Hike to Lone Pine Lake via Mount Whitney Trail
Details
Distance
5.6 miles
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Added by Cuong Nguyen
This hike offers amazing view of Mount Whitney and the Sierra Nevada on the way up and Alabama Hills on the way down. If you go during late winter/early spring you can have of chance of seeing the lake still frozen.
From the parking lot at the end of Whitney Portal Road, look for the trailhead, which is marked with a wooden "gate" that shows the map and description of the trail. Starting out at 8,350 ft in elevation, the trail begins a series of switchbacks that lead you into the Sierra Nevada. Take more breaks if you are not acclimatized to the altitude. After passing the tree covers, the view of Mount Whitney with its supporting peaks on one side and Owens Valley on the other will surely catch your breath.
You will cross two streams as you climb up: Carillon Creek and and the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek where you will rock hop your way into John Muir Wilderness. The trail keeps on switchbacking up until you escape the sun and reach a shaded forest. There you will cross Lone Pine Creek by navigating through a few well-placed logs. After that the trail flattens out, becoming less steep until you reach the Lone Pine Lake junction where you will turn left and head downhill toward the lake.
Lone Pine Lake, at 10,050 ft in elevation, sits on a ridge above Whitney Portal. Once you get there, take your time and enjoy the lake and its majestic surrounding, which includes huge boulders, sheer granite cliffs, and evergreens.
Know for
Nearby
🌎
Local adventures
Find hikes, backpacking, photo spots, and more around Inyo County.
🏕
Nearby lodging
Search campgrounds, glamping, and hotels near Inyo County.
Reviews
Leave a ReviewGorgeous at dusk
The lake looks an infinity pool at some points and is gorgeous at dusk when the sky is more dimly lit and reflections from the surrounding rock is more visible. You also don't need a permit to hike up to this lake, everything after it you will.
5.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on.