Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Horseshoe Meadow to acclimate

Does Horseshoe Meadow campground usually fill up on weekends (10 sites only)? I am planning on getting there mid day on a late July Saturday to acclimate for a 3 day Whitney climb starting the next day.

I guess it will depend but last year my wife and I arrived at the Cottonwood Pass campground on a Saturday (mid July) in the early afternoon and there were plenty of sites available.

After we setup camp we hiked to the pass and when we returned there were a lot more people.

There are 3 campgrounds in the area so you should be able to find a site.

-Rudy

The campsite across from the horse stables (first right off the main road) is specifically for hikers with a 1 night limit (can be stretched to 2 nights if you arrive very late and it is not full), $6 fee per site/night, restrooms and water. We have not had a problem finding space except on holiday weekends. Better to arrive as early as possible. I find staying here does help with acclimation, others may disagree. It varies from person to person and how long you stay. It is also interesting to hear the theories, when acclimating, if you should rest or exercise (hike around). It is nice to drive in to a 10,000 ft site.

Last July we had no problem getting a spot and there were plenty available. We even had one hiker arrive 6-7 PM and get a spot. Good luck.

If the developed campgrounds are full, head out on the Cottonwood Pass trail away from trailhead area and pick one of the gazillion spots suitable for pitching a tent. Worst case is you have to hike a few hundred feet to water.

The trail crosses the creek twice a mile or so in.

i only have experience with Cottonwood Lakes and Cottonwood Pass...

the Cottonwood Lakes CG usually fills up on summer weekends and has a lot of activity. it seems to be the more popular of the two.

i have gotten a camp site on a June weekend late in the day at the Cottonwood Pass CG. usually i just sleep in my car. there is backpacker sized bear storage at Cottonwood Pass TH. they are small, you cannot fit a large cooler, only small to medium. the bathrooms there are "out-of-order" for the season it seems, but the bathrooms 100 yds away at the Cottonwood Pass CG are open. the bear stoage at the sites in the CG are larger. i have also seen people just pitch a tent 20 feet from their car in the parking spots by the TH. don't know if that is allowed, but i have seen it.

Cottonwood Pass TH & CG is a lot quieter than Cottonwood Lakes. it's perfect for the person who just wants to roll in to sleep without much noise, especially if you want to skip the CG and just sleep in your car. very convenient.

bring mosquito repellent. i remember those little buggers in July.