Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Update: All roads open except Whitney Portal

I just spoke to a lady at Inyo County Roads Department. She said that all roads are now open except Whitney Portal, which remains locked at the lower gate.

Someone posted a photo from 5/23 showing horseshoe meadows road still closed...anyone have updates? TYIA.

I will know in a week for sure. I've got overnight permits out of Cottonwood Lakes for June 5-7 that were confirmed over phone yesterday. I cannot imagine they would issue permits and not open the road. Permit issuance begins June 1, so road should be open all the way by then if not sooner. This is for Horseshoe Meadows - the wait continues for Whitney Portal.

I drove up to Horseshoe Meadows this past weekend (May 29-30). The gate is still closed just before HSM. Its less than a mile walk from the locked gate to HSM. Everyone is parking at the gate and walking up. Several of us slept in our vehicles so we could get an early start the following morning, As for HSM itself, it looks like it can open at any minute. Everything is cleaned, the restroom was unlocked and useable (no TP) and the bear lockers looked either painted or brand new. A lot of people on the trail this weekend heading up to Cottonwood Lakes Basin. No snow on the trail until probably around 12,000'.