21.1 mi
Distance
14,295 ft
Elev. Gain
10h 50m
Est. Time
Out & Back
Route Type
Expert
Difficulty
About This Trail
We don't publish a description for Mount Whitney Trail unless we can point you at the agency it came from. We don't have one yet. The planning figures above — distance, elevation gain, estimated time, route type — come from the source listed on this trail.
The managing agency is the authority for conditions, closures and route notes. See official sources below. Spot something we should add?
Trail Conditions
Trail Conditions
We have no current condition data for this trail. Check with the operator before you go, and submit a report below if you've been recently.
No recent condition reports. Be the first to share what you see on the trail.
Hazards & Warnings
Trail Details
- Route Type
- Out & Back
- Surface
- Dirt
Permit required
Apply through the issuing agency. Many systems run seasonal lotteries or fixed application windows — confirm current dates on the agency page.
A Mt. Whitney Zone permit is required for day hikes as well as overnight trips. The day-use permit is valid for one day, midnight to midnight, on all routes in the zone. During quota season, May 1 to November 1, day use is limited to 100 people per day. Apply through the permit lottery or reserve remaining dates on recreation.gov.
Official sources & verification
Reserve or permit
- Apply for permit
Required permit application for this trail. Many systems run seasonal lotteries or fixed application windows — confirm current dates here.
- Inyo wilderness permits
USFS Inyo National Forest
Source of truth
- Agency source page
The page our published rules and notes are derived from.
Where it is
- Nearest town:
- Lone Pine, CA · about 7 mi away
- County:
- Inyo County, CA
Nearest town and county from U.S. Census Bureau place records and county boundaries.
Best Seasons
Highlights
Reviews
No reviews yet
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Hand-curated
Nearby Trails
More trails near Mount Whitney Trail
Mount Whitney Mountaineer's Route

Mount Muir via the Mount Whitney Trail

Lone Pine Lake Trail to John Muir Trail

Mount Whitney Loop

Mount Whitney Portal to Lone Pine Lake
Whitney Portal National Recreation Trail
Similar length
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