Lone Pine, California
Mount Whitney
The highest point in the lower 48, in one long push.
Closures & alerts
Checking official closures and alerts…
Straight from the managing agency, but postings lag. Always call or check the park page the week you go.
Strenuous
Difficulty
22 mi
Distance
6,600 ft
Elevation
8.5 h
Drive time
Jul – Sep
Best season
Trail map
Trail to take
Mount Whitney — 22 mi · Strenuous
The map loads automatically. Open Trailforks below for trail names and difficulty ratings.
Overview
97 switchbacks, a knife-edge ridge, and 14,505 feet. Acclimatize two nights at altitude first and it becomes a joyful day instead of a suffer-fest.
Permits: Whitney lottery permit required, February–March application window.
Where to get your permit
- Mount Whitney lottery
Application window runs February–March.
Fees, lottery dates and quotas change every season — confirm on the agency page before you plan around them.
Where to camp or stay
Popular sites open on a booking window months ahead and sell out fast.
Highlights
Trail Camp sunrise
The 97 switchbacks
Windows on the ridge
Summit hut
Suggested itinerary
Day 1
Portal to Trail Camp
Six miles, 3,800 feet, early night at 12,000 feet.
Day 2
Summit and out
3am start, summit by sunrise, all the way down to the Portal store.
Packing list
Checked against your gear closet — 4 items to sort out.
- WAG bag (required)
- Microspikes
- Down jacket
- Altitude meds if prescribed
- 2 headlamps
Add gear for this trip
Suggestions shift with the trip length, activities and the forecast above.
4.5 L
Per person, per day
2.5 L
Heaviest carry
5.5 lb
Water weight (2.2 lb/L)
5.5 lb
Gear 0.0 lb + water
- Sources unconfirmed — this assumes one mid-day refill. Check conditions before you go.
Food plan
- Easy-to-eat summit snacks
- Salty broth for camp
- Big carb dinner
Weather & conditions
Next few days
National Weather Service
Alerts & notices
No active National Weather Service alerts for this location.
Forest Service · Inyo National Forest — Mt. Whitney Zone
- • Day-use and overnight permits required year-round; WAG bags mandatory.
- • The 99 switchbacks ice over outside high summer — axe and traction season-dependent.
Land-manager notices are curated; the Forest Service and Park Service don't publish an open alerts feed, so confirm on the official page before you drive.
Nearby camping
Gear recommendations
Know before you go. Routes, distances, elevation and conditions shown here are estimates and may be inaccurate or out of date. Trail conditions change, and closures happen. Check with the managing land agency, carry a topographic map and compass or GPS, tell someone your plans, and know your limits — you're responsible for your own safety in the outdoors.