Mount Whitney TrailTravel & Exploration
Last update 14 h. agoCreated on the 17th of May 2026
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Duration
~7.4 hours
Distance
17.5 km
Elevation gain
1833 m
Difficulty
T3 / strenuous — altitude
High point
4424 m
Roof of the Lower 48
The standard route to the 4421 metre summit of Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States, climbing from Whitney Portal through 99 switchbacks to a sky island ridge. Most hikers push it in a brutal single day, while others split it with a camp at Trail Camp.
A day or overnight permit is required and goes through the February lottery, with the season running roughly July to October. Acclimatise in the Eastern Sierra for at least a couple of days, start by 3am, and turn around if you spot afternoon cloud build up on the crest.