Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Cottonwood Lakes

Hi everyone! My brother and I did the Cottonwood trail to the Portal 7 years ago and had an amazing time but remember the mosquitoes being horrible!! We want to take our wives up to show them where we went, just planning to spend a night or two at Cottonwood Lake area but wanted to know about the mosquito situation for the tail end of July at Cottonwood. Planning the trip for around 19th, anyone have feedback on how it's been or what to expect? Greatly appreciate any words of advice! Thanks, Derrick

Hi Watch the weather ,if we have early rains this summer you can expect a hatch mid summer ,Dry now and we are seeing bee movement early.

Do bees have something to do with mosquitoes? I will watch the weather, thanks!

From Sacramento?

Yup! Just got back from the hills -- out and about much earlier than usual.

What I saw:

Butterflies! They were all congregated around water sources (there were rain puddles from the last couple of days)

Speaking of butterflies and the Cottonwood Lakes area: I always see butterflies on the summit of Cirque Peak.

Hi Derrick, could you tell me what time of day you encountered the mosquitos. I was at Cottonwood Lakes on July 29th last year and I encountered no mosquitos but we left by about 4:00 pm. I was just there for a daytime acclimatization hike and didn't camp near the lakes. We camped at Horseshoe Meadows campground and then at Whitney Portal. No mosquitos at HS meadows and none at Whitney Portal or anywhere else the next 3 days. This year I was planning to attempt Mt. Langley via Old Army Pass on July 25th which would involve camping somewhere near the Cottonwood Lakes. Do you think the mosquitos are near the Lakes because of the water? How far from the lakes were you? Any info greatly appreciated., Sincerely, Russ

Mosquitos will normally be gone in the Cottonwood Lakes area by late July - assuming below normal rainfall. However, one never knows.

100% DEET (available at the outdoor store in LP near the Dow Villa) will keep them off you.

That is encouraging. Thank you.