Lone Pine Lake via Mount Whitney Trail

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.