Mt. Whitney

Mt. Whitney is the highest peak in the lower 48 states. Soaring 14,494 feet into the sky, it is the most climbed peak in the United States.    This page provides information about permits, camping, bears, and other tips to make your Mt. Whitney adventure more enjoyable.

 Order the Mountaineers Route description
8 pages, 10 photos
Waypoints
updated: 9-2005
Panorama from Mt. Whitney
Other Sierra Peaks
Warning! Hiking and mountaineering are dangerous and can result in serious injury or worse. By exploring this web site you acknowledge that the information presented might be out of date or incorrect. You agree not to hold the author responsible for any damages, injuries, or death arising from any information on this Web site. Please research any mountain before attempting to climb it. Do not substitute the information on this web site for experience, training, and recognizing your limitations!
 

None of this information will help you if you can't follow the Mountaineer's Route to the peak. The Member's Only club has a 8 page description of the route with 10 color photos of key landmarks and waypoints. It also contains 300 additional hikes.

Name of Hike:

Done as a Day hike:

Overnight Trip:

permit required

permit required

If you hike the Mountaineer's Route up and back in one day, you need a permit as of 1-2008.  To get the permit you have to use the same lottery as the trail.   Questions? Call the Ranger Station at (760)-876-6200.

Permits can be reserved up to six months in advance, for more information: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation/wild/mtwhitney.shtml

Mt. Whitney Message board - Very active, very good information.

Lone Pine:  $10 per night, 43 sites, no hookups, vault toilets and water. 40% walk in.
Location: 7 miles west of Lone Pine off of Whitney Portal Road. 6 miles to the trailhead.
Elevation: 6,200 feet   
Open:  Apr 16 to Oct 11, 1999; Apr 14, 2000 to Oct 25, 2000

Whitney Portal: $12 per night, 43 sites, no hookups, vault toilets and water.
Location: 13 miles west on Lone Pine on the Whitney Portal Road. Near the trailhead. 
Elevation: 8,300 feet 
Open: May 22, to Oct 02, 1999 and May 24, 2000 to Oct 13, 2000

Horseshoe Meadow: $5 per night, 18 sites, walk in only, vault toilets and water.
Location: 3 miles on Whitney Portal Road, left on Horse Meadows for 21 miles to the end of the road. It's about 31 miles to Mt. Whitney trailhead. 
Elevation: 10,000 feet  
Open: June 2 to Sept. 30, 1999

All campgrounds provide metal containers for food storage. This is to protect your food from bears. To make camping reservations online for Lone Pine or Whitney Portal campgrounds, click here or call 1-800-280-2267.

Bears can be a problem while hiking and camping  around Mt. Whitney. The rule is to store all food in metal storage lockers. They are provided at campsites and at the Mt. Whitney trailhead. Do not leave any food, food wrappers, toothpaste, or anything a bear might eat in your car. If camping on the route, buy or rent a bear box. There's a set-up for hanging food at Iceberg Lake. This is favorite spot to camp along the mountaineer's route.

 Marmots are little animals resembling fat squirrels. They can be a nuisance. Luckily they are not good climbers. Do not feed them as this only encourages them to ransack your backpack when you set it down. Marmots are at the summit.