Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Winter Access Forum Parking in January

I've only been to Whitney off the PCT side and so I am unclear about the parking. If I'm headed up the Portal in January (lets say 10th of January) what should I expect for parking my vehicle, road conditions, violations (and what not to do) and general stuff that deals with the car.

Expect to park anywhere from somewhere down by the FS campground to the portal. If you pass the "Road Closed" sign at the start of the switchbacks, realize you're on your own (or expect to pay some big $$$) if you get in trouble. Considerate people park off the road (not in the middle of the road where they got stopped, assuming nobody else will be able to go further). Be careful where you park once on the switchbacks. There are some chutes that can spit out big slides and bury and/or destroy your car. Also look for boulders perched high on the road cut. These come down every winter. Consider the weather, too. If there's any chance of a storm while you're in the BC, park in a place you're sure you'll be able to get out of again. Chains, a shovel, and a big pry bar are useful to have in your car. I've seen cases where a chain saw would have helped, too, but that seems a bit extreme. The locals can give you a better sense of how law enforcement is dealing with the road closure this year.

Steve, when you say Do you mean the camp ground where the road ends and the Whitney Trail Head begins or is there another camp ground between the bottom of the road switchbacks and town?

Is it possible in January that the Portal Road will be snow free all the way to the trail head?

thanks,

Mark

There is another camp ground way down in the desert before you even hit the switchbacks. We ended up parking there a few years ago. It's possible that the road would be clear all the way, but this year it doesn't look likely.

Going to have to park lower. Check.
Going to have to walk more. Check.
Going to need more time. Check.

dern.

Thanks Steve,

Mark

Does anybody have a good estimate of the distance of the portal road, from where the portal road dog-legs to the right at Hogback road to the trail head. I expect I will most likely have to walk/snowshoe to the trail head. It looks like about 5 miles by google maps but it's really hard to tell.

thanks,

mark

Hi Hellkat:

For the 13 mi road from Lone Pine to Whithney Portal:
at 6.5 mi Snow removal ends here during winter
at 9.4 mi Road closure sign
at 13.0 mi Arrived at trail head

1) I suggest pick up permit at 8am, arrive at the road closure sign 8:30am. Drive past the road closure sign and see how far you can go safely. Drop your pack, and drive down to the road closure sign where there is plenty space to park. Simply hike up the road, or do little rock climb.

2) Over the years there has been plenty of incident where cars are stuck, or worst damaged. At the end of hike, the last thing you want is to be stuck or face a damaged car.

3) Check out the short cut further down from the Whitney Portal store where it will save you some time especially in the Winter.
It is tought going in the Winter especially after a strong storm that we just have.

Good Luck.

Hi I think the Portal road is 12 miles, always mean to check but forget, same from the two switchbacks in question, FS says 6 miles from sign I know that is wrong it is less than 4 and more likely 3+ . I posted a shortcut about going straight up the ridge (west) from the closed sign this saves alot of distance, also above the main campground take the old road at the very sharp switchback on the new road , so as the road starts to turn right go straight and follow this old road or go into the trees along the creek and this will take you to the trailhead, saves about 1/4 mile+. We check the store about every two weeks and I think from the sign to the Portal is about 2 hours, no pack or gear , a jacket and snacks. Thanks Doug (side note last week a couple got stuck and the tow quote was $280 per hour , check your coverage and see if you have any off road or coverage past a closed sign.)

You can read my odometer readings at The drive up from Lone Pine. It is about 3 1/2 miles up from the right turn at the start of the switchback.

You also will see data for Lone Pine Campground. The fork is for the road to the campground, but the campground is actually closer to the Portal. In the summer you can hike up a trail from Lone Pine Campground to the Portal.

Thanks for all the info Steve, T.A.H., Doug, & VFred.

Mark