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Mount Whitney Overnight lottery
Multi-day permits for Mount Whitney, popular for acclimatization....
Mount Whitney Day Hike Permit
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks · California
This season's lottery is done · cancellations are the way in
Climb the highest peak in the contiguous United States (14,505 ft). The main Whitney Trail is highly competitive.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Mt. Whitney Day were gone within 5 minutes.
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Mount Whitney has several separate permits for different routes and trip lengths: Mt. Whitney Overnight permit, Whitney Trail Crest exit permit, and Mountaineer's Route permit.
Mt. Whitney Day Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodLottery
Demand LevelExtremely High10/10
SeasonMay 1 - November 1
Cost$15
Daily Quota100 people
Lottery Odds100 people/day, no published rate
Max Group Size15 people
Mt. Whitney Day Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Mt. Whitney Day in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, California requires a permit issued via lottery.
- Mt. Whitney Day is one of the most competitive permits in the United States, rating 10/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The Mt. Whitney Day lottery typically opens February 1 and closes March 1, with results announced March 15.
- The permit season for Mt. Whitney Day runs May 1 through November 1.
- The Mt. Whitney Day route covers 21.4 miles, rated strenuous.
- Cancelled Mt. Whitney Day permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Who issues Mt. Whitney Day permits
Source: USDA Forest Service, Inyo National Forest. Read the official permit page.
“Submit only one application to the lottery.” Published under the heading "Lottery Terms".
Checked against the agency page on August 20, 2026.
Key Information
Key Dates
Lottery OpensFebruary 1
Lottery ClosesMarch 1
ResultsMarch 15
SeasonMay 1 - November 1
Permit Details
TypeDay Use
Booking MethodLottery
Demand Level10/10
LocationSierra Nevada, CA
Pro Tips
- •Apply for multiple dates inside the Feb 1 to Mar 1 window
- •Watch April 22, when unclaimed dates open for web reservation
- •Monitor cancellations
- •Consider 'Whitney-from-the-side' routes via other permits
- •Submit only one application per group or household — Inyo may reject all of them otherwise
- •Claim and pay by April 21 or the awarded reservation is cancelled outright
- •Sleep at altitude in the Lone Pine area first — Inyo's own safety message is to take time to acclimate
- •Take the pack-out kit at the trailhead and use the disposal box by the restroom on the way out
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
21.4 miles
Route Type
Out & Back
Duration
12-18 hours
Difficulty
StrenuousElevation Range
8,360 - 14,505 ft
Highlights
- •A 21.4-mile round-trip day hike with over 6,600 feet of elevation gain
- •12-18 hours of continuous hiking, typically starting between 2-5am
- •High altitude—summit exceeds 14,000 feet with thin air
- •The infamous 99 Switchbacks climbing the headwall to Trail Crest
- •Exposed ridge walk for the final 2 miles to the summit
Best Time to Visit
Mid-July through mid-September offers the most reliable conditions. June may have snow on the 99 Switchbacks requiring ice axe and crampons. Late September can see early season snow. Weekday permits are easier to obtain than weekends.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Acute altitude sickness—acclimatize in Lone Pine area before attempting
- !Lightning—the summit is extremely exposed; descend immediately if storms approach
- !Hypothermia—conditions can change rapidly; be prepared for cold and wind
- !Rock fall—stay alert, especially on the switchbacks
- !Navigation in dark—many hikers get off trail in the pre-dawn hours
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (8,360 ft)
⚠️
Backcountry Tips
- Today: Expect 22°F colder at summit. Layer up.
- UV index 8. High altitude sun is intense—sunscreen and hat essential.
- Tomorrow: Expect 22°F colder at summit. Layer up.
Today
☀️
45°
29°
Mon
☀️
43°
28°
Tue
☀️
47°
27°
Wed
☀️
47°
27°
Thu
☀️
46°
28°
Fri
☀️
45°
28°
Sat
☁️
45°
26°
View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Create a Recreation.gov account
Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Verify your email and add payment info ahead of time.
2
Apply during the lottery window
Submit your application between February 1 and March 1. Apply for multiple dates to increase your odds.
