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Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion: Forums Active Threads: Mt Whitney Webcam ... Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4 (Release build 20200307 ...
- Whitney Portal
- Trail Start
- The Forest
- Lone Pine Lake
- Whitney Zone Entrance
- Meadows
- Outpost Camp
- Outpost Camp Waterfall
- Mirror Lake
- Trailside Meadows
The start of the hike, the Mt Whitney Portal has everything from campsites and waterfalls to a restaurant and fishing lake. You could spend a lot of time just camping here and taking in the sites without even going on the Mt. Whitney Trail. I wrote another post on the Mt Whitney Portal Store, so for a full review of that, check it out. I loved this...
This is the official start of the trail. It has a weigh station for your backpack, a lot of information on not taking the trail lightly, and signs telling you to pack out your waste. From here, the trail starts heading up.
For the next two miles, you are in an abyss of alpine woods that climb and climb with the trail. It is gorgeous, and you cross over at least three water crossings. Soak in the shade while you are here because in a few short miles, you will be above the tree level and wishing you had shade to protect you. This is also where you enter the John Muir W...
The first significant checkpoint that you will arrive at is that of the beautiful Lone Pine Lake 2.5 miles in. This high altitude lake has a beach and a mountain that rises way above it. It is an excellent place for a break or a great day hike if you are staying at the portal and do not have a Mt Whitney pass. I loved seeing the way the perfect wat...
After a stop at Lone Pine Lake, you will continue down the trail until you hit the sign that informs you you have now entered the Whitney Zone. This area is where you have to have a permit to not get fined. You will see the sign loud and clear, so you won’t be surprised when you enter the zone. I was checked for my permit on the mountain, so make s...
After a few more switchbacks, you will descend into a beautiful field that stretches for at least a half-mile. It has a stream that flows through it, which provides a lush green to match the somber stone walls that enclose this little valley. It is an excellent place for a break and also home to Outpost Camp.
Outpost Camp is nestled in the corner of the meadows on a stretch of dirt and rock and is a great place to spend the night. It is about 3.5 miles from the start of the trail, so if you are taking your time, then it is a good place to stay, but if not, you probably want to push on to Trail Camp as it makes day two a lot more doable.
Right next to Outpost Camp is a pristine 50-foot waterfall. It adds to the eye candy of the meadows and makes this an amazing area to relax and just take in the beauty.
After a couple more switchbacks, you will find yourself at Mirror Lake. This lake is smaller than most of the other lakes on this path, but it provides a lot of beautiful views and is nestled right next to the last area of trees you will have on the path. It also has a couple of huge cliffs rising up behind it, making it stand next to the white roc...
One of my favorite places on the whole hike, Trailside Meadows is a snow-fed waterfall that slowly flows down the rock wall into a line of meadows with beautiful purple flowers. It is impossible to do it justice in these pictures, but to me, it looks like a small piece of heaven in real life.
It is the highpoint of both Tulare & Inyo counties. It is the highest peak in the Sierra, & indeed in all of California. Finally, it rises higher than any piece of land in the United States outside of Alaska. Mount Whitney's elevation stature continues to intrigue the human psyche, both from a civilian as well as a governmental perspective.
- 14505 ft / 4421 m
- Mountain/Rock
- 36.57860°N / 118.293°W
Lone Pine to Independence OHV Loop. Length: 58.0 mi. This strenuous out-and-back trail leads past rocky switchbacks, sheer cliffs, and flowing waterfalls to the summit of Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States.
- (6.6K)
- Lone Pine, California, United States
Tom Harrison. Detailed map of Mt. Whitney and vicinity includes Whitney Portal, Crabtree, Rock Creek, and Cottonwood Lakes. Clearly shows the Mt. Whitney Zone, where day-use and overnight permits are required. All of Tom Harrison’s wonderful maps to California hiking and recreation areas are shaded-relief topographic maps on waterproof plastic.
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Jul 22, 2021 · Overnight: Trail Camp (6.3 miles, 12,039 feet) This campsite is where most 2-day (or even 3-day) hikers set up camp. The camp is completely exposed and rocky. There are no assigned campgrounds, hikers are allowed to set up camp anywhere in the area (except when you hit the sign that says no camping beyond this point).
Dec 29, 2022 · Entering the Mt. Whitney Zone and Reaching Outpost Camp. To get started with your Mount Whitney hike, you’ll need to reach the Whitney Portal, your starting point for climbing the summit. You’ll be getting to Whitney Portal in your vehicle. It is 13 miles west of Lone Pine in California and is located at the end of Mt. Whitney Road.