Mount Whitney
Mount Whitney
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The most climbed peak in the Sierra Nevada, and the highest.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
51 reviews
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jhendron2015
Rochester, NY25 contributions
May 2022
Great challenge for intermediate to advanced hikers if you want to summit. Beginners will have little difficulty making it to the switch backs. I live on the coast so the altitude change played a big role. I recommend to try to come a day early to acclimate to the elevation if possible. Start early!
Written November 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CofCMom
Abbeville, SC192 contributions
Nov 2021
We drove the road to the Whitney portal. None of the facilities were operating when we were there. It is a tough road with some pretty tight switch-backs. For the passenger, the views were amazing. Make sure to notice the dried up lake bed of Owens lake. The road also comes through the Alabama Hills which have been seen in many movies and TV shows.
Written November 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
docdiamond
Raleigh, NC184 contributions
Mount Whitney has a "cult" status among a large following of hikers. The reason is that it is a spectacular mountain. And it happens to be the highest mountain in the continental United States, hence the nickname, "poor man's Everest." During the months of May, June, July, August and September, you will need to have a permit that is issued either (a) by lottery in February, or (b) by getting an unused permit outside of the lottery. If you need more details on this, go to whitneyportalstore.com for details.
The hike is 22 miles round trip, and is usually hiked either in 1, 2, or 3 days. Although there are other options, most people hike the "Main" trail. It is a "class 1" hike, so no technical ability or equipment is needed AFTER the snow and ice on the trail melts. You will gain and lose about 6300 feet, starting at about 8300 feet. If you do it in one day, it will likely take you from 12 to 16 hours if you are in reasonable shape. If you camp on the trail, you can camp most anywhere, but most people camp at Outpost Camp (about 10,000 feet) or Trail Camp (about 12,000 feet). There is plenty of water available up to Trail Camp, but you should take a filter, or purification tablets.
If you go, you will likely need to be in good shape, and you will need to acclimate to the altitude by doing some day hikes in the area. When peiple fail to summit, it is usually because they wear out, or they lose their breath due to the altitude.
I encourage you to climb this mountain. You will never forget it. Happy trails!!!
The hike is 22 miles round trip, and is usually hiked either in 1, 2, or 3 days. Although there are other options, most people hike the "Main" trail. It is a "class 1" hike, so no technical ability or equipment is needed AFTER the snow and ice on the trail melts. You will gain and lose about 6300 feet, starting at about 8300 feet. If you do it in one day, it will likely take you from 12 to 16 hours if you are in reasonable shape. If you camp on the trail, you can camp most anywhere, but most people camp at Outpost Camp (about 10,000 feet) or Trail Camp (about 12,000 feet). There is plenty of water available up to Trail Camp, but you should take a filter, or purification tablets.
If you go, you will likely need to be in good shape, and you will need to acclimate to the altitude by doing some day hikes in the area. When peiple fail to summit, it is usually because they wear out, or they lose their breath due to the altitude.
I encourage you to climb this mountain. You will never forget it. Happy trails!!!
Written May 31, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NeedABreakInSC-PA
South-Central, PA28 contributions
Nov 2012 • Family
Located on the sparsely-vegetated eastern side of the Sierra Nevada range, Mt. Whitney is monstrous but offers little to do unless one wishes to take a lengthy (approx. 22 mile) hike to it. The best vantage point for families with young children is from the Visitor Center in Lone Pine, CA.
Written October 28, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JerseyJosie
New Jersey239 contributions
Sep 2018 • Friends
We drove the switchbacks to the end of Mount Whitney Portal Road appreciating the gorgeous views on the way up and more beautiful views on the way down. There is parking at the end of Mount Whitney Portal Road. We took time to enjoy the scenery and water fall. We ate burgers at the Portal Store. If not that hungry then share because the burgers are huge. The Portal Store had Alaskan Amber Ale as well as other drink selections.