3
Wait for lottery results
Results are typically announced March 15. Check your email and your Recreation.gov account.
4
If unsuccessful, monitor cancellations
Permits get cancelled daily. Peak cancellation times are 24-48 hours before the trip date.
5
Set up PermitSnag alerts
Get notified when cancellations happen. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.
When to Go
Peak: July-SeptemberShoulder: Late June and October
Conditions
Quota season opens May 1, but the mountain is still under snow. NPS states that ice axes and crampons are needed in spring and early summer.
Crowd Level
LowAdvantages
- +Fewer people on the trail and in Lone Pine
- +Firm snow travel for parties equipped for it
Challenges
- !Winter mountaineering skills and equipment required
- !Snow on the switchbacks and at Trail Crest
- !Severe cold and wind at 14,505 feet
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand5/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill1/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk2/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation1/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment5/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Well-conditioned hikers experienced with high altitude and very long days. Must be comfortable with significant elevation and 12+ hours of continuous hiking.
Recommended Experience
Should have experience hiking above 10,000 feet and have completed at least one 15+ mile day hike with 4,000+ feet of gain.
Not Recommended For
Those without experience at high altitude, anyone with heart or respiratory conditions, or hikers who haven't completed a 15+ mile strenuous hike.
About This Permit
Mount Whitney (14,505 ft) is the highest summit in the contiguous United States and the most coveted peak in American hiking. The main Whitney Trail is a non-technical Class 1 hike, but its 21.4-mile round trip with 6,656 feet of elevation gain makes it one of the most strenuous day hikes in North America.
Most successful summit attempts require starting between 2-5am to reach the summit by midday and descend before afternoon thunderstorms. The trail passes through the Whitney Zone, requiring a permit year-round.
The Experience
Why It Matters
Mount Whitney has been drawing mountaineers since Clarence King first attempted to climb it in 1871 (though he accidentally summited a nearby peak). The mountain was named for Josiah Whitney, head of the California Geological Survey. Today, it remains the most coveted summit in the Lower 48—a pilgrimage for peak baggers and a testament to human endurance.
The Route
The Whitney Trail begins at Whitney Portal (8,360 ft), climbing through a Jeffrey pine forest along the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek. At mile 2.8, you pass Lone Pine Lake—the boundary of the Whitney Zone, where your permit becomes mandatory.
The trail steepens through Bighorn Park to Outpost Camp at mile 3.5, a sheltered area popular with backpackers. Beyond, you traverse past the forbidden-to-camp Mirror Lake and climb to Trail Camp (12,039 ft), the last water source and highest legal campsite.
From Trail Camp, the trail attacks the headwall via the legendary 99 Switchbacks—steep, rocky zigzags that climb 1,600 feet to Trail Crest (13,645 ft), where you suddenly see the Western Sierra. The final 2 miles traverse an exposed granite ridge, passing gaps in the rock called 'The Windows' that offer vertigo-inducing views straight down. The stone summit hut appears, and then you're standing on top of the Lower 48.
The Feeling
The pre-dawn start from Whitney Portal is disorienting—headlamps bobbing in the darkness, the trail a faint ribbon through black forest. As light seeps into the sky, you're already above timberline, trudging across granite moonscape. The infamous 99 Switchbacks seem to go on forever, but then you crest Trail Crest and see the Western Sierra spread below you like a rumpled blanket of stone and snow. The final ridge walk to the summit is surreal—you're higher than anything else for a hundred miles, the air thin and sharp, the Owens Valley impossibly far below.
Trailhead Information
Whitney Portal
8,360 ft elevationThe only trailhead for the main Whitney Trail. Located at the end of Whitney Portal Road, 13 miles west of Lone Pine.
Restrooms
Water on site
Moderate
Parking
Overnight parking lot fills quickly. Arrive the evening before or use the hiker shuttle from Lone Pine.
Getting There
From Lone Pine, take Whitney Portal Road west for 13 miles. Road is paved but steep and winding.
Nearest Services
Whitney Portal Store has food, gear, and showers (seasonal). Lone Pine has full services including motels, restaurants, and an excellent mountaineering store.
