Backpacking camp

Hartley Backcountry Zone camp area

Owens River Headwaters Wilderness, California

About this place

Hartley Backcountry Zone is an official itinerary area, permit zone, or source-backed named overnight reference represented by a reachable point on the pinned agency trail network in Owens River Headwaters Wilderness.

The marker is a route-access reference, not a tent pad. Move off the trail only where travel is permitted, remain inside the authorized zone, and choose a legal durable site under every current setback and closure.

Water planning

Water at this camp

Seasonal natural water nearby

Availability

Unnamed mapped stream or river is mapped within 0.5 mile of the camp-area marker. This is map evidence, not a real-time flow report.

Drinking safety

Natural water is not verified potable. Filter and disinfect it or boil it according to the linked land-manager guidance before drinking.

Seasonality

Unnamed mapped stream or river is classified as intermittent and may be dry.

  • Unnamed mapped stream or riverRiver or stream · 0.2 mi awaySeasonal/intermittent — may be dry · Treat before drinking
    Official source

Fire planning

Campfire & stove rules

Campfires prohibited under current Stage 1 restrictions

Campfires

This is an undeveloped backcountry camp area. The current Inyo National Forest Stage 1 order prohibits wood, charcoal, and other campfires outside listed developed recreation sites; a wilderness permit does not override that order.

Backpacking stoves

Shutoff-valve gas stove allowed with permit. Use only a portable gas, LPG, jellied-petroleum, or pressurized-liquid-fuel stove with a working shutoff valve. Wood-burning and twig stoves count as campfires and are not allowed under the current order.

Permit

Carry a valid California Campfire Permit for stove use. The wilderness permit is not a substitute for checking the current fire order.

Current restrictions

Stage 1 restrictions are listed through December 31, 2026. Recheck the Inyo alerts page immediately before departure because orders can be extended, replaced, or tightened.

Seasonal access

Closures & seasonal access

Unpaved forest roads are commonly snowbound in winter and may close for saturated ground or resource protection during spring thaw

Place closure

No recurring date-based closure of Hartley Backcountry Zone is published. The source-connected approach conditions below and temporary emergency orders still control access.

Seasonal access

Source-connected approach: Hartley Trailhead. Unpaved forest roads are commonly snowbound in winter and may close for saturated ground or resource protection during spring thaw.

Before driving

Check Inyo alerts and the exact road for snow, gate, and wet-ground restrictions immediately before travel.

Conditions and emergency orders are not live. This record was reviewed on October 13, 2026; posted closures, locked gates, and newer manager notices always control.

Inyo National Forest — current alerts

Mapped approaches

Choose a trailhead for Hartley Backcountry Zone camp area

Each option has a sourced trail route to this camp area. Choose one to open its itinerary builder with this destination in context.

Map

Loading map
Latitude
37.783962° N
Longitude
119.042515° W

Sources

Official overnight record NFS Hartley Spur Trail corridor; mapped to the nearest reachable agency trail pointInyo National Forest no-permit wilderness policyOwens River Headwaters Wilderness overnight regulationsOwens River Headwaters Wilderness current conditionsOpenTopoData public API — SRTM 90 mUSGS NHDPlusV2 flowlineUSDA Forest Service — Backcountry Safety: Water & SanitationInyo National Forest — current alerts and fire restrictionsCalifornia — California Campfire PermitInyo National Forest — current alerts