There is a ranger station in lone pine you should stop by and get a parking permit. Too many inexperienced people are climbing whitney outside. Whitney portal store summer hours may 9am6pm june 8am8pm july 7am9pm august 7am9pm september 8am8pm october 9am6pm. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. By 1936 four barracks, a mess hall, a library and an officer quarters were constructed at the site of the present lone pine campground. Theres a lobby area for others to gather and a store if youve forgotten something, or need a souvenir. Outdoor recreation in the area includes fishing, picnicking, hikingbackpacking, horseback riding, stargazing and wildlife viewing. Mount whitney trail lone pine 2020 all you need to know.
Inyo national forest recreation usda forest service. Whitney portal road is a short but spectacular drive that takes you about. Whitney trailhead, the whitney portal store serves up huge pancakes bigger than the plate as fuel for those seeking to bag the highest peak in the lower 48. The whitney portal road often opens by may 1st, conditions permitting, and that is also the beginning of the mt. Alabama hills alta peak apple valley crags auburn cliffs bear creek spire benton crossing big rock area big sur bishop peak black mountain black mountain box springs mountain park brickyard buttermilks cabrillo peak castle rock state park cathedral peak cathedral peak santa barabara charlotte dome clark canyon clyde minaret columbia conejo. Above average temperatures are expected across the western third of the u. As long as whitney portal road is open, so is the store. The whitney portal store, located miles west of lone pine, lies next to the mount whitney trail head and has operated by permit from the inyo national forest since 1987. Whitney has turned into an overcrowded catastrophe. The whitney portal store is a great place to stock up on gear and souvenirs and to get an outstanding view of mount whitney trail and peak.
Whitney ranger district are not cleared of snow or rock fall in winter. Road to whitney portal by bascuela fri oct 23, 2009 3. Whitney,but it flooded the whitney portal road leading down to lone pinea popular fishing spot called red dog bridge,3 miles west of lone pine,going up whitney portal road has been all but wiped out by the flood waters,and surely lots of flood damage to the leased cabins along the creek,and the dirt roads leading to them. At the whitney portal hostel we strive to accommodate the needs of hikers, fisherman, and enthusiasts alike that have their eyes set on mt. From the town of lone pine on highway 395, head west on the whitney portal road. Summiting mt whitney is on every hikers bucket list. Take us 395 to lone pine and then turn west on whitney portal road from the town. Above the east end of the switchback two buttresses can be seen there is a gully with trees between the two buttresses. Jul 09, 2018 the same conditions are forecast today and are of concern today, according to firefighters. The lot does fill up pretty quick, so the earlier you get up there the more likely you are to get a spot. Know whats coming with accuweather s extended daily forecasts for whitney portal, ca. Thought you guys would enjoy the views of the road. Driving mt whitney portal road from lone pine ca 3 jun.
Whitney portal road campgrounds interstellar orchard. The road to the summit was built in 1936 by civilian conservation corps. Exactly where we start hiking depends upon the road closure which may be well below the regular parking at whitney portal. Always check with the managing agency before embarking on a trip. Its located miles from the town of lone pine off of whitney portal road. Some may be reserved in advance, but others are only yours on a firstcome, firstserved basis. Attention shoppers, not all of our tshirt colors and sizes are. You can see the peak from lone pine, and whitney portal road heading west out of town is the access point for hiking trips. At the store, we keep last minute supplies for hiking, camping, fishing, and related items for the portal visitors. Whitney portal national recreation trail california. Whatever you are, theres a spot for you at whitney portal family campground. Yes, on lots that border the development other than along whitney portal road. Mar 18, 2020 alabama hills alta peak apple valley crags auburn cliffs bear creek spire benton crossing big rock area big sur bishop peak black mountain black mountain box springs mountain park brickyard buttermilks cabrillo peak castle rock state park cathedral peak cathedral peak santa barabara charlotte dome clark canyon clyde minaret columbia conejo. Road construction will not begin until after the permitting process is complete.
Mount whitney portal to lone pine lake california alltrails. Hiking mountain whitney requires a valid overnight permit or dayuse permit year round and it must be reserved in advance. The average high temperatures for the summer time frame are 92 f in june, 98 f in july, and 96 f in august. The fire is not threatening human life, or property at this time, but the whitney portal road to the trailhead to mt whitney is closed and anyone with a permit to hike whitney today, july 9, will not be able to do so at least today. We invite you to browse through our store and shop with confidence. First called fishermans peak after the group of fishermen that reached the summit in 1873, californias mount whitney stands at 14,505 feet and is the highest summit in the contiguous united states. The road is currently gated just above hogback road on whitney portal road to prevent vehicle entrance. The store has been run by the thompson family from lone pine for decades, and they have enough stories to fill a book, which they have.
Whitney portal road is closed during the winter, though it is a fuzzy closure in the sense that the road is not usually gated or otherwise physically blocked. As i mentioned earlier, the mount whitney portal stores message board offers the most up to date information on weather and trail conditions from hikers themselves. The area includes 3 campgrounds, a picnic area, fishing pond and a stream. Please check with the forest page for more information. Their major work project was construction of the whitney portal road and improvement of the trail to the 14,495 summit of mount whitney. Weather and road conditions can change in an instant. After introductions well do a pack check and distribute group gear before carpooling to the road closure, some 20 minutes out of town. Take the whitney portal road west from the stop light in the center of lone pine waypoint lonpin. The mt whitney trailhead is actually better known as the whitney portal, and outside of a few main starting points in yosemite and sequoia national parks, it is probably the busiest trailhead in all the sierra nevada.
