Due to major road construction planned on Whitney Portal Road this summer, there will be some major parking restrictions.
Click here to read this entire thread, as it spans several pages.
Update Nov 18, 2016: Official word has arrived: the Portal Pavement Project is COMPLETE! Update Nov 11: The work is nearly completed. Only minor delays should be expected.
Update Oct 27: Inyo County Sheriff reports on Facebook:
Construction crews have discontinued the extended delays for the Whitney Portal Road Construction Project. Expect a total traffic delay of up to 30 minutes, Mondays – Fridays: 7:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Crews are working on the following items: finishing the roads shoulders, completing curb backfill, installing signs and markers, and minor striping. They hope to begin reseeding and mulching in the next week.Update Sep 17: Paving is completed. Edge work continues, delays recently have been up to 90 minutes.
Update Aug 23: Note: contrary to previous information, walk-in permittees will NOT receive a parking pass for Whitney Portal. No reservation, no parking pass.
Update July 26: NO parking along the road until further notice.
Update July 28: Signs are posted on the road warning of
3 hour closures. ...Aug 23: There have been no reports of long periods of closure.
Update Oct 23: Posted on Instagram by
andreavphoto Lines are painted!!
From the
construction company's notice,
updated Sept 7:
Construction Schedule:
Monday-Friday 6:00 am to 7:30 pm
Plan for extended delays 8:00 am - 11:00 am & 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm in the upper section of road starting above the turn off to Lone Pine Campground. Expect 30 minute delays outside of the extended delay times and areas, but within the construction schedule.
Some notices make the 3-hour "extended delay" periods sound as if the road will be impassable for the entire three hours, but that has turned out NOT to be the case.
Day hikers using the trailhead walk in campground the night before their hike, their one day parking pass will be accepted the evening before the hike.
Day use (non-permit) parking at Whitney Portal: 6 AM - 8 PM (So you can go up before the 6:30 AM construction delays.) Parking in the day use area outside of those hours is not allowed.
NOTE: Even though you get a parking pass from the Visitor Center in Lone Pine when you pick up your trail permit, it may not guarantee you a parking spot. Inyo N.F. cautions that at times, the parking lots may be completely full, with no space available for those holding a parking pass.
More info: Throughout the summer, the parking lots have never been full.
Edit: Note that parking in unauthorized spots near Whitney Portal and on any surrounding roadways will result in cars being towed, and, I am told, a "Notice to Appear" in court -- not a simple parking ticket.
Edit Feb 29: The Inyo N.F.
Road Construction notices web page has a link to
weekly updates pdf document. Inyo NF road reports on Twitter:
@MtWhitneyInfoEdit Jan 14: From the
Inyo N.F. websiteWhitney Portal Road Reconstruction (Inyo County and FHWA project)
A major reconstruction of the Whitney Portal Road is planned for March 1 through November 7th of the 2016 season. Hikers, backpackers, campers, and other visitors should plan for road closures (up to three hours), limited parking, carpooling, and a lot of patience. Long term parking will not be available at Whitney Portal during the construction project. More information will become available as the project approaches.
From Inyo National Forest staff:
FYI there will be some impacts for hikers with Trail Crest Exit in the 2016 season, specifically during the Whitney Portal Road project.
There will be no long term parking allowed at Whitney Portal.
Use of hiker parking or curbside parking at Whitney Portal will require a parking permit during the construction project.
Folks with Trail Crest Exit could use the backpacker walk in at the Portal and then hike down the National Recreation Trail to where long term parking is allowed near Lone Pine Campground. If doing this scenario, the exit date on the wilderness permit would still be the day they reach Whitney Portal.
Arranging for a shuttle to pick up hikers may be a good solution.
Several parking areas near Lone Pine are being identified for ride share and long term parking.
There will be more details soon regarding how this will impact trips starting at the portal.
This notice appears on the Recreation.gov site when looking for a campsite at Whitney Portal:
ROAD CONSTRUCTION: The Whitney Portal Road is being reconstructed in 2016. Daily extended closures and limited parking will require careful planning. Whitney Portal Campground guests must park within designated campground site only. There will be no curbside parking on Whitney Portal Road during construction at the Whitney Portal area. A parking permit is required for hiker parking.
Note that Lone Pine Campground is along Lone Pine Creek, below the steeper part of Whitney Portal Road. Here's a
Google Maps view. The turnoff is 3.4 miles from the Horseshoe Meadows turn off, and 6.5 miles from Lone Pine.
Hikers coming off the JMT or using the Trail Crest Exit may need to park near Lone Pine and get down from Whitney Portal using their thumbs.
Whitney Portal seems to be one of the easiest places for hikers to catch a ride this way.
--- Shuttle services ---
(from Jont Turner at Sierra Elevation in Lone Pine. Jont writes,
"You can call us here at the shop for updates and more info 760-876-4560")
Kurt's Sierra Shuttle 661-972-9476 email: LonePineKurt@aol.com
East Side Shuttle 760-878-9115/8047 email: paul@inyopro.com
Mt Whitney Shuttle 760-876-1915 email: info@mountwhitneyshuttle.comLone Pine Chamber of Commerce can arrange shuttle services: 760-876-4444
Also see this web page:
Sierra Nevada Shuttles--- Parking Locations ---Mount Whitney Golf Course: $10/day, $25/week, $75/month. 760-876-5795
Across 395 from the Interagency Visitor Center (permit pickup office)
Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce (link above).
Lone Pine Film History museum
