Best Glamping near Independence, CA
Whitney Portal, located in Inyo National Forest near Independence, California, includes five glamping accommodations with comfortable canvas tents and yurts. These climate-controlled structures boast electricity, heating, and comfortable beds with premium linens, providing an upscale alternative to traditional camping. The property offers glamping visitors access to a small restaurant, store, and nearby waterfall, creating an immersive mountain experience at 8,600 feet elevation. Onion Valley glamping sites similarly provide luxury accommodations, with walk-in sites offering more privacy and shade compared to drive-in options. Both locations include bear-proof storage lockers, picnic tables, and dedicated fire pits for each glamping accommodation. One visitor noted, "The views are unreal, and the walk-in sites are more secluded with sites tucked under the conifers, making for a gorgeous glamping experience."
Several hiking trails originate directly from these glamping resorts, with Kearsarge Pass trail accessible from Onion Valley and Mount Whitney trailhead steps away from Whitney Portal glamping accommodations. The surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains create dramatic backdrops for glamping visitors seeking mountain recreation combined with comfortable overnight accommodations. Each glamping yurt and canvas tent sits at high elevation (9,000+ feet at Onion Valley), offering spectacular stargazing opportunities after sunset. The Whitney Portal Store and Restaurant provides convenient dining options for glamping guests, including their famous oversized pancakes that reviewers consistently mention. A recent visitor mentioned, "We stayed in one of the walk-in glamping sites, and it wasn't too far from the parking lot. The bathrooms were impressively clean, and it served as a great basecamp for day hikes up into higher altitude."
