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Want to hike to a lake with snowy Sierra Nevada mountains on one side and the deserts of Alabama Hills on the other? Oh, you do!? In that case, add Lone Pine Lake to your hiking bucket list! Located in Southern California, this alpine lake sits at 10,000 feet above sea level along the Mt. Whitney Trail. Its peaceful tranquility is a perfect spot to slow down and sit with nature.
BEFORE YOU GO, please make sure you understand the Leave No Trace principles. These seven principles help reduce our environmental impact from outdoor reactional activities. Nature is meant to be enjoyed and respected. ?
About the Trail
Lone Pine Lake via Mt. Whitney Trail
| Location | Inyo National Forest Whitney Portal ~13 miles from Lone Pine, CA |
| Length | 6 miles |
| Hiking Time | 3-4 hours |
| Elevation Gain | 1,700 feet |
| Route Type | Out-and-back |
| Difficulty Rating | Moderate **Can be hard due to altitude |
| Terrain | Dirt/rocky, creek crossings, switchbacks |
| Dog-friendly? | Yes! Must be on leash |
Best Time to Go
For most people, summer would be the best time to go. The weather is warm but (hopefully) not too hot. If it is toasty one day, then it would be perfect for a cold plunge in Lone Pine Lake! Also, in the late spring and summer months you will likely avoid any snow on the trail. It is possible to hike in the early fall months as well. Always check the fs.usda.gov website for information regarding trail conditions.
In the winter months (plus fall and early spring), the Whitney Portal Road is closed. If you want to hike this trail during this time you will have to add about an extra 3-4 miles round-trip to your hike. If you do hike in the cold, snowy months, make sure you have proper gear!
How to Get to the Trailhead
The Mt. Whitney Trailhead is the start of the Mt. Whitney Trail which not only leads you to the summit of Mt. Whitney, but also takes you to Lone Pine Lake. The trailhead is very easy to locate. It’s about 13 miles from the town of Lone Pine along the Whitney Portal Road through the Alabama Hills.
As you drive into Whitney Portal, you will see the Mt. Whitney Trailhead to the right. There is plenty of parking spots in the area. Be sure to read the signs! Some parking spots are only for day-use and others are for overnight campers.
Put this address in google maps: Mt. Whitney Trailhead, Whitney Portal Rd, Lone Pine, CA 93545
?Safety Tips
- Have all the correct gear, emergency supplies, and plenty of food and water.
- Stay on the trail – do not take shortcuts.
- Active bear area – leave food/scented items in bear lockers and/or bear canisters.
- During winter, snow and ice may be present.
- Bring microspikes for extra traction and hiking poles for extra stability.
- Altitude Sickness is a real and serious condition – know the symptoms, acclimate properly, and turn around & return to lower elevation if needed.
- Practice Leave No Trace!!
Trail Directions
Important Note: If you do not already know, hiking to Mt. Whitney via the Mt. Whitney Trail requires a permit. However, hiking to Lone Pine Lake via the Mt. Whitney Trail does NOT require a permit! Yay! But if you want to camp at Lone Pine Lake, you must acquire an overnight permit.
This hike starts at the Mt. Whitney Trailhead at Whitney Portal. Begin hiking along the Mt. Whitney Trail towards Lone Pine Lake. You will encounter three creek crossings before reaching the lake. The first one is really small and easy to cross – Carillon Creek. The second creek crossing (known as North Fork Lone Pine Creek) can be a bit dicey. Well, when we went, it was raging from all the snowmelt. But usually, it’s not too bad, and can be easily crossed by navigating along a few rocks.
Continue along the trail and you will see a sign that says, “Jonh Muir Wilderness – Inyo National Forest”. From here, you will start to hit quite a few switchbacks. Is the altitude hitting you yet?
After about 2.5 miles of hiking, you will reach the last creek crossing (Lone Pine Creek). This is a fun one. A log bridge has been carefully built and placed in order to safely cross the creek without getting your feet wet.
Next, you will reach a junction in the trail where the Mt. Whitney Trail continues to the right towards Mt. Whitney. To reach Lone Pine Lake, follow the trail towards the left.
Isn’t it beautiful? The crystal-clear water of Lone Pine Lake with its reflections of the granite mountains towering above. Take a break and enjoy the views. Let your body slow down and adapt to 10,000 feet of elevation if you’re not already used to it. Some of us are from the east coast and can’t even ?.
Retrace your steps back to the trailhead. Congrats, you did it!! ?
Our Experience
July 10th, 2023
We did this hike as an acclimatization hike to prepare for summiting Mt. Whitney. We have never been this high up at elevation before and needed to get our bodies ready for a 14,000+ foot mountain! Thankfully, hiking to Lone Pine Lake does not require a permit. Our plan was to hike up to Lone Pine Lake which sits at 10,000 feet above sea level and spend as much time as possible there to allow our bodies to adapt to the altitude.
We started hiking from the Mt. Whitney Trailhead along the Mt. Whitney Trail. We were excited and started off strong. We always do that for some reason. We just like to bust out at full (hiking) speed at the beginning of a trail. We usually power through most of the trails we hike with little to no breaks until we reach our destination. This time was different. This was our first-time hiking anything above 6,000 feet in elevation. Our bodies slowed down quick! The Mt. Whitney Trail wasted no time humbling us ?
So, we took our time. We reached the second creek crossing (North Fork Lone Pine Creek). I really hated this part. It was like crossing an angry river. The water was flowing so fast and there was a small waterfall near the rocks where we had to step on. My fear was falling into the water and being taken down the waterfall further down the creek. Even though it was small, I was still scared. Also, that water was COLD! We safely made it across without any accidental missteps.
We continued along the trail into the Inyo National Forest. The switchbacks along this trail were tougher than others we have encountered due to the altitude. We had to take a few breaks. We bought a few GU energy gels from REI and figured it would be a perfect time to try them on this trail. They were actually really yummy, and our bodies responded positively to them! We felt more energized and ready to finish up the rest of this trail!
We reached the last creek crossing where we had to walk over a log bridge. We are almost there! We had a hard time finding where the actual trail was after the log bridge. The sign for “Lone Pine Lake” was not there. Likely due to damage from the winter season. But we could see the lake, so we just made our way towards that direction.
Wow… it was breathtaking! I’ve never been to an alpine lake before. This one is special because it sits underneath huge snowy mountains (including Mt. Whitney) and above the desert landscape of the Alabama Hills. The water was so clear and so cold! There were a few small fishes in the lake. We were lucky to share this spot with just a few other people. It was peaceful. ?
Doesn’t Vikas look good in his puffy jacket? The Cotopaxi jackets are comfortable, lightweight, and cute! Not to mention they are made with high quality, sustainable material! ?
Our Rating of Lone Pine Lake via Mt. Whitney Trail
We give this trail a whopping 10/10!
What we liked: Well-maintained trail; plenty of water sources; awesome views along the way; beautiful lake (Lone Pine Lake); peaceful & quiet
What we didn’t like: Crossing the North Fork Lone Pine Creek – it was raging and pretty scary!
Looking so forward to seeing you in Gatlinburg, TN next month. 🙂
Yay can’t wait!! 😃