Things You'll Need:
- Permit
- Lots of water!
- Camping equipment if you plan to overnight on the mountain (special permit required)
- Hiking boots
- Trekking poles (optional)
- Hat
- Sunscreen
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Step 1
Obtain your permit for either an overnight or a day hike. Permits are done by the lottery system and must be reserved well in advance. See the resources below for information on obtaining your permit.
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Step 2
Arrive at the Mt. Whitney Portal and gear-up for your hike.
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Step 3
Begin your hike. The following is a good listing of the landmarks you can expect to encounter on your hike on the main Mt. Whitney Trail:
0.0 miles: Trailhead (8,360 feet)
0.85 miles: Enter John Muir Wilderness (permit required beyond)
2.7 miles: Cross Lone Pine Creek. Shortly after crossing, trail forks to Lone Pine Lake on left, right continues towards summit. (9,980 feet)
3.8 miles: Outpost Camp with Thor Peak dominating the view. Use solar latrine. (10,360 feet)
4.3 miles: Mirror Lake (10,640 feet)
4.9 miles: 50 yards past Whitebark Stump, a dwarf whitebark pine is the last tree on trail
5.3 miles: Trailside Meadow (11,395 feet)
6.3 miles: Trail Camp, a good place to rest before the grueling 96 switchbacks to Trail Crest. Use solar latrine. (12,039 feet)
8.5 miles: Cross Trail Crest and enter Sequoia National Park. (13,777 feet)
9.0 miles: John Muir Trail joins from the west. Altitude sickness common. (13,480 feet )
9.3 miles: Cutoff to Mount Muir.
10.5 miles: Keeler Needle, just a short climb to the summit from here. (14,003 feet)
11.0 miles: Mt. Whitney summit. No water. Camping permitted. (14, 495 feet) -
Step 4
You've made it to the top of Mt. Whitney! What goes up must come down, so descend safely.
