Portal Falls is a 220-foot steep cascade on Lone Pine Creek at Whitney Portal in Inyo County, California, in the eastern Sierra Nevada. It slides down the granite right above the parking area at the Whitney Portal trailhead, and is also known as Lone Pine Falls.
The falls
Lidar data analyzed by the World Waterfall Database shows Lone Pine Creek dropping about 220 feet in one continuous sliding cascade, whereas earlier surveys listed 150 feet. The falls sit at an elevation of about 8,615 feet. Only a third to half of the drop can be seen from the parking area at the base, because of the lie of the land.
Getting there
Whitney Portal sits at the end of Whitney Portal Road, 13 miles west of Lone Pine, with the falls located by the picnic area. The trailhead has free, paved parking that fills up at busy times. The road report of August 11, 2026 listed Whitney Portal Road as open, with a warning for falling rocks.
When to go
The last six miles of Whitney Portal Road get no winter maintenance and may close.
On site
The trailhead has toilets, picnic tables, trash bins and water. Whitney Portal has bear-resistant food lockers; use them for food left at the site.
History and name
Portal Falls is the official name; Lone Pine Falls is an informal alternative. Whitney Portal Road was built in 1933.
Nearby
Outpost Falls, also on Lone Pine Creek, is about 1.4 miles away. Sky Blue Falls and Lower Sky Blue Falls on Rock Creek are about 3.8 and 4.2 miles away, and Whitney Falls on Whitney Creek about 7.2 miles.
Distances are straight-line.