Lone Pine Campground
Lone Pine Campground is tucked in a shallow ravine along the Whitney Portal Road in the Inyo National Forest, 7 miles west of the town of Lone Pine. Many who visit the campground intend to hike to the top of 14,505-foot Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in California. The trailhead at Whitney Portal is another 5 miles up the road. Lone Pine Campground is at an elevation of 5,900 feet, a good start for acclimating to make the hike. The hike to the top of Mt. Whitney requires a permit and planning. See Hiking up Mt. Whitney below for more details and links to Forest Service information.
Others who stay at Lone Pine Campground do so because they find it a convenient base from which to visit Manzanar and other points of interest in the area. The campground offers wonderful panoramic views of Mt. Whitney and neighboring peaks.
Lone Pine Campground has 43 campsites along Lone Pine Creek. Most of the sites are exposed in fields of sage with only a few trees for shade. Three of the campsites are walk-in tent sites. The rest can accommodate RVs, trailers, and tents. About two-thirds of the campsites can be reserved ahead of time; the rest of the sites are available for first-come, first served campers.
Lone Pine Campground includes 1 tents-only Group Campsite.
Hiking up Mt. Whitney
The 22-mile round-trip hike to the summit of Mt. Whitney from Whitney Portal is a major undertaking. The trail climbs over 6,000 feet. Just the uphill climb to the summit can take 7 or 8 hours. Many hikers set out well before sun-up and often don't return to their cars until dusk.
Recommended Essentials
- A permit to hike up Mt. Whitney is required. (See link below.)
- Layered clothing. It can be hot on the ascent and windy and cold on the summit.
- Water bottles and filter. Plan to refill bottles at the last water at Trail Camp.
- Trekking poles - for safety on uneven terrain and to ease the strain on knees on descent.
- A good map - people have wandered off the trail.
- Emergency contingency plans - tell someone when you will be back, carry rain gear, consider carrying a Spot GPS Messenger
, or similar rescue device.
Hiking up Mt. Whitney should not be a spur-of-the-moment decision. Train for the hike, read books and websites about the hike. Plan on spending a couple of nights at a nearby campground to acclimatize before your hike.
Forest Service Links
Inyo National Forest Wilderness Permits
Inyo National Forest -Mt. Whitney Trail Information
