None of the supplied documents is a direct map or MVUM link.

Is dispersed camping allowed in Bishop Field Office?

Allowed with restrictions. Dispersed camping is allowed on BLM land in the Bishop Field Office. It is limited to 14 days per year within field office boundaries. Areas posted closed and the Alabama Hills have their own rules.

How long can you camp in Bishop Field Office?

The stay limit is 14 days per year.

Are campfires allowed in Bishop Field Office?

Seasonal Bishop order, in effect until rescinded: no campfires or open flame of any kind. Portable stoves and lanterns with shut-off valves are allowed with a California Campfire Permit. No target shooting, and no engines off designated roads. Statewide year-round order CA910-2026-001 also applies from 2026-02-13 to 2030-12-31. This was the order in effect when the area was checked on September 24, 2026; confirm on the alerts page before you go.

Do you need a permit to camp in Bishop Field Office?

A free California Campfire Permit is needed for campfires or stoves outside developed campgrounds. It is not needed for fires in established rings at developed campgrounds. Horton Creek Campground costs $12 per site per night. Most BLM California campgrounds charge $4–$10 per night. The Alabama Hills camping permit is free.