Inyo National Forest Buttermilk Country Dispersed Sites

Buttermilk Country offers some of the most scenic dispersed camping in the Eastern Sierra, scattered along the dirt road that winds toward the Buttermilks climbing area. Sites sit at around 7,000 feet elevation among massive granite boulders with commanding views of the Sierra crest. The area attracts serious boulderers and photographers, but there’s room for overlanders seeking alpine scenery without the crowds of nearby Alabama Hills. Sites vary from roadside pull-offs to more secluded spots tucked behind boulder formations.

Buttermilk Road is accessible to most vehicles for the first few miles, though high-clearance is recommended for the better sites further up. Snow typically closes upper sections November through April. The area can get surprisingly busy during climbing season (fall and spring), but winter offers solitude with snow-capped peaks as backdrop.

Alpine dispersed sites among granite boulders