Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Camping?

Hey everyone..great info on the board, so i was hoping you guys could help me out.

Heading up to do the day hike for the first time on the 25th. Was hoping to camp out the night before so that I could save some cash and get a decent jump on the trail. I don't know the area at all, but I heard that horseshoe meadow is a good place to camp..However, on the map it looks as though it may take me a while to then drive to the portal...any ideas, suggestions? Also, do they have bear canisters at all of the sites? Any info would be much appreciated!

I focused so much on training and other details that i forgot to plan out lodging...oops.

That means you are looking for a campsite Sunday Evening the 24th. Best 1st choice is the Whitney portal campgrounds a short ways before the portal. They are at 7900 feet and half are first come first serve. On a Sunday afternoon this late in the year you have a good chance of finding a spot. Come early, like 11:00 am or so for the best chance.

Next is Lone Pine Campground at about 6000 feet at the bottom of the hill.

You can also lay out and camp in the Alabama hills around 5000 feet. No real campsite just pick out a spot down some road. No fires and no water.

Horseshoe meadows is ideal because it is at 10,000 feet. It is however about 1 hour from the portal.

If you are coming from the north there at some campgrounds quite high west of Independence.

The Portal is the most convenient.

Will be on the trail with a group of 7 on the 25th. see you there. leaving the portal in 2 groups 2:00a and 4:00a

Andrew, Is Horseshoe meadows actually an hour from the portal?

From what I remember Horseshoe Meadows is 29 miles up the Horseshoes Meadows road. Since you drive up from about 5000 feet to 10000 feet there are many switchbacks and you can't really drive fast.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/290536282/1290555993061435028VZUOMW

From the Horseshoe Meadows road/ Whitney portal road intersection to the portal is around 9 miles.

So the total drive from Horseshoe Meadows to the Portal is about 38 miles, much on steep and windy road. I am positive the drive is more then 45 minutes and a little less 60 minutes.

I used to stay there often, but the long drive started to wear on me. In spite of the elevation advantage, nothing can beat the convenience of the Whitney Portal Campground. And I didn't like getting up at 2:30 am to get started at 4:00 am.

We acclimated recently at Horsehoe and then the next night at the Portal campground at site #8. That site was great as it had the stream next to it and drown out all the noise. We woke up at 3:40 and were on the trail by 4am.

I would highly recommend, if you can afford the time, to acclimate 2 days like we did with the night before at the portal campground.

Yes, the road from HS to the portal is abot 50 minutes drive....unles you want to really burn out your brakes

You should have a problem getting a spot at Whitney Portal, either Hiker-in or Family Campground, this late in the year.

Horseshoe Meadow is ~33 miles as the car drives from Whitney Portal. So, what you save in camping fees you pay in gasoline. Let alone the stress of driving up and down that hill.

The hike-in campground across from the trail head is great... get there before 11am and you should easily get a spot, especially on a Sunday. There are several bear storage lockers around the campground at the parking lots, within walking distance of the campsites.

I personally think it would be easier to acclimate for a full day there and get a decent night's rest than to drive an hour away for the chance to gain an extra 2000 feet, then get up and drive that winding road back to the Portal.
Good luck on your trip!

Thanks for all of your responses...I think i'll bail on the horseshoe meadow idea and just make sure i get to the portal campground early enough to snag a site. See you on the trail!