Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board NAP or Cottonwood Pass...Where are the Fish?

Our group of 7 is now down to 2. We would like to summit Whitney from the west side and we have a Friday Trail Crest exit. I'm wondering if anyone has any info on which trail would be most appropriate. We would like to fish in the afternoons and keep our miles down to 8-10 per day. We have 5-6 days to do the hike so I'm not too concerned about our pace. Also, now that we're into September I know the weather can change quickly. Would one trail be more exposed than the other? We are not planning on bringing winter mountaineering gear, just backpacking gear.

We have been planning this trip for a year and our original plan was the NFLP creek up and over the saddle, down to Guitar Lake, then up and over whitney with a Trail Crest exit. Now that we're only 2, and capable of more than a few miles a day, we would really like to extend our trip and enjoy the scenery. And info on fishing or trail conditions this time of year would be great.

Thanks again to everyone on this board. I could not have planned my trip with out tis web site.

Thanks Doug.

OLD Army pass (and the Cottonwood Lakes drainage) have a lot of lakes. About 6 miles to Muir Lake. You could make a good afternoon of it to find out where the lunkers are then try tempting them the second day. The Cottonwood Lakes used to be the only breeding area for Sierra Golden Trout. Barbless catch and release now. Check on other fishing regulations there, such as close of season. Its about a mile easy walk to South Lake or Long Lake (I heard not much good luck there this year at Long, however).

Old Army trail leaves up near lakes 3,4,and 5.

http://www.summitpost.org/route/156296/army-pass-normal-route.html

I have heard that Soldier Lakes have a few fish.


For another route, over Kearsarge Pass, I watched a young lady pull about 20 trout out of the closest Kearsarge Lake, AFTER an early supper. But that (and Bullfrog) is about all the fishing you would have until Bubbs Creek and perhaps the lakes around Crabtree Meadows.

I'm with Steve, the fish are jumping at...

Day one...Cottonwood Lakes 3 or 4...then over Army Pass the following day

Day two...Rock Creek about 1/8 mile above the Crossing, just as you come to the creek...lot'sa pools there.

Day three...Upper Crabtree Meadow/Whitney Creek

Day four...Guitar Lake...I don't know about this one because I've never stayed at this location.

Day five...Lone Pine Lake