Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Camping at Whitney Portal the night before a Summit?

A group of 8 of us is hiking Mt. Whitney in early July. We need a place to camp the night before we begin the hike somewhere near the portal. We have read that the Trailhead Campground has 13 tent sites but doesn't take reservations. Does this campsite usually fill up, or should we be OK to camp there? Do you recommend camping at the Trailhead Campground or at the Lone Pine Campground where there are 38 tent sites and they do take reservations.

You should sleep high, so at least Whitney Portal. I have never heard that the walk-in sites were all taken. Even if they were, it's likely that other hikers would welcome another camper or two. You definitely don't need a tent at the Portal in July.

I see from your other posts that you are spending the day before at Horseshoe Meadows. Why not camp there? Since you are overnighting at Trail Camp, you could camp at Horseshoe, drive into Lone Pine for a great breakfast, then start up the trail well fed. No need to start right at dawn.

Thanks Steve