Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Cottonwood Pass Trailhead - 03.23.2026

Ambitious plans to visit a few trailheads...
Only made Cottonwood Pass Trailhead...
DWP Water Surveyors transported a trio of CA State Water Surveyors up to the trailhead in a new, cool looking Cat:




Here are a few more photos:


Looking up to The Crossover.



Conditions at the trail to Golden Trout Camp.



The upper gate.



Near the turn to the New Army Pass Trailhead.



The CA Water Survey Team leaving the trailhead.
They stated it would take them about 2 weeks to complete their survey.

Hey Horseshoe Meadow rd is cherry stemmed into the wilderness so drones are no allowed to fly in the wilderness. Thanks

Great report Richard.....

I knew when you got back, you'd provide some good info. As soon as the Portal store opens, collect your free cheeseburger on me.

One last question, and objects on the road that might slow the opening of the road soon?

paul

There were 2 Front Loaders staged near the top of the first switchback.
The deepest snow on the road was probably less than 2 feet deep.
If I still has an ebike, I would have tried to ride all the way up...didn't want to take a chance on the mc...I parked a couple of miles down...
The melt in the sun is pretty significant. It was really warm up there.
The DWP guys said about 2 feet of snow has medted out at the trailhead in 2 weeks.
There wasn't any significant rockfall on the road.

Depending on late season storms, they could have the road opened in under a week...with this warm weather, it'll be rain way higher than 10k'...

Thanks.

It's too cold to head up to McIver's Cabin yet, so a little educational material...
And, You Are The Boss, so it's understood I won't post any drone footage...

Land Agencies control the land...
FAA controls the airspace...
So, if it isn't strictly prohibited, you can launch on a lot of public land...Forests included...

It is Prohibited (Signed at the Trailhead...I do pay attention to most of this %%%%...) to Launch at Whitey Portal and the trail system. And, of course, any Wilderness is prohibited for Launch...The FAA does not restrict flying, but with Strict Line Of Sight Rules, it would be near impossible to launch from a Legal location and fly to the Portal..

For Horseshoe Meadow area not in the Wilderness: https://airaware.aloft.ai/?lat=36.4516612074716&long=-118.1624879714833

It's labeled Cautionary Airspace, which isn't a restriction...it just means you better be paying close attention to low flying aircraft, etc...(always boggles my mind when I get buzzed by jets in these areas...and occasionally, low flying helos....)

How you read the report:
I'm in Owens MOA.
I'm .2 from Golden Trout Wilderness...which would be prohibited for launch...
I'm 2.38 from the John Muir Wilderness...which would be prohibited for launch...people who don't understand the reporting read this as Prohibiting Launch...No, it means if I move 2.38 miles to this area, I'm Restricted...Like usual, gov't speak is Clear As Mud...


So, unless Inyo Signs the area, I'm not getting arrested...not getting fined...not getting warned...


There is the Ethical Issue...many would say...Stay Away...But, I ride dirt bikes and fly drones...and have been subjected to more and more restrictions...so I "bend the rules" towards enjoying what I've still got...