Trail: Mount Whitney Portal to Lone Pine Lake
City: Lone Pine
State: California
Length: 6.5 mile Out & Back
Elevation Gain: 1876 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Permit Required: No
Lone Pine Lake, at 10,050 ft in elevation, sits on a ridge above Whitney Portal. Mount Whitney is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States and the Sierra Nevada, with an elevation of 14,505 feet. It is a picture perfect alpine lake with views of the eastern side of the Sierras.
We hiked in early August and got to see some snows on the trail. We crossed mule deers at the creek crossings and so be alert when nearing the waters. At the lake, we had our lunch and stretched over the rocks before heading back to the trailhead.
As everyone says, this hike is definitely doable and for those who can’t tackle Mt Whitney’s 22 mile hike, this one gives you a small taste of the trail and the views of Mount Whitney as you drive through Alabama Hills.
Happy Hiking & Exploring!