Great camp store with lots of snacks, souvenirs and necessities. Bacon burger and fries were fantastic. Camp setting is beautiful.

We came off the Mt. Whitney trail on Wed. 10/12/11 right about 11:45am....my hopes were to head to the Portal store and have a beer (or two) and a big fat veggie burger. Well, we walked up and lo and behold, a big fat 'CLOSED' sign! NOOO!!! So my buddy says 'just wait a few minutes, maybe someone will show up'. Sure as shit, Doug walked into the back door and I asked him if he was gonna open soon. 'Yep, in about 15 minutes'. GREAT! So we waited for what seemed an eternity, but were met with such a delightful lunch(their beer selection is pretty extensive). I had an amazing veggie burger loaded with onions.. My buddies opted for the standard cheeseburgers. I've heard great things about the pancakes and saw remnants of such in the trash can(it was HUGE!)....Doug, the guy who runs the place is super cool! He'll talk your ear off, but it's worth every minute hearing his stories. And he grills a mean burger! The store stocks basic camping supplies(think hand warmers, wool socks/gloves, snacks, BEER, walking sticks, and your typical souvenirs). And its not huge....a lot of stuff packed into a fairly small space. If you are spending the night at Whitney Portal campground, you MUST visit the store read more

We arrived at the portal for an overnight summit trip only to discover we forgot to bring backpack covers and the forecast predicted rain and snow showers all weekend. I went to the portal store to see what they had, it was 20 minutes before opening time but the owner saw me peeking in and was kind enough to open the door for me. I explained what I wanted and he did not have any backpack covers, however he very generously gave us large 100 gallon trash bags from his storage. Those bags saved us both during our rainy hike up and as a floor cover (to save our floor cover!) when we pitched our tent in the snow. I wanted to thank him and buy a burger (or pancakes? ) when we descended the next day but our timing was off and we couldn't make it. After seeing all the pancake photos on Yelp I will make sure to stop by next time I am in whitney. read more

Holy Burger, Batman! I ordered a chicken sandwich here, and it was humongous! The breast was much larger than the bread, and it also came with a generous portion of fries. I wanted a cheeseburger and beer to celebrate the hike the next day, but it didn't work out. I will definitely aim to eat a victory meal here next time. I also saw a pancake that they made for breakfast, and it was much larger than my head. It is nice that they have tons of Whitney related trinkets and clothing, and they do have some hiking supplies but don't expect to stock up here if you're underprepared. read more

This store sits right at the Whitney trailhead. Food and gear is more expensive than in Lone Pine but that should be expexted. Huge portions. I recommended splitting the bfast. Knowledgeable and friendly service. One shower at $3 per. The backpacker campground is also a nice staging spot for the summit push. read more

Good burger, awesome fries! There are already enough reviews on here to draw from, but I would just like to emphasize that their peanut oil cooked fries were among the best fries I've had. The burger was big, and better than average. read more

you know what is amazing about this place?? the fact that Miles & Amy, two of the nicest, sweetest, most hard-core rock climbers i've ever met. you can not only get the best burger in inyo county, but some serious beta, too! these two make this place a gem... thanks again! read more

After 3 days of hiking on the Mountaineers Route I was starving for greasy food. Their pancakes looked great and were the size of a small pizza but I opted for the cheeseburger which so far has been the best in my life. Of course I might be a bit subjective having climbed the highest mountain in the lower 48 states. The people are amazingly nice and helpful. Plus, if you forget something they usually will have it. read more

Wow, great foods at the base of the lower 48's tallest peak...you can't beat that!

Stopped in the day before the big hike! Worked up an appetite on the road and after setting up camp. The menu is pretty limited, but it's the few things that they do so deliciously well! Dirty, tired hikers are seated on tables and chairs or squating on rocks as they devour these huge burgers and greasy fries. The neighborhood chipmunks are scurrying everywhere, hoping to pick up a morsal of food from the ground or raid someone's back pack when they aren't looking. A small cool stream rambles along side the picnic tables, while the large evergreens offer some ample shade all hours of the day. The cheesburger was a delicious monstrosity! The man who serves up this food is a long time local, known as "Pa" of the mountain. The fries, though served hot with fresh grease, where a good blend of fresh potatoes and a lightly crispy texture. Not soggy grease. The portal store also offers a variety of items such as bottled drinks, maps, minor hiking gear and emergency goods, t-shirts trinkets etc. I look forward to coming back here and make the trek again, as well as snapping up another great burger! read more

Bad communication. Booked this hostel a week prior to visit and my trip got canceled. They refused to give me any refund for the two day stay. So I basically payed two nights of a stay for no reason. read more

This place is like heaven after 3 days on the trails. You can take a $3 shower which we opted to skip since LA was only hours away. You can buy ice cold marked up beer or soda. They have a huge selection of I hiked Mt. Whitney and other whitney gear. Also if you need any backpacking supplies minus sleeping bags, stoves, or tents, they pretty much have it here. But they have all the tent accessories , replacement fuel cannesters etc. and things like toiletries and ibuprofin that you might want during or after a big backpacking sejour. read more

