Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Whitney Portal walk-in campsites

Anyone have experience with the walk in campsites at Whitney Portal? I hear there are 10 of them. My party of three or four intend to camp there 7-16 the night before out dayhike up the Mountaineers Route. What are the chances that we can get one of these campsites if we arrive around 2 PM? Also, anyone heading up the MR on Thur 7-17? It's our first time that route and I'm kind of hoping to follow or join somebody that knows the way. I have all the MR links and have been studying and taking notes. When we return to the Portal that afternoon or evening am I allowed to get another walk in campsite there and spend another night?

I have an overnight permit for the MR going up Lone Pine Creek in August. After camping one night then summiting the next morning, am I allowed to go down the regular Main Mt Whitney trail?

I think there 16 sites, which are numbered, of which 10 are on pads.

Then there are a few stealth sites within this area.

I've always gotten a site, be on a pad, off pad or stealth.

I've heard the term "stealth sites" before. Can you or someone else give me more info?

I've heard the term "commando" camping, too. It means hiking without a permit, or camping in a site that is not designated specifically for camping. You might get in trouble if an authority noticed the campsite.

I've done this in Yosemite once in a while -- either sleeping in the car in a parking lot which I believe is forbidden, or throwing my bed down in the woods after dark and getting up early, and especially: leaving NO trace.

They are not recognize by the forest service as sites but they are within the hiker-in camping area...you have to look around, if it ain't numbered and it's flat and a hard surface it is good enough to put a ground cover down pull out a sleeping bag. The only time I use a tent is when there are skeeters or weather coming in.

1. What is the procedure to get a walk in campsite at Whitney Portal? Who do I contact? Where? When? Can I camp a second night in a walk in site after I complete my dayhike?

2. My overnight permit is for North Fork Lone Pine Creek (Mountaineers Route) Am I allowed to come down the Main Mt Whitney Trail?

3.Can I go up to the Ebersbacher Ledges the day before my dayhike? I will have no permit for that day, would that be in the Whitney Zone?

Clarification - I have a dayhike permit in July and an overnight permit for August.

1. Walk in, find an empty pad, claim it. There is a kiosk where you fill out an envelope and insert cash. That's it.

2. Overnight: If you come down the main trail, that means you have to haul all your overnight gear to the summit. Most people who do that will spend a night on the summit. But you then also need a Trail Crest Exit permit in addition to your North Fork overnight permit.

If you day hike the Mountaineers Route, you can then descend the Main Trail -- day use permits are for anywhere in the Whitney Zone, it is the same permit as the Main Trail day use permit.

3. You can day hike up to Lower Boy Scout Lake and back without a permit. Same for Lone Pine Lake on the Main Trail.

Question from my wife:

At the Whitney Portal are there toilets? Do they have water?

I seem to remember hearing about showers there. Is that true?

At the Portal, the walk-in sites are near the trail head, so yes on toilets and water.

I think Doug closed the shower on the back of the store several years ago after he opened the Hostel. ...but I am not sure.

I thought I overheard people claiming their turn for the shower when I was in the portal store (Mid June) before starting our trek.

I just called the Hostel and was told 5 showers in the Hostel and 1 at the Portal. Anyone can use it for $3

Steve - Apparently Doug has re-opened the shower at the Portal. When I was there recently I heard he (and Earline) directing people to the shower.

I'm planning on using walk-in campsites at the Portal 4 weeks from now. We are doing a dayhike up the MR and my intent is to drive home that night. Some in my group (retired) want to camp at the portal a 2nd night and then head over to Tuolumne Meadows and possibly hike up to Clouds Rest. Is that allowed? Can they leave their tents set up or do we have pack up in the morning and then pay again for a 2nd night later that day and then pitch the tents a second time?

I think the walk-in sites are designated one-night-stands, so your friends would need to take the tent down. But it could just be loosely rolled up and thrown into the car, so wouldn't require much time.

Of course I could be wrong. I am sure it will be explained in the rules at the sign-in kiosk.

You could maybe try for a standard camp site once you arrive. Not sure if there is a campground host that has a handle on whatever is still available, but it might be worth the try.