Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Lone Pine Lake

Has anybody camped at Lone Pine Lake? I have seen it referenced as a place to camp in a guidebook I have but could find nothing anywhere else on it.

Thanks in advance.

Eric

I never have, but I'm aware that people do it. It's about an hour from the Portal on the main trail.

In the old days people did not camp at Lone Pine Lake. Recently that changed and I often see people camping there. It is never a crowded place to camp, even though there is plenty of space and it is a nice place to camp. I suppose that most folks would just like to make it further up the trail that first day. So they would backpack into outpost camp instead.

Headed up there tommorow,have permits for sat night at high camp and sunday summit day and back down,but tommorow i will ask for any no shows so i can start,up to the lake.And yes there is no camping,but you do not need a perimt to be this high,only if your planing to move on you can stay at the lake.

I've camped at Lone Pine lake last two times I've been up the Main Trail. It has worked out great because it gets me out a day before my Main Trail permit is valid. I can leave Long Beach around 11 or 12, stop and pick up my permit and arrive at the Portal around 3 or 4 pm. It's a short hike up to LP Lake - and I am able to get a relaxing start the next morning. Being at LP Lake you also miss those early dayhikers tromping through camp at 3 or 4 in the morning.
Adam

Lone Pine Lake is outside the Whitney Zone but you still need an overnight permit to camp there. I believe the standard whitney overnight permit will suffice as well.

-lance

Thanks all. I am coming down the trail finishing the JMT and was considering staying here my last night. Changed my mind so I will camp at the Portal, clean up and eat real food before flying home next day.

Thanks again for the replies.