When we're ever going through Lone Pine on the 395, we make it a point to come here. The whole family loves coming up here for the awesome breakfasts (HUGE PANCAKE) which is simply great. You can't beat the setting to eat this great food - right in the portal where the air is clean, refreshing and the sounds of nature make you really relax. read more

the most beautiful view for a food store in the world. the very best pan cakes,breakfast,and hamburger anywhere. if you are making one stop in your life visit whitney portal store. Burt and Donna read more

Nice place to grab a meal and an Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Best burger after day hiking Whitney. The burger is very big. I got the bacon cheeseburger with a beer and fries. Everything was very good! A little pricey at $16 for a burger and fries. Cannot recall how much the beer was but it was all well worth it. Food was ready rather quickly and the staff was friendly. read more

This place is excellent! Tons of camp equipment available, cheeseburger very good after a day of hiking, mountain of fries, good beer selection! The pancake is gargantuan and delicious, great way to start our Whitney climb. Definitely visit this place when at the portal! read more

Not only is this the best place to eat in town. But they also have some of the best service I've ever seen in restaurant. It would've been a 4 1/2 star review if not for the amazing service and hospitality of the people there. The food was out fast and prompt and (as long as we were proficient) were allowed to use the open piano. Great small town feel and great food. Makes me want to live there instead of LA. As far as the food we ordered. It was a triple decker sandwich and the mustang burger. Plan on stopping by again on the trip down. read more

This is quite a place. Last chance to pick up some hiking and memory things. The café is unbelievable. The food is dynamite. You're over 8000ft. I had a patty melt that was far better than most I've had. The fries are killer. They use peanut oil and I think that's the difference. This is at the end of the road right next to the trailhead to Mt Whitney. Its been there a long time and its kind of "the place" to stop and get something to eat. Didn't have the breakfast but the pancake literally hangs over the edge of the plate. The owner, Doug, is a cool guy. If you want to talk he'll definitely talk with you. They are so friendly. I didn't make the climb (too old and too high) My buddies had Doug set aside tee shirts that said 'I climbed Mt Whitney in one day.' We asked him if he could set them aside. He wrote my name on it. I got a text from them from the summit (yes Verizon works and sometimes ATT) so I went to buy the shirts. I walked in and Doug said, "Did they make it?" Very cool guy. I told them that I had been on the trail 50 years ago and Doug said, "oh you took the old trail." His son walked down the road with me and showed me where the old trail was. A cool place. Highly recommend. read more

Whitney Portal Hostel - Great patty melt and dynamite fries - Hostels Near Me - Lone Pine, California

Worth a visit - and it's a very scenic drive up from US 395 in Lone Pine, Ca. This family-owned and run store, at an elevation of approx. 8000 ft., is where the road ends, just above the drive-up campground beside the beginning of the trail for Mt. Whitney hikers and climbers. The store's website www.whitneyportalstore.com has an addictive bulletin board with a wealth of information and advice about outdoor activities on the mountain. The kitchen is popular, and for good reason - location, generous portions, reasonable quality and an authenticity that makes it a bit more than just a souvenir shop and convenience store. They had showers last time I was there (June 2009) but you'll want a pair of shower shoes or sandals because it gets muddy. The proprietor also recently opened a hiker's hostel in nearby Lone Pine. read more

Because I lost my cherished Mt. Whitney souvenir pin, I called the store to buy another and they are sending me a replacement before paying for it. He (Doug, I think) said to just send a check when it arrives. That's incredible in this day and age. Great service, thank you! Secondly, the Hostel is the place to stay for the frugal-minded - centrally located and you get to met people from all over the world, well maybe just Europe as was the case when I stayed there. read more

We had a great burger here after getting off the mountain. The store has a ton of stuff you can buy that's all about Mt. Whitney. I got a few of the geo marker magnets for family. The staff were happy and helpful. read more

WOW!!! Long drive up for a burger it was so far we did not make it for breakfast to try the pancakes. But the burger was good a lil to pricey for a long drive up read more

The Whitney Portal Store at approximately 8,300 feet elevation is a great destination whether you are driving or hiking along the eastern Sierra range. The food is outstanding and has been a very strong motivation to hike down the mountain in time for the best burger and fries you'll enjoy, especially after days of dehydrated backpacking fare. Same for the excellent breakfasts. Many times the store owners have served an essential role in helping hikers. I've loaned out my hiking poles and headlamps on several occasions to weary, tired day hikers at higher altitudes, and the store very kindly kept the "returned" items for my return days later. These are some of the hardest working, kindest folks I've ever known. read more

Went here after 11 days on the John Muir Trail. I ran out of food towards the end of my hike and was starving. Ordered the Mooseburger and ate the entire thing. It was the best thing I've ate in 2 weeks! Loved the fries too. Service was great and quick. This is definitely the spot to get a quick bite right after a long hike. There's not much in Lone Pine. Also, if you need a cheap place to spend the night, the Whitney Portal Store owns the Hostel in Lone Pine and is quite nice. read more