Rules & Regulations
- •Permit required year-round for all Whitney Zone entry (beyond Lone Pine Lake)
- •WAG bag required—all human waste must be packed out
- •Bear-resistant food storage required for overnight trips
- •Group size limited to 15 people
- •Dogs prohibited on Whitney Trail
- •No campfires permitted in the Whitney Zone
Gear Checklist
Required
- WAG bag (human waste bag) for packing out waste
- Headlamp with extra batteries (pre-dawn start essential)
- Minimum 4 liters of water
- Warm layers (temperatures can be 40°F colder at summit than trailhead)
- Rain/wind jacket
Recommended
- Trekking poles (invaluable for the rocky trail and 99 Switchbacks)
- Sunscreen, lip balm, and sunglasses (intense UV at altitude)
- High-calorie snacks and electrolyte replacement
- Altitude medication (Diamox) if prone to altitude sickness
- Emergency bivy/space blanket
Plan Your Trip
Lottery concierge
Your next shot at Mt. Whitney Day
Next season’s application dates aren’t published yet.
We check for them every day. Track Mt. Whitney Day now and your concierge picks them up the moment they land, then emails you when applications open, before the deadline, and when results post.
Better odds with a crew
Mt. Whitney Day is a lottery. Every friend who applies adds another entry, so a crew gets more shots at the same permit than any one of you alone.
One of you runs the pool (Pro or a $19 alert). Everyone else joins free.
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Mt. Whitney Day
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Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
Browse all shuttles🧭
Guide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
Browse all guidesSome links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
Key Landmarks
⛰️
14,505ft
High📏
10.7mi
DistanceClick on a marker to view details•9 landmarks
Landmarks (9)
Lottery Statistics
100 people/day, no published rate
estimated success rate
Get detailed lottery statistics and tips. Sign up to track this permit.
Boost Your Chances
Apply with a crew to multiply your combined odds, and let auto win-detection tell you the moment you win — you never have to check Recreation.gov. Win-detection reads the result email you forward us, so it takes a one-time setup in your inbox (about two minutes, and we walk you through it). Pool and auto win-detection are on Pro or a $19 permit alert.
Apply these for the best odds
- Apply inside the February 1 - March 1 window. Inyo runs a single lottery each year, so there is no second draw to fall back on.
- Put April 22 on your calendar. Lottery winners must pay the per-person fee by April 21, and every unclaimed and forfeited date opens for web reservation the next day.
Opens the official lottery — you submit your entry. We never automate or store your Recreation.gov login.
Full lottery odds & strategy →Mt. Whitney Day FAQ
Do you need a permit to hike Mount Whitney?
Yes, year-round, and for day hikers too. NPS is explicit: "All hikers entering the Mt. Whitney zone, including day-hikers, are required to obtain a permit." Which agency you apply to depends on where you start. From Whitney Portal on the east side you apply to Inyo National Forest; approach from the west across the Sierra and you apply to Sequoia & Kings Canyon.
How many Mount Whitney day hike permits are there per day?
100 people per entry day for Mt. Whitney Zone day use, per Inyo National Forest, with a separate quota of 60 per day for overnight Mt Whitney Trail permits. Children count toward group size, quota and fees — there is no age exemption. Maximum group size is 15, applied year-round including day use.
When do you apply for the Mount Whitney lottery?
February 1 through March 1 for the following season. Results post to your Recreation.gov account March 15, awarded reservations must be claimed and paid by April 21, and everything unclaimed goes on general sale at 7 am Pacific on April 22. Submit only one application per group or household or Inyo may reject all of them.
How long is the Mount Whitney trail?
NPS gives it as "a 10.7 mile (17.1 km) trail from Whitney Portal," with the trailhead at 8,360 feet and the summit at 14,505 feet. Inyo describes the round trip as 22 miles gaining over 6,200 feet, and says to expect 12 to 14 hours to the summit and back.
What are the odds of getting a Mount Whitney permit?
