Horseshoe meadows to mount whitney and whitney portal trailhead via new army pass is a 37. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from april until october. It is not a loop so youll need to figure out how to get back to your car or have a car waiting at the end. I recorded most of this on my samsung galaxy s6, including the music in my bathroom acoustics. Whitney you could also begin or end this hike at whitney portal you will meet the pct 22. The route takes us over cottonwood pass, past chicken spring lake, through rock creek canyon, over guyot pass, through crabtree. The paved road is usually open from may to late october. The road to horseshoe meadow climbs over 6,000 feet, as it winds its way up from lone pine. The trail follows along stokes stringer creek for about 3 miles. The trail from crescent meadow to whitney portal is 72 miles long and takes about a week to complete. Drive twenty miles up mountain switchbacks to roads end at horseshoe meadow.
Horseshoe meadows to mount whitney and whitney portal. Hiking on the west side of mount whitney gives an entirely different perspective on a popular region dominated by the lower 48s highest mountain. Whitney, which offers a great view of the surrounding area, and it sees far less hikers and permit can be picked up last minute. Day 4 crabtree meadow to whitney portal what started out as a short day, ended up being a longer one.
Feb 14, 2017 drive west from town on whitney portal road, then south on horseshoe meadow road to the trailhead. Turn right at the junction with the pacific crest trail in the direction of rock creek. Turn left, and follow horseshoe meadow first over a gentle slope approaching the base of the mountains and then soon on a precipitous switchbacking passage to the horseshoe meadows area. An alternative to this popular route, which is subject to lottery, is to start a little further south, at horseshoe meadow, going over cottonwood pass or new army pass. One other option is to pick an alternative trailhead near the whitney zone, such as the horseshoe meadow trailhead. From center of lone pine, turn west at the stoplight and follow whitney portal road for 3 miles. Cottonwood pass trail to whitney portal hiking trail, lone. The recreation fees are used to finance the ontheground wilderness programs in inyo national forest. Mt whitney trail hiking and backpacking timberline trails. It once had a solar toilet but due to abuse people putting trash in the toilets. You can also enter the west side from mineral king. From lone pine turn west onto whitney portal road mile 0. John muir trail backpacking packing list rei coop journal.
In the morning, it was still going and i was nervous at breakfast. Whitney via cottonwood pass wilderness trip report. Most people who backpack mt whitney to reach the summit use this camp as a launching point for reaching the top. Or maybe park at whitney portal early and try to hitch a ride to horseshoe meadow first before the start. Aug, 2017 come along on my hike from horseshoe meadows to mount whitney. The trail now enters the eastern portion of big whitney meadow. The bottle neck for the west entry is the whitney portal exit, right. Horseshoe meadow to lower soldier lake about 10 miles. Finders 2019 trail journals, backpacking and hiking journals. I probably will avoid the cross country at this point as i was made to promise before this trip was approved that i would not do this since i am alone sigh.
Among them are sabrina lake, south lake, big pine, onion valley, and horseshoe meadow. The first trail steps of my pct journey began after a car shuttle. Going westbound or eastbound is all the same to me all great stuff. Horseshoe meadow lies in the inyo national forest southwest of lone pine in the eastern sierra nevada at the boundary of the southern sierra to the south and the high sierra to the north. Drive west from town on whitney portal road, then south on horseshoe meadow road to the trailhead. East side sierra shuttle the most reasonably priced. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from march until october. Whitney allowing you to hike the entire jmt, cottonwood lakes trail and cottonwood pass trail. One drawback with this tactic is that your approach to the summit of mt. Hike up cottonwood pass, down to rock creek, up to guyot creek, camp there. There were still a few campsites available, so we quickly set up the tent, left whatever gear we could, then drove to whitney portal to drop the car. A stumble on the lower slopes, eventuating in for c a broken ankle and a 4 mile hobble carrying her wag bag to whitney portal. From the city of lone pine, it takes half an hour to ascend to the trailhead campgrounds. This 10,000 foot trailhead is paved all the way, has a zillion parking places, and is empty.
Cottonwood pass miter basin army pass backpack in e. I didnt see another soul until i got down to lower crabtree meadow. I havent heard complaints about getting a crescent meadow permit. Oct 27, 2015 so this was our october horseshoe meadows loop hike out of lone pine, ca, in the eastern sierras. The trailhead for cottonwood lakes is at horseshoe meadow. I left my car at onion valley campground below kearsarge pass and was driven by my good friends, jonathan and brendan, to horseshoe meadow. Whitney via cottonwood pass june 8th june 11th this will be a 3day backpack to mt. Located at about 10,000 feet altitude it is a central hub for many day and backbacking trips. The plan was to go to guitar lake and fish and relax for the hike up whitney the next day. From southern california, drive north on hwy 395 to lone pine, ca.
