Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Are there two trailheads from Whitney Portal?

A friend of mine told me about a second trail head leaving Whitney Portal campground. He said it was the original one way back when.

You have to go behind the WP store, following a fire road. When you see a very large boulder, that's were you turn to start your ascent. The trail is not as steep, and it eventually connects to the main trail near the Whitney Zone sign. You also will bypass the creek crossing via this route.
My questions are - does the trail exist, and is it OK to use instead of the main trail head version? I don't want to try this myself if it for rangers only.

I'm not aware of it being off limits (hope not, 'cuz I used it 3 weeks ago), but it begins between the waterfall and the old wooden bridge at the furthest point of the Portal road - by the loop to the day-use parking at the fishing pond. No sign, but an obvious trail. I was told it was the old trailhead before the trail was reworked with more mellow switchbacks from it's current location. It's shorter, but rougher and steeper. It does avoid the first water crossing at the North Fork, which is the toughest on the MT to cross without getting wet when the snowmelt is raging. It joins the trail at the John Muir Wilderness sign.

After I and quillansculpture used it a few weeks ago on our way down, I did see a ranger come out that way about 30 minutes later. I also know several regulars on the mountain who use this trailhead almost excluslively. I saw no signage that would indicate it's off-limits. I don't think it shortcuts that much of the trail, but the big benefit is avoiding the first North Fork crossing.

Yeah, it's there it cuts off about 10 minutes of descent. It's easy to walk right by it when you are on the MMWT.

I've only used it a few times ascending.

It is the old stock trail...

It is not off-limits.

It knocks off 1/4 mile or about 5 minutes (downhill). 27 switchbacks I do believe.

Going up, it can be "brutal" for some unlike the smooth gradual on the MWT, but yes you do bypass that first major water crossing. I advise on the descent to take your socks and boots of and soak your feet after a long day of hiking! Trust me, it does do your feet wonders....one word...exhilirating whether it is freezing cold or not.

Coming down it can be brutal due to fatigue and smelling that food from the Portal kitchen. It ends at that "big rock" you see at the end of the loop by the day use parking area. If you cannot see that rock, you need beta carotene and a beer.

There are other "trails." You can see one trail below just before the first "hairpinish switchback" going up at the start on the MWT. You just have to scan the terrain very closely and you will see it. If you blink, oh well.

Another "shortcut" is heading up, and I mean up, alongside Whitney Portal Falls. Not recommended unless you are a mountain goat. Sensitive habitat there. One slip could mean a nasty fall and someone will be fishing you out of Lone Pine Creek.

True dat - especially with a 30-something pound pack and five minutes till the kitchen last call.

Thanks for the reply's on the alternate route. I'll be at WP a couple of days before my main ascent, so I'll be sure and check it out.
Don't know if it's best for the ascent or for the decent?
I'll find that out when I get there in a couple of weeks.

The currently maintained trail, with the stream crossing, is the former stock trail. It climbed out of the former location of the pack station. People without horses hiked the multiple switchbacks while the pack station was in operation.

Dale B. Dalrymple