Neither Inyo National Forest nor NPS publishes a success rate for the Whitney lottery, so we do not quote one. The figures that exist are capacities: 100 people a day for day use, 60 for the overnight trail. The most actionable date in the calendar is April 22 at 7 am Pacific, when every unclaimed lottery date is released to everyone.
How much does a Mount Whitney permit cost?
$6 as a non-refundable reservation fee per permit, plus $15 per person for any trip entering the Whitney Zone. Inyo does not refund Mt. Whitney permits at all — no rain checks, no credits — and gives no discounts for age, military service, seniors or children. Interagency passes are not accepted for wilderness permits.
Do you have to pack out human waste on Mount Whitney?
Yes. There are no restrooms along the trail, and Inyo states that "all Mt. Whitney hikers are expected to pack-out their poop." Pack-out kits are provided at the trailhead and at the visitor center, and there is a disposal box near the restroom at Whitney Portal.
Where does the Mount Whitney trail enter Sequoia National Park?
At Trail Crest, 13,600 feet, roughly two miles from the summit. Park rules apply from there: pets are prohibited, no camping in the Mt. Whitney shelter, and off-trail parties on Mt. Whitney are capped at 8 people rather than 15. The summit itself sits on the boundary between Sequoia National Park and Inyo National Forest.
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Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Questions(4)
How do unclaimed Mt. Whitney Zone day use permits come back after the lottery?
0 votes·1 answer·Apr 22
How fit do you need to be for a Mt. Whitney day hike permit date?
0 votes·1 answer·Apr 8
Where does the Whitney Zone start, and when do you actually need the day use permit?
0 votes·1 answer·Mar 10
Photography Guide
Golden Hour
Summit sunrise is extraordinary—arrive before dawn for views of the shadow of Whitney stretching across the Owens Valley.
Best Light
Early morning light on the eastern face from the Alabama Hills is the classic roadside shot. For summit photography, pre-dawn to early morning offers the best visibility before afternoon haze.
Beat the Crowds
Start at 2-3am to reach the summit for sunrise and have the top to yourself. Most hikers arrive between 10am-2pm.
Classic Shots
- 📍Summit sunrise with shadow of Whitney extending across the valley
- 📍The Windows gap with Guitar Lake far below
- 📍Trail Camp with the headwall and switchbacks above
- 📍Summit hut with the John Muir plaque
- 📍Evening alpenglow from Alabama Hills
Can't Get a Mt. Whitney Day Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Mountaineer's Route
Similar ExperienceA shorter (12 miles RT) but more technical Class 3 route up the North Fork. Involves exposed scrambling and route-finding.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Same permit system, but route is more dangerous and requires mountaineering experience. Not recommended for hiking-only visitors.
Mount Whitney from Shepherd Pass
Similar ExperienceA multi-day approach from the west via Shepherd Pass, summiting Whitney as part of a longer backpacking trip.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Much easier to get a permit (Inyo NF general wilderness permit), but requires 3-4 days and significant mileage.
Mount Langley
Easier AlternativeCalifornia's 9th highest peak at 14,042 feet, climbed via Cottonwood Lakes. Similar elevation with far fewer crowds.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
A 'fourteener' without the Whitney crowds, but lacks the prestige of climbing the highest point.
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Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Mt. Whitney Day trip
Trip planning
Articles that plan a trip around this permit.
- Best Backpacking in Sequoia & Kings CanyonNine backpacking trips in Sequoia and Kings Canyon, the wilderness permit each one needs, the daily quota that governs it, and the season it sells in.
- How Wilderness Permits Are BookedSix ways a US wilderness permit is actually sold, from a single dated entry to a river launch to a night-by-night itinerary, and why the difference matters.
- Cancellation Hunting: A Complete GuideEverything you need to know about finding and booking cancelled permits. When to look, what to watch for, and how to act fast.
- How to Win Permit Lotteries: Real StrategiesStrategies for improving your permit lottery odds: timing, flexibility, and the techniques that actually work, drawn from thousands of lottery results.
- JMT vs PCT Permits ComparedPlanning a long Sierra hike? John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail permit systems, quotas and strategies compared, and which route suits you better.
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