All visitors should avoid the Mt. Whitney area, including for exiting hikes. The area is unsafe.
Whitney Portal Evacuation Remains in Effect
US Forest Service Geologists Assessing Whitney Portal
UPDATE- Mt. Whitney area, (above Lone Pine), CA, June 26, 2020 – The Whitney Portal emergency evacuation will remain in effect at least through Monday, June 29. The area was evacuated in response to the June 24 5.8 earthquake near Lone Pine, CA and subsequent rockslide at Whitney Portal.Â
US Forest Service Geologists will be working throughout the weekend to determine if there are continued safety issues as a result of the rockslides near Whitney Portal and share their findings with the Inyo National Forest and Inyo County Sheriff’s Office early next week.
Inyo National Forest Wilderness Rangers will continue assessing if there is damage to the trail systems in the area. There is substantial damage to a section of the National Recreation Trail (that starts at Lone Pine Campground and ends in Whitney Portal) and initial reports of limited damage to the Mt. Whitney Trail.
The Inyo National Forest will also coordinate with Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to assist long distance hikers who were permitted to exit at Whitney Portal.
Closures: Whitney Portal Road (at the county gate), all Whitney Portal Campgrounds, Whitney Portal Cabins, National Recreation Trail ,the Mt. Whitney Trail, the Meysan Lakes Trail, and the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek Trail (Mountaineering Route).
For now, all Mt. Whitney wilderness permits are being cancelled through July 2, 2020.
Update from Inyo County Sheriff’s Office: June 24 -2020
Whitney Portal area is closed and campgrounds are being evacuated due to rockslide south of the main parking lot. No injuries reported at this time. It is unclear at this time if the main Mt Whitney trail has been affected. It is believed that this slide was triggered by the recent 5.8 earthquake near the Lone Pine area.
Onion Valley Road: open, no reported damage
Horseshoe Meadows Road: closed, debris/rocks in the road
Glacier Lodge Road: open, no reported damage
All visitors should avoid the Mt. Whitney area, including for exiting hikes. The area is unsafe.
Whitney Portal currently closed, campgrounds are being evacuated due to rockslide south of main parking lot. No injuries reported at this time. Updates available on Inyo County Sheriff Facebook pic.twitter.com/EUQYyKp7D4 — Inyo Sheriff (@InyoSheriff) June 24, 2020
