Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board whitney portal campground

Got my permit yesterday for a day hike in Sept. I am planning on camping at portal and was wondering if anyone had any spots they recommend. Thanks!!

I stayed in site #8 last October. It looked like the best site in terms of space and relative privacy. Very pretty site, too. Only drawback was a bit of a climb from the car. As you may already know, you can view the campground map at http://reserveamerica.com/jsp/commonpage.jsp?goto=/nrrs/ca/whtp/newindex.html

If you are planning to be there on Labor Day I may already have the site reserved!

Best Regards

I took pictures of site #8 for someone last year....
http://home.earthlink.net/~marksphotos/_wsn/page2.html

I stayed at site #15 and will be doing the same again this year. Once I got used to the roar of the creek, I slept pretty good. The Lone Pine Creek trail runs past the site, so there is occasional foot traffic (children and fishermen), but I enjoyed watching the kids play and the fishermen fish. Site #16 might be better. It is on the opposite side of the creek from the trail, seemed to have more shade, and is slightly closer to the restrooms than site #15.

Sites #11 and #13 were pretty open, partly shaded under pine trees. My neighbors at #13 last year just layed their bags onthe ground and slept under the stars (mid-July). Across from #15 are sites #12 and #14. I remember them being surrounded by some good size granite boulders on three sides providing a little privacy, but I don't think they had much shade.

Don't think you will be disappointed with any of the sites. Best of luck and have fun.

Kind regards,

Mark A. Patton

Why don't they turn the water off at night, so people can sleep

Has anybody stayed in campsites 1-7, 24-38? Do you have any favorite sites and how far are they from the trailhead?

Don't remember which camp sites I have stayed in but they are all nice. I enjoy the ones next to the stream the best. The campground is about a mile from the store and trailhead. There is a very nice trail you can hike to the store. There is also backpacking camp at the portal across from the store. I believe it is first come first serve and not nearly as nice and private. Hope this helps.

I've stayed 4 times in Site 36, and I think 36 and 37 are both excellent sites. Something about the way the trees and the terrain line up....

They are also away from the creek, halfway between two bathroom buildings, and don't require one to go around the campground loop to get in or out. The downside is that being near the entrance, a lot of cars go by. But that never bothered me.

Has anyone ever stayed at the G03 Group site, is this also nice?

I've stayed at the Portal a few times, and my favorite site is #44. It's the farthest downhill, so there's very little traffic; it's next to the water and a beautiful setting. It's a bit away from the bathrooms, but again, that means little traffic, but after hiking how many miles, is a little walk to the bathrooms any big deal?

I have never camped in the portals because my family owns cabin #19, but i agree if you don't mind the stream (which was pretty dry and quiet last year) all the campsites are pretty good!

is the roar of the creek a feature or a problem? i had # 8 last year & it was fine. i put the tent on the pad closest to the creek & got used to it right away.