Mt Whitney & Sequoia National Park 

Mt Whitney is the highest summit (14500 ft)  in the lower 48 states.  Most of the mountain lies within the Sequoia National Park.  The portal to mountain is through the Inyo National Forest at the 8200 ft level and it is about a 3 day hike to the peak and back.  (This is one of the early hikes that I accomplished when I was in my twenties.)  Even if you are not able to hike to the top, the views from the portal are spectacular.    If hiking is your avocation, you may use this portal as the eastern entrance to Sequoia National Park.  To get to Mt Whitney Portal Red is located off US 395 in Lone Pine.