🏔 Wilderness
Mount Whitney Main Trail
About This Permit
At 14,505 feet, Mount Whitney is the highest peak in the contiguous United States. The 22-mile round-trip via the Main Trail is among the most competitive wilderness permits in America, with demand exceeding supply by more than 10-to-1 during peak summer months. Altitude sickness is a genuine concern above treeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Mt. Whitney permit lottery work?
A preseason lottery runs in February via recreation.gov for peak-season dates (roughly May 1 – November 1). Lottery winners are notified in March. Remaining unpicked dates and cancellations then become available on a rolling first-come basis.
What's the difference between a Whitney overnight and day permit?
Day permits (100/day) cover a round-trip hike without camping anywhere in the Mount Whitney Zone. Overnight permits (60/day) allow camping at Trail Camp, Guitar Lake, and other designated sites along the route.
Can I get a Whitney permit without winning the lottery?
Yes. After the lottery, many dates remain available on a rolling basis. Cancellations also surface throughout the season — PermitAlert checks every 60 seconds so you can react the moment one opens.
Key Facts
- State
- CA
- Season
- May – November
- Quota
- 100 day-use permits + 60 overnight permits per day
- Trailhead
- Whitney Portal
- Entry Point
- Whitney Portal Trailhead (8,365 ft)
- Difficulty
- 5/5(Nearly impossible)
Get an SMS the moment a cancellation opens — we scan every 60 seconds.
Set an Alert for This Permit