Written September 23, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Galileo321
Rio de Janeiro, RJ47 contributions
Holy Cow! Mt. Whitney was an incredible physical challenge for a 23 year Floridian and to do so in 1 day, but I did it!! This mountain has a mind of its own and it is not a trek, hike or climb to take lightly. It is a journey that involves determination, strength and perseverance. To those that enjoy adventure, challenge and inspiration, Mt. Whitney is the mountain for you. It is the highest mountain in the lower 48 states that will make you see the light! Awesome adventure and one not to take lightheartedly. Out of the 23,000 that attempt to climb this mountain annually, only 1/3 make it. I'm proud to say I did it in a day, but am happy to be back with sand between my toes...for now. :-)
Written July 16, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HoOoman
Los Angeles, CA45 contributions
Dec 2018 • Couples
Summited Mt. Whitney the highest elevation (14,505 ft) in the United States (contiguous). All the training and hard work in prior 84 days paid off. Hiked to the base camp (Elev: 12,000 ft), stayed for the night and summited the next day on which we had to shift gears(literally) from hiking mountaineering. It was a fun adventure and we did the whole 22 miles just under 20 (yes twenty) hours. It was an indescribable feeling standing on the roof of the US.
Written December 31, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
elivela67
Annapolis, MD61 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
There wasn't much out there about hiking this trail apart from tales of woe on the difficulty and danger of the hike in general. Make no mistake, this trail is very technical, tough and can certainly be treacherous (particularly on the way down) but all in all, it's a beautiful hike. We hiked as far as Camp Trail since we had no intention of hiking to the summit. I know that's a goal for many folks, but for us, simply going as far as we could with the day we had was our aim.
We started late relative to other hikers. We left Lone Pine at 6:45a. We tried to allow time for the assisted ride up the mountain. There is road paving going on right now through 2017 and there is at least a 30 minute delay from 6a-7:30a and up to a 3 hour delay from 8a-1p and then from 1p-4p while the work goes on. We experienced the 30 minute delay on the way there but returned around 5p so missed the second. BE ADVISED. Allow an extra hour even if you leave on the early side.
The climb up was not nearly as harrowing as the descent back down. Once you get past Mirror Lake, the trail is not very well marked. You sort of have to pay attention to the trenches hacked into the rock and the sometimes barely perceptible staircases that form the trail. It can get confusing! Besides that though, beautiful views! Lone Pine, Mirror and Consultation Lakes are wonders to behold.
Anyone can hike the 2.5 miles to Lone Pine Lake but you must have a permit to go past that point. There is a sign designating what's called the Whitney Zone just past Lone Pine Lake. You have to have your permit visible for the Rangers to see. Getting the permit is not easy. You have to do it through the lottery system. We applied for ours six months in advance. That said, you can go to the permit office any day of the week and see if you can get the "day of" lottery permit. They start that at 2p.
Helpful hints: carry adequate water or a water filtration system with you. There is a stream at Camp Meadow where I saw people refilling their water bladders and bottles. We assumed there would be no water at all and carried several very heavy liters! Take some electrolyte drink powder with you and an extra bottle to mix it in. It helps with the altitude and of course, the heat. The trail was hot but not scorching until we got to the bottom at the end of the day. You don't need a bear bell on this trail. We didn't see bear scat anywhere along the way. We did however, encounter a bear in another part of the Park so they are a very real presence. The bears tend to be shy so certainly not aggressive but a bear bell and cheering/making noise helps. DO NOT leave anything remotely scented in your car. They tell you this at the Visitor Center but since it's an active bear area, you'll be sorry if you don't heed the advice.
Allow enough time to take pictures and breaks. It took us about 7 hours to go from Whitney Portal to Camp Trail and back. We made pretty good time going up and very slow time coming back. We stopped a lot for pictures, rest, food, etc. We are in good shape but certainly aren't avid, frequent hikers. If you are in good cardiovascular shape, you should be able to make it to Mirror Lake at least.
Have a GREAT hike! It is the hike of a lifetime to be sure.
We started late relative to other hikers. We left Lone Pine at 6:45a. We tried to allow time for the assisted ride up the mountain. There is road paving going on right now through 2017 and there is at least a 30 minute delay from 6a-7:30a and up to a 3 hour delay from 8a-1p and then from 1p-4p while the work goes on. We experienced the 30 minute delay on the way there but returned around 5p so missed the second. BE ADVISED. Allow an extra hour even if you leave on the early side.
