Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Question re "Old Trail" v "New Trail" at Portal

Back in May, a couple of people here advised me to use the "old trail" out of the west end of the Portal parking lot to cut some distance off the trek. What are the rules/etiquette with regard to using the old trail? If it's still okay to use the old trail, why was the "new" trail put in? Thanks.

We used the Old Trail this past weekend on our way up the Mountaineers Route. I'm not sure about your questions other than the Old Trail looks to be in great shape as well as getting plenty of use.

JD, it's not like it's off limits, rangers-only, or anything of that nature - people use it all the time, especially coming down the main trail. It will cut 10-15 minutes off the return to the Portal and also bypasses crossing the North Fork creek, the longest water crossing on the main trail (if you don't count about 15 flooded switchbacks from the # 23 spring in mid-summer ). It joins the MMWT proper just south of the North Fork, at the John Muir Wilderness sign. It is steeper and rockier than the trail from the "newer" trailhead to the east of the Portal Store, so it gets more down-use than up. Maybe not the best way to begin your 22-mile hike if you're carrying a heavy load or in questionable shape, but highly recommended coming down.

If I remember what I've been told correctly, the "new" trail was originally the trail for pack stock, and was converted to an easier footpath for hikers some time ago (1970s?) after pack animals were banned from the trail, and became the main trailhead for Whitney traffic.

As Bulldog indicated, the new trail was originally used for other purposes (and was converted to the main trail in 1977 according to Hellweg & McDonald). Several years ago, Bob R made several posts on the subject: Length of trail and Old Trail.