Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Tuttle Creek Campground

Does anyone have any info/feedback they would like to share with me regarding Tuttle Creek Campground. For example, temps, space size and most important availability during the week, not weekend. My annual Whitney trip is coming up the third week of August and I thought I might save some money this time and bring my Coleman tent trailer up instead of staying at the Best Western like I usually do. I have reservations there but would cancel them in a heartbeat if this campground is a good alternative. Thanks in advance.

Here is Tuttle Creek campground information

There aren't any advance reservations taken so you just need to see if there's a site when you arrive. The campground is only at 5120 feet so it'll be very warm. Day time temps could push into the triple digits.

If cost is your only issue you might consider the Whitney Portal Hostel. It's only $20 a night.

Kurt, thanks for the info. I guess my real question is availability during the week. How crowded does it get and is there usually space available. Also can campers fit in the spaces. Price isn't really an issue. Like I said I have a reservation at the BW. I thought it might be nice to tow my trailer up from Ventura County. As far as the temps go, as long as it cools off at night to sleep it will be ok. I plan on spending Monday and Tuesday up around Horseshoe Meadows to acclimate and Wednesday on the Whitney trail. I know there are walk in sites at Horseshow Meadows but are there any sites for campers there now days?

An option that few know about or use, is the horse campground sites at horseshoe meadows. I think there are 10-odd sites, I've never seen more than one or two used. They have very long parking areas, to accommodate a horse trailer, so there is a lot of room.

They are a little bit away from the trailheads, so you don't get a lot of noise at nite. It is on the spur road to the Cottonwood Lakes trailhead, on a separate spur off to the left a hundred yards or so before that trailhead.

It does NOT cool off at nite on the valley floor.

I stayed there mid week this time last year. There were only three other spots taken at that time. The night was warm, but not unbearable. Tuttle creek is only 3feet wide, but runs clear and cold. I also saw a guy pull a 10" trout out of it.

A friend and I spent an enjoyable night at Tuttle Creek the evening of 7/19 (Sunday) after climbing Whitney/Muir. We arrived late and left early (to climb Langley), so heat wasn't an issue; to say, the nighttime temps were pleasant and comfortable. The campground was maybe 10% occupied and is a deal at $5/site. There is no tap water but a stream borders the southern edge. Stargazing was spectacular! I would definitely stay there again.

I stayed at Tuttle on the 11th and loved it. Easy access, $5.00 a night, quite, $5.00 a night, very clean, $5.00 a night, and basically empty. The elevation is a little low if you need to acclmate but it worked out great for me. Oh yeah, it's only $5.00 a night! What a deal!