Portal Forebay Trailhead provides access to a faint 2-mile foot trail descending to the San Joaquin River, connecting to the Doris and Tule Lake Trail system and offering routes to Portuguese Flat and Rattlesnake Crossing.

The trailhead is located at Portal Forebay Campground (11 campsites with picnic tables, grills, and vault toilets) along Kaiser Pass Road at 7,180 feet elevation; parking is available at the campground, though the narrow, winding Kaiser Pass Road is not recommended for large RVs.

Wilderness permits are required year-round with quotas in place; the area is accessible June-October weather permitting, and campfires are prohibited above 10,000 feet.