Lone Oasis

Hiking a section of Mount Whitney Trail in California

Every summer, thousands travel to Whitney Portal in the Eastern Sierra to summit Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States. But thousands more are denied the required permit to enter the “Whitney Zone” due to the Forest Service’s strict quota system. The good news is you can still get a taste of the famous Mount Whitney Trail without getting a permit, because its first three miles actually lie outside the permit zone, allowing for a lovely day trip to the high-altitude Lone Pine Lake. You won’t soon forget this strenuous, 5.8-mile out-and-back hike up a glacially carved canyon. Starting at 8,360 feet, the path climbs the canyon’s north side opposite an utterly gigantic, pine-studded granite peak. Jeffrey pines and manzanita litter rocky, open slopes on the first mile, while green ferns and other lush vegetation mark the crossings of Carillon Creek and the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek.

Shortly after, you enter the John Muir Wilderness and begin to zigzag up a long series of switchbacks towards a prominent pine-topped saddle high above. As you ascend, vistas open eastward of the Owens Valley and the Inyo Mountains beyond, all painted in tan-khaki earth tones. Logs bridge the marshy Lone Pine Creek at 2.8 miles, and under the ensuing pines a wooden sign points the way to Lone Pine Lake, veering you left off the main trail. The lake sits at saddle’s edge—smack up against a scree below a towering granite face—its mirror-like surface reflecting sky and a fringe of sculpted rock and pines. The sandy beach here is a popular picnic spot. Where better than this natural infinity pool at 10,000 feet to ponder your place on earth ... or to imagine winning that lottery and bagging Whitney next year!

CAMP: To linger in this hallowed canyon, snag a spot at Whitney Portal Campground just east of the trailhead; 43 sites cluster the banks of Lone Pine Creek under dense pine forest and granite cliffs. You’ll be lulled to sleep by the white noise of rushing water.

Directions to the trailhead: Take US Hwy. 395 to Lone Pine. Turn west onto Whitney Portal Rd. and follow it into the mountains to its terminus. Road signs designate trailhead parking lots. Note: Whitney Portal closes after the first snowfall, and Whitney Portal Campground closes in late October. Dogs allowed on trail and at campground. 

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View