How to Get a Mt Whitney Trail Crest Exit Permit
Not a way in, a way out. Trail Crest is the exit quota for anyone finishing a Sierra trip by walking down the Mount Whitney trail to the road.
Check Mt Whitney Trail Crest Exit permit availabilityRecreation.gov permit 233262 lists a $6 Inyo reservation fee plus a per-person fee, shown as $5 for Inyo trailheads and $15 per person for Mt. Whitney.
Permit Cost
1-2 days from the crest
Duration
strenuous
Difficulty
About Mt Whitney Trail Crest Exit
Mt. Whitney (Trail Crest Exit) is an Inyo National Forest exit quota rather than a normal entry trailhead. Inyo applies it to visitors who descend the Mount Whitney trail to Whitney Portal Road, and it is the option John Muir Trail hikers select when their trip finishes at the Portal. Inyo states that exiting via Trail Crest allows you the option to hike to the summit of Mount Whitney and camp along the Mount Whitney trail as you finish your trip. Hikers who begin their trip in another park or forest are exempt from this exit quota, since the permit issued by the entry location is valid to visit Mount Whitney. The forest's quota season runs May 1 to November 1 in 2026, with reservations opening six months in advance at 7 am Pacific and additional permits released two weeks ahead.
Inyo National Forest manages Whitney's east side by counting people leaving as well as arriving. Inyo states the Trail Crest exit quota applies to visitors who descend the Mt. Whitney trail to Whitney Portal Road, and that exiting via Trail Crest allows you the option to hike to the summit of Mt Whitney and camp along the Mt Whitney trail as you finish your trip. For John Muir Trail hikers, this is the box you tick at booking.
The Experience
You come up the west side on tired legs, top out on the John Muir Trail junction, and then walk the last two miles of ridge to the highest point in the lower 48. The descent from Trail Crest is the famous set of switchbacks down to the Portal, and it is a long way down.
Inyo puts Trail Crest at approximately 13,600 feet, two miles from the summit of Mount Whitney, where the Mount Whitney trail crosses the crest of the Sierra Nevada to join the John Muir Trail in Sequoia National Park.
The exit quota is what this permit reserves. Inyo notes that hikers who begin their trip in another park or forest are exempt from this exit quota, and that the permit issued by your entry location is valid to visit Mount Whitney. In practice, a JMT hiker starting on Inyo ground selects Trail Crest as the exit point on their entry permit.
The Whitney zone carries its own rules. All Mount Whitney visitors are expected to pack out their solid human waste, and Inyo provides pack-out kits with wilderness permits, with a disposal box next to the trailhead restroom. Stock is not allowed from Trail Crest to Whitney Portal, and there are no campfires.
What to Expect
An exit quota, selected on the permit for your entry trailhead
Trail Crest at approximately 13,600 feet, two miles from the summit, per Inyo
The option to summit Mount Whitney and camp along the Whitney trail on the way out
Mandatory pack-out of solid human waste, with kits provided with the permit
Bear lockers at the Portal parking and a used-kit disposal box by the trailhead restroom
Get Mt Whitney Trail Crest Exit Alerts
Be first to know when cancellations happen.
Permit Requirements
All Mount Whitney visitors are expected to pack out their solid human waste, and pack-out kits are provided with the permit
No campfires in the Mount Whitney area
Stock is not allowed from Trail Crest to Whitney Portal
Bear-proof containers must be used to store all food and refuse, since there are no trees in this canyon suitable to hang food
All food and scented items must be removed from vehicles and stored in the bear-proof lockers in the parking areas
Maximum group size is 15
Special approval is required for commercial use
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •A bear-proof container, because Inyo notes there are no trees in this canyon suitable for hanging food
- •The pack-out kit issued with your permit, plus a way to carry it
- •Warm and windproof layers for a 13,600-foot crest crossing
- •A headlamp for a long descent to the Portal
- •Trekking poles for the switchbacks below Trail Crest
Hazards & Safety
Altitude at Trail Crest and the summit, which is the most common reason parties turn around
Afternoon lightning on a completely exposed ridge between Trail Crest and the summit
A very long descent to the Portal at the end of a multi-day trip
High bear activity in the Mount Whitney area, including in the parking lots
Best Time to Visit
The quota season runs May 1 to November 1. Most parties exit over Trail Crest between mid-July and September, when the switchbacks are clear of snow. Early and late season can mean snow and ice on the traverse below the crest.
Pro Tips
Add Trail Crest as your exit point when you first book, not afterwards
Take the pack-out kit seriously - there is a disposal box at the Portal restroom and no alternative on the trail
Empty your car completely at the Portal and use the bear lockers, since bear activity there is high
Cross the crest early in the day. The summit ridge is the last place you want to be in an afternoon storm
There are no trees in the Whitney canyon suitable for hanging food, so a hard container is the only option
100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience
This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Mt Whitney Trail Crest Exit permit?
+
Mt Whitney Trail Crest Exit permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Mt Whitney Trail Crest Exit?
+
The quota season runs May 1 to November 1. Most parties exit over Trail Crest between mid-July and September, when the switchbacks are clear of snow. Early and late season can mean snow and ice on the traverse below the crest.
How difficult is Mt Whitney Trail Crest Exit?
+
John Muir Trail hikers and other long-trip parties whose route ends by descending to Whitney Portal.
What gear do I need for Mt Whitney Trail Crest Exit?
+
Essential gear includes: A bear-proof container, because Inyo notes there are no trees in this canyon suitable for hanging food, The pack-out kit issued with your permit, plus a way to carry it, Warm and windproof layers for a 13,600-foot crest crossing, A headlamp for a long descent to the Portal, Trekking poles for the switchbacks below Trail Crest.
Don't Miss Your Mt Whitney Trail Crest Exit Permit
Cancellations happen every day. PermitSnag monitors Mt Whitney Trail Crest Exit availability 24/7 and alerts you the moment a spot opens up.
Get Permit Alerts