Whitney Portal Hostel - Mooseburger with 2x bacon, 2x meat, 2x cheese, fries, and a coke. Ate this after doing the JMT. Delicious! - Hostels Near Me - Lone Pine, California

Four of us just hiked Mt Whitney. The Portal Store is great for last minute supplies and really good burgers. Doug is very friendly and he is a wealth of information. I could go on but we found the Portal Store to a pretty nice place with good people. What more can you ask for at the Trailhead? read more

A beautiful place to grab a delicious, giant burger. Even if your not hiking it's totally worth coming up and enjoy some good eats! Also a friendly staff. read more

This place is like a little slice of heaven! Especially after an extremely long day of hiking! My friend and I recently conquered the grueling, yet absolutely amazing Mt. Whitney day hike. Within 5 minutes of returning back, I had an ice cold beer in my hand, had just ordered myself a celebratory BLT (which was super delicious btw) and soon after paid for a nice hot shower. Pure bliss! This little store is very well stocked with common hiking/camping necessities, so if you did forget to pack something the day before your hike and are willing to pay a little bit extra, you're in luck! They're also a small restaurant/ deli with a pretty decent selection of bottled beers as well. Awesome. And of course, all of the fun, irresistible souvenirs you can imagine. There's a good amount of tables/benches outside for you to kick back, enjoy the incredible scenery, and nice meal. There is a single, private shower in the back which is $3. Good deal if you ask me!! The owners are such nice people, I can't wait to make a trip up there again. read more

Items cost less in this store than outdoor stores in Lone Pine! Service is great and wide selection of outdoor gears

I've been to the the WPS now about 4 times prior to rating this venue. The location is excellent, and the store does stock quite a bit of items but my rating is based on the two burgers I've had and the breakfast. The burgers were cooked by two different chefs and were virtually identical orders both times- a bacon burger 'deal' which the first time was a 3 star based on quality and value (too pricey IMO) and a 2 star this last time I went due to the burger not even being worth finishing. Dry and blah. Thsi was not due to lacking an appetite either. While I'm no speedster, I did the 22 mile rated hike in one day starting @ 3:45 AM and finishing the day @ 4:45 PM. To say I was hungry would be an understatement. I was 'saving' this meal to savor after doing this trip and spending three days acclimating and was tempted as all get out really wanting to like this meal. It didn't cut it, and left me wanting for anything other than this burger as I could only finish about 3/4's of it. On the upside though, last fall when I made it my first Whitney ascent I had the breakfast and it was 'the right stuff". Excellent. So, while I could whole heartily endorse just going for the breakfast my rating may be more a product of who's cooking the food and not so much what you eat. In any case, I do enjoy both of the Thompsons for their knowledge, stories and helpfulness. Earline (spelling?) was extremely helpful about the conditions for the upcoming hike and ended up salvaging our 14 hikers plans to continue up the mountain due to her local knowledge regarding the Fish Fire that was causing us to reconsider the fire's impact on our next day's trip. She was spot on. In the past Doug has been a wealth of knowledge on the local hiking legends and is also extremely helpful. Now if I could get that same dependability on my food I would rate this even higher. Perhaps the next time things will be different and if so I'll rate this accordingly. My most recent eating experience was 8/25/13. read more

Great store, my kids love the chocolate rocks they sell....simple menu but they have the best hamburgers in town...its fun to see outside with all the chipmunks coming to check you out read more

My husband ate here before going up Mount Whitney. He explained his experience with the giant pancake that fed three men, bacon, and eggs. He was very happy with his service and quality of food. read more

It didn't take me long to discover the Mt. Whitney Portal Store. It was 1995 and my first trip up here. In those days, the Hostel down in Lone Pine hadn't opened yet, so you could usually find Doug Sr. behind the cash register. The store was where you went to get advice, where you went to get current conditions on the mountain (and survey those who had just come down), but mostly it was where you went for breakfast the next morning after getting down to split a pancake that was so big that it spilled over two plates and even two trail weary men couldn't begin to finish it. The Portal store was where you went to get a freshly made burger and fresh cut fries that dwarfed their plates. It was where you went to satisfy an appetite as big as the mountain. Funny thing, is that it still is all of those things. Now, the family that brought us the store has a hostel down in town and that's a real gift as well. read more

Best burger and fries ever! That's all and thanks for listening!

The other reviews are accurate (good burgers and pancakes) but no one so far has mentioned the store's owner, Doug who runs the store with his wife and son. A friend told me he had returned from a long hike and sat eating a burger and Doug spent an hour or more telling him about trails in the area and showing him maps. This story stuck in my head so when I came down from climbing the Mountaineer's Route I stopped into the store for a burger, beer and cup of coffee. It was in the fall and not many people were around. Doug and I got into an amazing conversation that ranged from climbing to politics, to writing and philosophy. I since then stayed in his new hostel in town which is basic but comfortable. Doug is an original person who deeply loves the mountains and his enthusiasm seems without limits. Stop into the store and spend some time with Doug and his family. And one last thing, I now use Doug recipe for pancakes which I read in his guidebook. Hint: use a lot of vanilla. read more