Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Long Term Parking at Whitney Portal for JMT

Hi everyone,

I am doing the JMT starting July 2nd. the plan is to leave my jeep (has a hardtop) at the whitney portal parking lot on the drive up to Yosemite. I will be getting dropped off in Yosemite Valley after camping for a few days with friends in the high country. I will be done on July 23rd. I'm pretty sure its ok to leave my jeep there, but just want to double check with you all. I will remove all food and such things that would attract bears. Should I be worried about break-ins or thefts?

As plan B, if my ride flakes on me I would like to drive to the portal, drop my jeep of and take the eastern sierra transit to mammoth and connect to the yarts. How does one get from the Whitney portal down to lone pine without a vehicle or ride, is there a taxi service, or thumb a ride? Or is there a place to leave a vehicle in lone pine for 3 weeks (long term parking?) and at the end of my hike I could hitch a ride from the portal to lone pine. I would be staying in a hotel after, I have not figured out which one yet. do the local hotels provide long term parking for thru hikers?

thanks

Can someone tell me what the road is like to the Whitney Portal? Is it a dirt mountain windy road, or paved. how long does it take from the 395, for a Jeep and Suv both high clearance and 4wd if that makes a difference?

thanks

Paved. You could do it in a Mini in summer time. Takes about 20 minutes or so from Lone Pine.

Hitching is super easy to/from the portal.

The Dow Villa has a lot and if you talk to them they permit long term parking.

It is paved...

It will take you approx 20 minutes from the 395 to the Portal...the distance is 13 miles one way.

I see Akichow beat me to it by one minute...nonetheless we validate each other!

thanks. going to contact the dow villa.

Beantown, lots of people park their cars long-term at Whitney Portal. It should be ok there. In fact fewer thief types would visit there than Lone Pine.

Another option would be to park at Mammoth, and catch YARTS into Yosemite. That way you would have the option of riding the bus out of Reds Meadow midway through your hike, and using your car to pick up any resupply stuff you needed anywhere in Mammoth. You could then take the ESTA/Crest bus back there from Lone Pine after your hike. Forest Service people can tell you where there is parking, but I have parked along the road here. (Gmap4 map) The Reds Meadow bus drops you off just west of the main parking lot.