Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board 45 degrees / Ravine Campground

Hi Took a trip up to the Portal Campground today: light wind if at all and almost hot! BE SAFE CONDITIONS CAN CHANGE BACK AS QUICK.

Quick note on the new walk in Campground just below the overflow parking lot at the Trail head.
This now makes 20 walk in sites with parking and pads at the trail head . So before you book a reserved site check this out. You park unload once 200-300 feet to the trail head so no packing and moving up the canyon in the middle of the night being a target for the bears when you unload and get ready.

The new sites are very quite and have bear storage at the pad with fire rings . Use of these sites will allow non hikers to get a site in the Family Campground help reduce noise and lights in the middle of the night also saves money no reservation fee , sites are $10.00/a night up to 6 per site.
The campground was a dream of a fellow hiker that left instruction that he wanted to make available this campground in his last requests. Many people worked to make this happen last summer. Thanks Doug

Doug, Is it permissible to leave camping gear at a walk-in site while climbing during the day, or do people need to pack up before heading up the hill in the morning?

Hi The sites are cleaned evry day so others can use the area. Recall we have about 200 new hikers a day.

Storage lockers are in the overflow lot also so seems like the night before most everything would be in the locker, KEEP IN MIND never leave a pack out , So when you pack your tent/ "stuff" head to the trail head, place your extra items in the car then get your pack and remove your food from the bear locker all in the flow of the layout of the new campground .


Another bonus of the walk in sites your car is at the trailhead no looking for parking 1/2mile down the road! As everyone leaves the trailhead parking clears. Unless you arrive at 2 AM those spots are taken , but arriving say 3-8 PM the DAY HIKERS /OVERNIGHT HIKERS ARE LEAVING and you can park very close to the trail head sites. Thanks Doug

That's a nice addition.

How far up could someone drive with 2WD and no chains? 4WD and no chains? 4WD and chains? Thanks!