Whitney, but being in town, it allots for walking to restaurants and stores. Permits are required year round for camping and there is a limit. Still farther ahead, whitney portal road reaches a line of scrubby juniper and pinyon pine trees and continues to climb. Hiking the whitney portal road taking the slow lane. Whitney and the john muir wilderness less than a mile away, the campground is a popular home base for hikers, as well as family, rv, and tent campers who wish to explore the areas activities and. The whitney portal road is closed due to snow in the winter, which. Trails from whitney portal provide access to the john muir wilderness and sequoia national park. Colton l apr 30, 2018 colorado joined apr 2016 points. Whitney portal campground is in a prime location within the eastern sierra nevada mountains at the base of mt. While the construction is in the lower sections, the delay to pass through the site will be the main issue. Thousands enjoy hiking mount whitney each year for premiere serra nevada views, whether on the lower trails on the mountains flanks or on one of the major approaches to the summit. At 14,505 feet, its the highest point in the lower 48. Is there something at the end of whitney portal road besides a parking lot for hikers.
No permits required for hikers going no further than lone pine lake. The same conditions are forecast today and are of concern today, according to firefighters. Every effort will be made by all parties involved to have the road open by this date. Supertopos climbing discussion forum is the worlds most popular community discussion forum for people who actively climb outdoors. Jun 16, 2017 hiking the whitney portal road taking the slow lane. Before you even leave the whitney portal trailhead, theres a huge photo of a. Mount whitney hike via whitney portal outdoor project. Either way, your shopping cart will be active until you leave the store. Whitney portal road construction 2016 high sierra topix. Get directions, maps, and traffic for whitney portal, ca. Contact the inyo national forest at 760 8766200 for the latest information about road and trail conditions. Up to 90 days of daily highs, lows, and precipitation chances. When entering the parking area, pay close attention to the signs. Also get info on road conditions for the whitney portal road leading up to the trailhead.
The mount whitney portal hostel and hotel located in lone pine is a great place for people to stay. The whitney portal access road is now closed two and a half miles before the trailhead making the approach a total of 5 miles longer. View photos on as well as details, price history, local schools and mortgage information. Whitney portal road, a mountain drive in the sierra nevada. Store is closed during winter months weather permitting. Yes, on all lots except 19, that are restricted to singlestory for viewshed reasons. We suggest may or september, as the months just before or after could put you into a snowstorm as we climb towards the top of this dead end climb that tops out at 8,371. Huge pancakes are served up at the whitney portal store. The weather was perfect and we started our ascent early that morning. Sunny and clear for the next seven days on mt whitney. Drive up whitney portal road to whitney portal youtube.
Get your 3day weather forecast for whitney portal, ca. Lone pine creek campground is just 6 miles down the road from whitney portal and 43 campsites. That probably means they are using the road at least up to the campground area. Day hikers going beyond require a dayuse permit, obtained from the mount whitney ranger station in lone pine.
Latest trail conditions as of january 2nd the mt whitney trail is snow filled from top to bottom. Whitney portal is the gateway to mount whitney, the highest point in the contiguous united states. Jun 03, 2016 road construction during the summer of 2016 may result in traffic delays on upper whitney portal road. My travel companion julia and i wanted to visit the whitney portal today because it had been years since our last trip to this place. It takes me a bit to realize that im now ascending the switchbacks that id seen far below. This is a big project, it includes all of whitney portal road from the city limit at lone pine to the overflow parking lot at the portal. Oct 17, 2019 the whitney portal store is a great place to stock up on gear and souvenirs and to get an outstanding view of mount whitney trail and peak. The mount whitney trail requires a pass to hike due to the over excessive use so there are. Check flight prices and hotel availability for your visit.
The parking lots and campground are ada accessible. Mount whitney trail lone pine 2020 all you need to. Some areas are for day use, and others are for overnight backpackers. Road construction during the summer of 2016 may result in traffic delays on upper whitney portal road. It is in a heavily wooded canyon, with towering granite cliffs on either side. Whitney portal formerly, hunter flat and hunters camp is the end of the whitney portal road in inyo county, california. For day hikes you can self register at the trailhead sign in station.
This thread is designed to hold posts displaying pictures and describing the current conditions of the main mount whitney trail mmwt. Fresno, ca i saw doug from the whitney portal hostel wrote yesterday that fire crews were burning piles of wood this week. Whitney portal, ca three day weather forecast accuweather. The hike to get there on the main whitney trail is 22 miles with 6,000 feet of elevation gain. Mt whitney trailhead hiking, backpacking, and climbing. Jun, 2008 this is a big project, it includes all of whitney portal road from the city limit at lone pine to the overflow parking lot at the portal. Inyo county has now opened the road to whitney portal but. They are doing a lot of construction on the portal road so i wouldnt bet on being able to park on the curb. Not only did it effect the trail and campgrounds up at mt. Mt whitney trail condition reports from the folks who live and work on the mountain. Whitney, the highest peak in the continental united states. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from june until november. Whitney portal national recreation trail california wilderness. Driving mt whitney portal road from lone pine ca 3 jun 2019.
The mt whitney trail starts from roads end waypoint portal at 8. Driving mt whitney portal road from lone pine ca inyo national forest, eastern sierra nevada mountains, mt whitney is the highest peak in the continental united states 3 jun 2019. Thinking of climbing there in a couple weeks never been, and curious about road and snow conditions. Due to covid19 measures, whitney portal road is closed.
Oct 24, 2016 i was able to drive up the newly finished whitney portal road to whitney portal the day it was opened. The fire is not threatening human life, or property at this time, but the whitney portal road to the trailhead to mt whitney is closed and anyone with a permit to hike whitney today, july 9. In fact it might just take a day to get to the parking area. The whitney portal is miles west of lone pine, ca, at the end of whitney portal road.
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