Whitney Portal
Lone Pine, CA
The trailhead for Mount Whitney, at 8,300 feet at the end of a steep 13-mile road from Lone Pine. A waterfall and pond are next to the parking area; the road is closed by snow in winter.
Whitney Portal lies at about 2,550 m (8,370 feet) at the end of Whitney Portal Road, roughly 21 to 22 km (13 to 14 miles) west of Lone Pine. The place was formerly called Hunter Flat, and a road reached it in 1936. From here the Mount Whitney Trail starts toward the 14,505-foot (4,421 m) summit, the highest point in the contiguous United States. The Forest Service lists three campgrounds, a picnic area, a fishing pond and a stream.
A store with a small kitchen, which Wikivoyage says is known for oversized pancakes and burgers, operates seasonally; check beforehand whether it is open. Climbing Mount Whitney is subject to special permit rules, so ask the Inyo National Forest in advance. For a visit without summit plans, the pond and the stream make a good destination. Sources differ by a few feet on the elevation.
- Nearest town
- Lone Pine, CA
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 36.5872, -118.2403
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, June, August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Mount Whitney Trailhead CampgroundCampsite0 mi from Whitney Portal · 25 pitchesTentsDrinking water
- Ravine CampgroundCampsite0 mi from Whitney PortalTentsDrinking water
- Lone Pine CampgroundCampsite3 mi from Whitney PortalTentsCaravansDrinking water
- Portuguese Joe CampgroundCampsite9 mi from Whitney Portal · 22 pitchesTentsCaravansDrinking waterToilets
- Boulder Creek RV ResortMotorhome stopover11 mi from Whitney PortalTentsMotorhomesElectricityToiletsWi-Fi
- Independence Creek CampgroundCampsite15 mi from Whitney Portal · 29 pitchesTentsCaravansDrinking waterToilets
All campsites in California · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Whitney Portal?
Whitney Portal is in Lone Pine, CA, at GPS 36.5872, -118.2403. It is about 11 mi from Manzanar.
Can you camp near Whitney Portal?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Mount Whitney Trailhead Campground, about 0 mi away; within 25 mi there are 20 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Whitney Portal?
Whitney Portal is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: US-395: Alabama Hills, Manzanar and the bristlecones.
What is there to see near Whitney Portal?
Places worth a stop nearby: Alabama Hills (7 mi), Manzanar National Historic Site (11 mi), Zumwalt Meadow (24 mi) and General Sherman Tree (28 mi).
When is the best time to visit Whitney Portal?
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, June, August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)