Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Camping spots along Main trail

Greetings--although I've day hiked Whitney several times, this year I got a two night permit. Other than the posted no camping at Mirror Lake, can a person camp anywhere along the trail or is it further restricted?? Thanks for your help and suggestions.

Other than Mirror Lake, you can camp wherever you heart desires as long as you are the prescribed minimum distances from the trail and water.

I prefer Lone Pine Lake to Outpost Camp, if you are taking an extra night to reach Trail Camp.

In addition to Mirror Lake and Trailside Meadow, there is a spot on the south side of Bighorn Park that is posted No Camping. And, unfortunately, the nice meadow north of Trail Camp pond.

Here is a thread of interest, and below a map showing some of my favorite campsites.

What's with that X half way up the switchbacks (not the one below the moraine)? Is there actually a spot to camp there somewhere?

Yep, big enough for 3 - 4 people, if they don't use a tent, and usually flowing water nearby. Actually, although I didn't mark them, there are several nice but small sites a hundred or so feet above switchback #23 (where the spring emerges). And when that spring is flowing, there is a fine stream trickle right next to those sites.

Damn, I just gave away another secret.

(The one by the moraine is best in winter when there is snow. It's in a depression, so protected. And, being several hundred feet above Trail Camp, is a better starting point in the morning. But it's rocky when the snow has melted.)

Bob:

Thanks for posting these again. I was wondering where to take my pop in a few weeks and now have some good ideas of "quieter" areas!

-L

Thanks Bob, for another of your gifts to us all. We are not worthy.

And yet another secret revealed!