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Mount Whitney Trail

Inyo National Forest · Inyo · Managed by Inyo National Forest (USFS)
Difficulty 49/100 · Strenuousout and back#14ers#high-sierra#classic#peak-bagging
Distance
21.4 mi
Total gain
6,460 ft
Net gain
6,140 ft
Net loss
6,140 ft
Elevation
8,365–14,505 ft
Days
2–3
Permit
Required
Campfires
Stoves only

Overview

The Mount Whitney Trail climbs 6,140 feet in 10.7 miles from Whitney Portal to the summit of the highest peak in the contiguous United States. Most backpackers split it into two days, camping at Trail Camp or Outpost Camp and starting the summit push before dawn. A Whitney Zone permit is required, and every hiker must pack out solid waste in a wag bag.

Highlights

  • Standing on the highest point in the contiguous United States at 14,505 ft
  • Sunrise from the 99 switchbacks with the Owens Valley 8,000 feet below
  • Trail Camp's alpine amphitheater beneath the east face
  • The windows between granite towers along the final traverse

Logistics

  • Trailhead: Whitney Portal Trailhead (8,365 ft · parking: Whitney Portal Road (13 miles west of Lone Pine))
  • Water: Water available seasonally at Trailside Meadow, Mirror Lake, and Trail Camp (all must be treated); none above Trail Camp.
  • Resupply: None — carry everything from Whitney Portal.
  • Shuttle: Not needed for an out-and-back.
  • Stove required: yes — no fires possible on this route
  • Bear canister required.

Permits

  • Agency: Inyo National Forest (USFS)
  • Reserve or apply on recreation.gov
  • Quota: Whitney Zone quota applies; lottery for peak-season dates in February, remainder released on the standard Inyo schedule (60% six months out, 40% two weeks out).
  • Reservation window: Lottery typically runs February 1 through March 1 for dates in May through November.

Campfires & stove regulations

Stoves only. No campfires along the Mount Whitney Trail — the route is high alpine with no reliable firewood. Use a stove, and check current Inyo NF fire restrictions before your trip. Current fire restrictions. Rules change with conditions — always confirm with the managing agency before your trip.

Best time to go

Best months: July, August, September.

Snow: Typically snow-free July through September; early-season hikers need ice axe and crampons on the 99 switchbacks.

Heat: The lower trail can be hot, but most of the route stays cool above 10,000 ft.

Bugs: Minimal; mosquitoes are rarely an issue on this rocky route.

Weather forecast

Know before you go

  • Acute mountain sickness is common above 12,000 ft; acclimate and turn around if symptoms worsen
  • Thunderstorms build most afternoons in July and August — be off the summit by noon
  • The final 2 miles are fully exposed rock; snow or ice changes the difficulty dramatically
  • Wag bags are required — pack out all solid human waste

Map

Route track shown for reference only — navigate with map and compass. Track source: OpenStreetMap route relation 3289187 (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) (ODbL 1.0).

Sources & citations

Data compiled 2026 from public agency and reference sources. All descriptive text on this page is original; verify current conditions with the managing agency before your trip.

  1. Inyo National Forest - Wilderness Permits. Recreation.gov / U.S. Forest Service. https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233262. Accessed 2026-09-07. Permit requirements (year-round), Whitney Zone $15/person fee, quota release schedule, bear canister requirements, and wag-bag pack-out rule.
  2. Mount Whitney. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Whitney. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Summit elevation (14,505 ft), prominence, and location; standard trail length and elevation gain figures.
  3. Mount Whitney Trail route relation 3289187. OpenStreetMap contributors. https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/3289187. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: ODbL 1.0. Route geometry; elevation statistics computed from this track.
  4. SRTM90 elevation data. OpenTopoData (SRTM, NASA/USGS-derived open data). https://www.opentopodata.org/. Accessed 2026-09-07. Elevation enrichment for computed gain/loss statistics.