How To Apply For (And Win) A Mount Whitney Permit In 2023
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Standing at a commanding 14,505 feet above sea level, Mount Whitney is the second tallest peak in the United States. Second only to Alaska’s Mount Denali.
If you only count the lower 48 in the contiguous United States, Whitney is THE highest. Due to this, she attracts thousands of summit hungry hikers annually.
Due to the mountain’s popularity and out of a desire to protect it, if you want to want to hike up to the summit, you must have a permit.
In order to obtain a permit, you must enter the (highly competitive) permit lottery (whether that’s the pre-season lottery or the web reservations).
While there’s no way to guarantee yourself a permit, there a few things you can do to improve your odds. In this guide, we’re going to cover the lottery process, tips, things you should know and more.
Mount Whitney Lottery Process
Much like most wilderness lotteries, Mount Whitney’s begins and ends at recreation.gov. If you don’t have an account already set up, you should do so now.
The quota season for Mount Whitney is between May 1st and November 1st. So if your desired date coincides within that timeframe, you must have a permit.
Below are the dates you need to be aware of:
February 1st - March 1st: This is the period in which the lottery is open and when you're eligible to throw your name in the hat.
March 15th: This is when you’ll find out whether or not you’ve won a permit.
April 21st: This is the deadline to finalize your trip information, pay your fees and complete your reservation.
April 22nd: This is when web reservations for remaining dates become available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
When entering the lottery, you’ll want to have information such as desired dates, party size, etc, ironed out. Below are the steps you’ll take:
Head over the Mount Whitney permit page on recreation.gov.
Click/tap, “Register for Lottery”.
Fill out the information for the trip leader (probably yourself).
Select alternate trip leaders. You may select up to three. Being an alternate means they have the authority to pick up and use the permit if you’re unable to.
Select which permit you’d like. You can select either day-use or overnight. You’ll also select your desired dates (you can select up to 15).
Read through the pertinent information, then click/tap, “proceed”.
Take a second to ensure all the information you’ve entered is correct before proceeding from here. You do have a time-limit.
Enter your payment information and pay the $6 fee to submit your application.
There is no advantage to submitting your application early in the window. Those who submit theirs on the last day have as much of a chance as those who submit one on the first day does.
If you’re unsuccessful, you can try again once web reservations become available. If you’re successful, you’ll confirm your date and party size, then pay your per person fees.
One week prior to your trip, you’ll be asked to print your permit and will be expected to keep it on you throughout the duration of your time on the mountain.
*Note: If you’ve printed your permit, you will NOT have to pick one up in person at the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center as in years past
Rangers do patrol this trail and you may be asked to produce it. If you don’t have it on you, you’ll likely be asked to leave the trail and/or possibly be fined.
Mount Whitney Permit Fees
As with most things in life, there are fees attached to obtaining your permit. Thankfully, they’re reasonable and go towards the continuous improvement and care of the mountain.
The fees you’ll pay are as follows:
$6.00 per application: This is the fee you’ll pay when you first enter the lottery. Notice this is per APPLICATION, not per person. This fee is mandatory and will not be refunded regardless of the lottery results.
$15.00 per person: This is the fee you’ll pay if you’ve won a permit, the total of which being dependent on your party size (i.e - two people on your permit = $30 total). Once you’ve completed your reservation, this fee is non-refundable.
As stated above, all fees associated with a completed reservations are non-refundable. There are also no rain checks or credits given under any circumstances.
You're not able to sell or transfer your permit to another person. If you’re unable to make the trip, only the alternates listed on your reservation will be able to use it.
If you or anyone in your group is unable to make the trip, update your reservation through the portal so other hikers can have the chance of snagging a spot.
Best Time To Hike Mount Whitney
May 1st - November 1st is the timeframe when permits are required to be on this trail. Whether you’re doing it as a day hike or an overnight.
Outside of those dates, the only permit you’ll need is a wilderness permit. However, the reason you won’t need to enter the lottery for those months is due to one reason - heavy snow.
Unless you’re a skilled mountaineer, you should stick with the quota season. Though you’ll still encounter snow/ice along the trail up until July and as early as late September.
So if you don’t have experience hiking in snow/ice and/or have little experience on a mountain, your best bet is to hike sometime between July and September.
Things To Know and Consider
KNOW THIS INFORMATION PRIOR TO ENTERING THE LOTTERY: Group leader, alternates, party size (15 person limit), desired entry/exit dates (up to 15 selections), permit type (overnight or day-use), exit location and camp locations (if going overnight).
THE TRIP LEADER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GROUP. As the group leader, you’re charged with ensuring everyone in your group understands the rules and regulations.
BEAR CANISTERS ARE REQUIRED. Bears are very active at Mount Whitney Portal and all along the trail. Keep yourself safe by stashing all smellables inside a bear proof container and ensure it remains outside and away from of your tent.
YOU MUST PACK OUT SOLID HUMAN WASTE. Complimentary WAG Bags can be picked up at the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center or you can bring your own. At the end of your trip, they can be disposed of near the restrooms at Mount Whitney Portal. Note that this is a requirement.
CHANGES TO YOUR PERMIT ARE LIMITED. Once you’ve confirmed your reservation, you’re only allowed to change your exit date (for overnight permits) and reduce your group size. You cannot change the group leader, alternates, increase your group size or change your entry date.
PRINT YOUR PERMIT TO AVOID PICKING IT UP IN PERSON. If you cannot print it, you can pick it up, in person, at the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center. They’re usually open daily between 8:30 to 4:30 but check the link above for up to date information.
DAY USE PERMITS CAN ONLY BE USED FROM MIDNIGHT TO MIDNIGHT. Consecutive day-use permits are not allowed. So if you’ll need to stay overnight, then obtain an overnight permit.
GROUP SIZE IS LIMITED. Your group size is limited to 15 people, including the group leader. While up to 15 people may be permitted, keep in mind that the bigger your group size, the higher the odds are against you.
DON’T GET SUMMIT FEVER. If there are stormy looking clouds in the area or you’re experiencing symptoms of altitude sickness, turn around. It isn’t worth the risk.
Increase Your Odds
In 2021, there were more than 25,000 applications submitted requesting space for 108,500 people. Of those, just 28% of group leaders were successful in obtaining a permit for their selected date.
The most competitive timeframe was during the months of July and August. This is due to the near picture-perfect weather during this time.
If you must go during these two months, I highly suggest requesting a weekday entry date and with a group size as small as possible.
If you’re flexible, the months of May and September, with midweek entry dates, offer the best chances. Keep in mind that until July, snow and ice are still present on the trail.
In my opinion, September would be the best month. It’s my personal favorite month of the year for hiking in the Eastern Sierras.
The summer heat has usually cooled down by that point and the notorious afternoon thunderstorms don’t occur nearly as much, offering you your best chance at a successful summit.
Your Thoughts…
Are you or someone you know planning to hike Mount Whitney this year? What’s your opinion on the permit lottery system? Were you successful in obtaining a permit? Let us know in the comments below. We love hearing from our readers!
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