Do I need a permit to climb Mt. Whitney Mountaineer's Route?
Yes. You need a permit to climb Mt. Whitney Mountaineer's Route in Inyo National Forest. It is the Mt. Whitney Mountaineer's Route Permit, and it is booked in advance through a reservation system rather than won in a lottery.
Permit required
What the Mt. Whitney Mountaineer's Route permit costs and covers
- Fee
- $6 reservation fee + $15 per person Whitney Zone recreation fee
- Group size limit
- 15 people
- Applications open
- 60% of quota releases 6 months ahead at 7 a.m. Pacific
- Results
- Remaining 40% releases 2 weeks ahead on the same weekday
- Season starts
- Quota season May 1
- Season ends
- Quota season ends November 1
What the rules require
- A wilderness permit is required year-round for overnight trips; the Mountaineer's Route enters on North Fork of Lone Pine Creek, not the Mt. Whitney Trail
- A single-day trip requires the Mt. Whitney Zone Day Use permit instead, which is a separate lottery
- Quota season is May 1 to November 1; November 2 to April 30 is non-quota with unlimited daily numbers and a two-week booking window
- 60% of quota releases 6 months in advance at 7 a.m. Pacific; the remaining 40% releases 2 weeks in advance on the same weekday
- $6 non-refundable reservation fee plus $15 per person for the Whitney Zone; no discounts for annual passes, military, seniors or children
- Maximum group size 15, and groups on separate permits cannot combine to exceed it
- Only the group leader or the listed alternate can pick up or use the permit, and alternates cannot be added after the reservation is made
- Print the permit before the 10 a.m. no-show deadline on your entry date or the reservation is cancelled
- A California Campfire Permit is required to have a campfire or operate a stove
- Bear-resistant food storage is required in areas with a history of bear conflict; canisters can be rented at the Lone Pine visitor center
- Cancel more than 12 days before your entry date and the per-person fee is refunded automatically; the $6 never is
Published rules for the Mt. Whitney Mountaineer's Route Permit, quoted as written.
Getting one
Dates for Mt. Whitney Mountaineer's Route sell out and then come back as people cancel. PermitSnag watches Mt. Whitney Mountaineer's Route Permit and sends you an alert the moment one reappears.
Common questions about the Mt. Whitney Mountaineer's Route permit
Do I need a permit to climb Mt. Whitney Mountaineer's Route?
Yes. You need a permit to climb Mt. Whitney Mountaineer's Route in Inyo National Forest. It is the Mt. Whitney Mountaineer's Route Permit, and it is booked in advance through a reservation system rather than won in a lottery.
How much does a Mt. Whitney Mountaineer's Route permit cost?
$6 reservation fee + $15 per person Whitney Zone recreation fee.
When can I apply for a Mt. Whitney Mountaineer's Route permit?
The application window opens 60% of quota releases 6 months ahead at 7 a.m. Pacific. Results: Remaining 40% releases 2 weeks ahead on the same weekday.
How many people can be on one Mt. Whitney Mountaineer's Route permit?
15 people.
When is the Mt. Whitney Mountaineer's Route permit season?
Season starts: Quota season May 1. Season ends: Quota season ends November 1.