Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Agnew Meadows shuttle option

I'm looking for shuttle information for getting to the Agnew Meadows trailhead from Mammoth Mtn Inn. I'm planning to hike from Agnew Meadows campground to Tuolumne Meadows. The plan is to park my car at MMI (or Adventure Ctr across the st), so that I can take the YARTS back to here after completing my hike. MMI mentioned they charge $5/day for parking. The Inyo permit office mentioned I could park at the Adventure Center for free. Anybody have some experience for parking near MMI w/o having to pay a daily fee? Is there a shuttle from MMI to the trailhead? Thanks!!

I'm not certain about free parking options up around the Mammoth Mountain ski area but the shuttle over Minaret Summit to Agnew Meadows, Red's Meadow and Devil's Postpile leaves from the Inn or right in front of it, as I recall.

The shuttle doesn't take you all the way to the trailhead. They drop you at the switchback in the Devil's Postpile road where the gravel road runs over to Agnew Meadows. It's no more than 1/4 mile down that gravel road (probably more like 1/8) to the trailheads for the trails that either take you down to the river and up the Shadow Creek trail to the JMT or up to the trail that goes along the east side of the valley to Thousand Island Lake.

Look up and call the number for the Devils Postpile shuttle, and ask them about parking. I think some of the parking at the Mammoth end is available to hikers like you.

Why not park at the PCT trailhead just outside the Agnew Meadows campground? I'm pretty sure you are allowed to park in the Reds Meadow valley as an overnight hiker and can bypass the shuttle requirements for day visitors. They let campers for Reds Meadow area through...

I went from TM to AM last September. I had no trouble catching rides. I got a ride from AM to Mono Lake then a ride to TM. Just talk to people on the trail and in the parking lot. I offered to pay for gas too. I felt that the parking at TM was safe and had no problems.

A few years ago, the only way you were allowed down with a vehicle was if you had a campsite.

We had a one night campsite at Agnew and were allow to keep our car there until we returned from our wilderness trip.

great dayhike, took us 14 hrs at comfortable 2.1 mph incl rests.

you can park for free overnight(s) downhill from MMI and ski area on the very wide shoulder on either side of the main road for several 100s of yards. Done it plenty of times in summer.
The pay area is marked with logs and signs and easy to avoid.
If you are leaving Mammoth at say 5 am for your early start, there will be no shuttle that early to AM. Before 7am you can drive your car to AM. I have left cars there before while hiking or backpacking but don't know what 2009 rules are. If you are wondering how to retrieve your car after returning from TM to MMI the next day, you can take the shuttle from MMI to AM as long as it is between 7 am and 7pm.

Reds Shuttle goes by every half hour I think in summer - have used it plenty of times, Agnew is stop 1 from the top. Buy a day pass(you only would use half of it) at the building near the Mammoth statue.

Although I have done AM to TM via JMT, via River Trail, and via PCT/High Trail, I prefer via High Trail with more expansive views and (I think) less up and down on an otherwise long day. The least desireable option is the entirely forested River Trail, but it depends on what you like of course. Have fun. Harvey