A34 Portal Forebay Trailhead
The Portal Forebay trail is faint foot trail which is about 2 miles down to the San Joaquin River and ties into the Doris and Tule Lake Trail system. Portal Forebay Trail also ties into the Rattlesnake Trail that takes one down to the Portuguese Flat area 3.8 miles, and to the San Juaquin river which is 5.5 miles down to Rattlesnake Crossing. The willing adventurer can find the faint lesser used trail, its 6.2 miles in length where it intersects with a trail leading up to Tule Meadow, and about 9 miles to Heitz Meadow.
Common Destinations: Mono Crossing on the San Joaquin River, Tule Lake, Portuguese Flat, and Rattlesnake Crossing.
Specific Trail Information
Trail Number
Trail Type
General Information
Portal Forebay Trail Information
Need to know
Portal Forebay Trail Area:
- Daily Quota:
- 6-month advance - 6
- 2-week advance - 4
- No campfires above 10,000 ft.
- Food and refuse must be stored in a container designed to prevent access by bears, or counter-balanced at least 15 feet above the ground and 10 feet horizontally from a tree trunk (where containers are not required).
Ansel Adams Wilderness regulations apply.
June - October (snow conditions permitting)
Wilderness permit reservations are available at www.recreation.gov. Trailhead quotas are in place year-round. For all trails, 60 percent of the trailhead quota is available through advanced reservation 6 months prior to entry date and 40 percent is available 2 weeks prior to entry date, for first come-first served. There is a $6.00 non-refundable reservation fee and a $5.00 charge for everyone included in the reservation.
No Campfires above 10,000 feet.
Address: 29688 Auberry Road Prather, CA 93651
Phone: (559) 855-5355 ext.0
Hours: Open: Monday - Sunday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Getting There
Trailhead/Starting Points
Trail starts at Portal Forebay Campground.
Parking
Parking is available at the Portal Forebay Campground.
Directions
From Clovis: Take highway 168 toward Huntington Lake. Turn right on the Kaiser Pass Road (Forest Road 80). Travel 14 miles to Portal Forebay Campground. Turn left into campground continue 0.2 miles to bulletin board. Turn right at bulletin board and travel downhill 0.4 miles to trailhead.
Additional Information
Operated By
Sierra National Forest
