Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Just how bad is the road to Red Lake TH?

A little "north" of this board's focus but I thought I'd float this question out there to the east-side vets. I'd really like to try Split Mt. in a few weeks. I don't have 4 wheel drive and I've read numerous times that the road to Red Lake is nasty. I have a mini van and a scion (not the square one).

It's bad. Worse than Shepherd Pass TH. I doubt a Scion or minivan could make it back there. It's rough with some steep sections. With careful driving and a lot of tools perhaps it's possible.

I did it in a 2WD pickup and had difficulty getting out.

It is worse than Shepherds, which is a nice graded dirt road, but when I hiked Split in May it was not nearly as bad as I was led to believe. We drove in late at night in my Jeep (in 2WD) with the help of a GPS track someone had given me. In the daylight I wouldn't hesitate driving my wife's Honda minivan--it would just take longer. There are a few spots crossing the creeks and such where you would need to take it slow. Ground clearance is the main issue, no need for 4WD as long as it's dry.

Hey, I used to own a Vista Cruiser. A '77, I think. Yellow, with that fake wood exterior.

which way are you planning to go in? the Mine or McMurry? Coming via the Mine can be done in a 2wd, low clearance car, but extremely carefully. Coming via McMurry without high clearance would be rough. i have seen a minivan at the TH a few years back.

The road via McMurray was in good shape over the 4th of July weekend this year. You should be fine without 4WD, but it will help to have a vehicle with some clearance like a truck or SUV after McMurray Meadows.

I had anticipated the road to be in much worse conditions based stories I have heard and read. Road conditions change from year to year, so this might just be a good year.

Is the shortcut from the campgrounds really that difficult to follow for a first timer? According to the map and from reports I've read it is much quicker. I'm heading up tomorrow and after a day of hiking and sleeping at Horseshoe Meadows I'll be hitting the trail 8/2.

Haha Bob, maybe you should of jacked it up and put offroad tires on it so the oil pan wouldn't get smashed!

There was some serious rain after the 4th...that could have changed the "road" in. Last time i climbed we had to stop several miles short of the tail head as we were sure we could not get back out (up the down hill sections) with my 2 wh-drive ford van.