Then turns sharply west headed straight into the pine filled southern. Today was a big day wed climb two beasts for over 11,000 feet of elevation gain in just 65 miles. Cottonwood pack station hiking with pack stock, mt. Link to part 1 our itinerary is for a 5day, 4night trek starting at horseshoe meadow, ascending over cottonwood pass to connect with the pct, then continuing on to crabtree meadow where well depart the pct for the mt whitney trail and then exit via the portal. If you didnt get your permit for the main trail this is a less traveled alternative route. Deciphering the inyo national forest permit system ingas. Those camped at whitney portal campground may enjoy visiting some of these places. Our hike ends here, but it begins at horseshoe meadow, elevation 9,900 feet high on our way to 14,500foot mount whitney. I decided to head up to upper crabtree and set up there for the night. Turn right, following signs for cottonwood lakes and park at the trailhead. And the west face climb of whitney is nicer with less people and better acclimation. At about 3 miles make a left turn onto paved horseshoe meadows road. Sierra shuttle service sierra shuttles, eastern sierra. Located at the end of horseshoe meadow road, 24 miles southwest of the town of lone pine, california.
There was talk of 10% grades for miles on the way to mt. So this was our october horseshoe meadows loop hike out of lone pine, ca, in the eastern sierras. A spectacular backpacking trip, with a delightful side trip to the summit. I have always wanted to walk this stretch of the pacific crest trail. There were still a few campsites available, so we quickly set up the tent, left whatever gear. Jun 23, 20 this is a 3 days backpacking trip starting from horseshoe meadows in inyo national forest. From route 395 in lone pine, head west on whitney portal road. Pass chicken spring lake, and continue northwest along the trail through a rugged alpine forest of ancient foxtail. From route 395 in lone pine, turn west at the traffic light on to whitney portal road. Come along on my hike from horseshoe meadows to mount whitney. Jagged 14,000 foot peaks, crystal clear lakes, sprawling alpine meadows, and beautiful mountain basins dot a vast landscape that is seldom visited by hikers outside of the narrow confines of the jmt. From lone pine start up the whitney portal road, but after 4 miles turn left onto horseshoe meadow road. Turn south onto horseshoe meadow road and continue 20.
Horseshoe meadow area campground, lone pine, california rei. The traditional route would start at whitney portal and include the summit of whitney. I have hiked many miles in the high sierra but, for some reason, never south of mt. Trail camp is located at 12,000 feet elevation and 6 miles from the whitney portal parking lot.
There are two trails that begin here that can connect you to the jmt near mt. Pacific crest trailjohn muir trail, kennedy meadows to onion valley, augustseptember 2012 distance covered. Camping on the main mt whitney trail usually takes place at either outpost camp 3, or trail camp 6. Whitney allowing you to hike the entire jmt, cottonwood lakes trail and cottonwood pass. The campground makes a spot to camp for several days to acclimatize before whitney hike. The area is south of lone pine, ca and an hour drive from mt. The high sierra trail, which begins at crescent meadow in sequoia national park and ends at whitney portal, is a great option for those who have a limited amount of time and want to hike to the top of mt. Aug 18, 2014 hiking on the west side of mount whitney gives an entirely different perspective on a popular region dominated by the lower 48s highest mountain. Just about 40 miles starting in horseshoe meadow and ending at whitney portal. We will follow the pct starting at horseshoe meadow and intersect with the jmt behind mt. From the signal light in lone pine on us 395, drive 3. After three miles, turn left on horseshoe meadow road.
Spend the rest of the day exploring the meadow and fishing. The most popular trails are horseshoe meadow to whitney portal backpacking, onion valley to mount whitney trail and meysan lake trail. Home forums campfire posttrip reports horseshoe meadow to whitney portal 820 to 824 viewing 3 posts 1 through 3 of 3 total forums are supported by our merchant partners disclosure rei coupons zpacks hyperlite patagonia arcteryx rbtr drop backcountry feathered friends. Its an unincorporated little community where the mount whitney trail begins, complete with campgrounds, a store, a restaurant and lots of parking for pilgrims going to the summit. Whitney, north fork of lone pine creek, and trail crest exit. Horseshoe meadow campgrounds golden trout wilderness. Horseshoe meadow to whitney portal 820 to 824 backpacking. You will enter immediately the alabama hills recreation area. After several miles the road begins to climb, soon making switchbacks up the steep mountainside. Drive twenty miles up mountain switchbacks to the end of the road at horseshoe meadow. Nice overnight camping at the trailhead, and its free.
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