We will be in Lone Pine on April 16th. (Staying there one night on the 15th, coming from Death Valley), and heading back that night on the 16th - quick trip so we only have a day.

Never been to Lone Pine or Death Valley before... it will be just my husband and I. Our original though was to drive up to the Portal early in the morning and hike the trail for a mile or two and then turn back around (furthest we'd go is Lone Pine Lake.) I'd love to see the area and we'd like to get up into the mountains.

With the rock slide and road closures, how likely would it be that the road will be open April 16th? If the road is not open, what else can we do? Any decent hikes in the Alabama Hills? But we'd really rather get up higher into the mountains. Will the Onion Valley road be open? Where else could we go for beautiful scenery and short hikes?

Thank you for any advice!

That is pretty early for the roads to be open. You should call the Inyo County Roads number just before your trip, and ask. 760-878-0202

I see you are flying into Las Vegas. Check driving times. I think you're in for lots of hours in the car for such a quick trip.

You might call the White Mountain Ranger Station in Bishop, and inquire about driving to Westgard Pass and up toward the Sierra Overlook (not sure that will be drivable in April, either, but it gets you high and is a great view of the sierra. Not much hiking, unless they open up the gate to the Bristlecone Pine forest. I think it's too early for that.

...or you might just stop and tour Death Valley. There are nice things to see there in April. It's 100 miles from there to Lone Pine.

You can hike the National recreational Trail from Lone Pine Campground to the Portal. Think you need a Whitney pass to go beyond, but no reservation, no quota til May. CHeck at the Visitor Center in Lone pine.

Saltydog, no permits or anything are required to dayhike as far as Lone Pine Lk.

Correct, even a little farther: should have said: to the WZ sign past Lone Pine Lake. And sometimes the rangers don't recognize the differences between Whitney Portal Trailhead, Wilderness Boundary, Lone Pine Lake Trail Junction and Whitney Zone boundary, 4 different points on the trail that sometimes all get lumped into "Whitney Portal"

IIRC, just above Lone Pine Lake, there's a small sign which says you need a permit beyond this point. Will be up there in May, will keep my eyes open for it.

Yes, you recall correctly. taking each point by point: th trailhead near the Wp store is in the national forest, but not in wilderness. Then you reach the North Fork route forking to the right. That is also not yet in wilderness. Just across the stream, you enter Wilderness at the JM Wilderness sign. You are not yet in the Whitney Zone. ANother mile or so and the Lone Pine Lake trail forks to the left. ANd finally a little beyond that, is the sign where you enter the Whitney Zone, and need a permit even for a day hike. No permit for a day hike to Lone pine Lake. to stay overnight at Lone Pine Lake, which is permitted, you need a wilderness permit, but not Witney Zone permit. At least theoretically. I don't know whether INyo will actually issue this permit.