Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board White Mountain / Grandview Campground

We are planning to hike White Mt soon in preparation for our Whitney trip in Sept. Is Grandview Campground the closest campground to the trailhead. Do we need bear canisters or are there bear boxes available at the camp. Are there other campgrounds you would recommend that are close by. Thanks

It is the closest campground. There are no bears in that range. There is no water at that campground. If you want to be close to the trail head that is your best bet.

I agree with hikehigh. Head for the trailhead. The same amenity (basically a pit toilet) is available, and there is plenty of room for tents there. Added benefit: driving to 11.7K feet. Drawback: NO WINDBREAK. As it can tend to be windy in the Whites, this may be tough at this saddle where the trailhead is. Grandview is down in the 8-9K range, still in the pinyons, a lot more sheltered, and may be easier to sleep due to the elevation.

Have fun! This was one of my favorite walks last year.

-L

I agree with the previous posters, you should camp at the trailhead if you can stomach sleeping at altitude. The road into the trailhead is passable with any high-clearance vehicle, but prepare yourself for a bone-jarring ride. Allow a good hour to drive the unpaved portion, more if there is snow. No bears, but watch out for crafty marmots... although we didn't see any at the car, just along the way. This is a beautiful hike, but certainly high and dry. One of my favorite 14ers. Have fun!

This is from the Inyo Natl Forest web page, posted before June 1. Check with them - the road may still be closed, and the Whites may have gotten snow from all the storms this week!

The road into the bristlecone pine forest is now open as far as Schulman Grove. It is closed at that point due to snow and saturated roadbed condition at higher elevations; which means that the road to White Mountain Peak Trailhead is still closed for the season.

And that would contradict this post: White Mountain report 6/5/09

There has indeed been a new dusting of snow with each successive storm wave, but with each mild clearing/passage of the day, it has been melting off (at least the view from the west here). This was the other night out my window looking at the West Ridge of White:



But all of that has sine melted off to about 13K. The one area that is remaining solid white is the ridgeline between Barcroft and White Mountain (which is where you will hike once you leave the research station). I know a lot of the road has north facing aspects which take a long time to melt off, and the FS waits until the road is dry so it isn't destroyed. With this current pattern, that might be a while... GRRR...

I'll try to take pictures when I am out and about today.

-L

Thanks for the advise - we will wait a few weeks for the weather to clear up.

If you DO decide to stay at Grandview, there are some pretty sweet campsites just beyond the main camping area, continuing on the dirt road. They are much more private and are highly recommended camping destination on/near full moon!

Are these developed campsites with picnic tables or just empty spots to pitch a tent.
Thanks