Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Red Lake TH - Any short Cut via Tinemaha Campgroud

Planning to hike Split Mt. from Red Lake. Looking for a short cut from Fish Springs off HWY-395.
Opt 1: Is it possible to drive from Tinemaha campground to Red Lake TH.
Opt 2: Is it possible Leave the car at Tinemaha campground and hike into Red Lake TH.

Trying to avoid driving from Big Pine on the McMurry Meadows dirt Rd. to Red Lake TH, and getting lost in the maze of tire puncture dirt road.

Reminds me of Bob R telling the story of driving a non-4WD/non-high clearance vehicle via the short road...

You can do it, but expect some oil pan damage if you don't have high clearance...
And maybe a hang-up that requires a really expensive tow...

There are some good descriptions out there.

I wouldn't walk from the campground...getting high enough to get away from the oppressive desert heat at the TH is more than enough foe me.

Whether you take McMurray or Fuller past the quarry (preferred imo), the primary issue is crossing Tinemaha Creek here. Unless it's been graded recently, which is highly doubtful (call Inyo County and see if they have any info), the boulders will bring you to a full stop in anything other than high-clearance. Worst case, park there and hike the extra 2.7 miles to the TH.

Also note, that the FS abandoned the trail years ago and nature has been hard at work reclaiming what's hers. Expect some head scratching and hand-wringing if you haven't been up there before---and know which way you're supposed to go from the start or you'll spend a day swimming in willows...

In addition to all, that the fire last year that cooked four cars at the trailhead altered the scene up the trail.
Still, some nice destinations to be had going up that way.

Almost 20 years ago took the McMurray Meadows Road to the Red Lake TH. Drove Isuzu Trooper with 4WD. Stopped a few times and took out shovel and crowbar to do a little road improvement before carefully passing. No problem, if careful and patient. Assuming road conditions have not improved since, would not go there now in my Toyota Corolla with 437,000 miles.

Recently, I have thought of hiking Mt Split again from Red Lake. I would consider the following:

(1) Camp at or park car at Tinemaha Campground.

(2) Assemble small pack and give thought to water management. As pointed out, this is hot terrain.

(3) Understand very well the terrain between Campground and TH.

(4) Get on MOUNTAIN BIKE and head west, passing south of the mine. Understand some passage might be through private property which is not necessarily appreciated by owners.

(6) Hide bike at TH and start hiking. As pointed out, understand that there is not much of a trail. Beware that the SCENERY IS INTOXICATING!

(7) On return to TH, get back on bike.

Good luck and let us know how your outing plays out.

Jim

Buy me a burger at WPS and I'll let you borrow a motorcycle. ..that's how I got there the last time I went up from the east.

I also cheated by riding beyond the car parking area.

Last time I went up Split, we did it from the west (The Hard Way.)