The climb up was not nearly as harrowing as the descent back down. Once you get past Mirror Lake, the trail is not very well marked. You sort of have to pay attention to the trenches hacked into the rock and the sometimes barely perceptible staircases that form the trail. It can get confusing! Besides that though, beautiful views! Lone Pine, Mirror and Consultation Lakes are wonders to behold.
Anyone can hike the 2.5 miles to Lone Pine Lake but you must have a permit to go past that point. There is a sign designating what's called the Whitney Zone just past Lone Pine Lake. You have to have your permit visible for the Rangers to see. Getting the permit is not easy. You have to do it through the lottery system. We applied for ours six months in advance. That said, you can go to the permit office any day of the week and see if you can get the "day of" lottery permit. They start that at 2p.
Helpful hints: carry adequate water or a water filtration system with you. There is a stream at Camp Meadow where I saw people refilling their water bladders and bottles. We assumed there would be no water at all and carried several very heavy liters! Take some electrolyte drink powder with you and an extra bottle to mix it in. It helps with the altitude and of course, the heat. The trail was hot but not scorching until we got to the bottom at the end of the day. You don't need a bear bell on this trail. We didn't see bear scat anywhere along the way. We did however, encounter a bear in another part of the Park so they are a very real presence. The bears tend to be shy so certainly not aggressive but a bear bell and cheering/making noise helps. DO NOT leave anything remotely scented in your car. They tell you this at the Visitor Center but since it's an active bear area, you'll be sorry if you don't heed the advice.
Allow enough time to take pictures and breaks. It took us about 7 hours to go from Whitney Portal to Camp Trail and back. We made pretty good time going up and very slow time coming back. We stopped a lot for pictures, rest, food, etc. We are in good shape but certainly aren't avid, frequent hikers. If you are in good cardiovascular shape, you should be able to make it to Mirror Lake at least.
Have a GREAT hike! It is the hike of a lifetime to be sure.
Written August 8, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kplant90
Mountain View, CA54 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
My boyfriend and I (both experienced backpackers and hikers) completed this as a day hike in 12 hours at the end of June. We started at midnight, and finished at noon the same day. If you feel comfortable hiking in the dark with a headlamp, I would HIGHLY recommend starting as early as possible. You’ll avoid the crowds, and ensure that you summit before the threat of thunderstorms later in the day.
If you’re planning on hiking the entire trail, do your research beforehand. Know when to apply for permits, what time of year you should go, and what sort of supplies you need. You need to stop by the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center the day before your trip. Not only will the rangers issue you your official permit (and a poo bag), they can also give you valuable information on the status of the trail and the weather.
Be mindful of the weather and pack accordingly. The weather in the Sierras can change on a dime, going from a beautiful sunny morning to a stormy, rainy afternoon. The summit will be cold and windy, even if the hike up is clear and warm. Again, do your research. There are plenty of bear boxes near the trailhead for any extra gear or food. Just make sure to label your stuff with your name and trail exit date so it doesn’t get thrown out.
Elevation Sierra Adventure in Lone Pine is a great place to pick up last-minute supplies, rent crampons if they're required, and get some additional information from the amazing staff. If you have a spare car that you need to leave in Lone Pine, talk to the front desk at the Dow Villa Hotel. Ask about their overflow parking in the back - if you only need to leave it a few days and they’re not too busy, they’ll give you a free parking pass.
This is a butt-kicker, but worth every second. If you stay smart, know your limits, and do your research, Whitney won't fail to amaze.
If you’re planning on hiking the entire trail, do your research beforehand. Know when to apply for permits, what time of year you should go, and what sort of supplies you need. You need to stop by the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center the day before your trip. Not only will the rangers issue you your official permit (and a poo bag), they can also give you valuable information on the status of the trail and the weather.
Be mindful of the weather and pack accordingly. The weather in the Sierras can change on a dime, going from a beautiful sunny morning to a stormy, rainy afternoon. The summit will be cold and windy, even if the hike up is clear and warm. Again, do your research. There are plenty of bear boxes near the trailhead for any extra gear or food. Just make sure to label your stuff with your name and trail exit date so it doesn’t get thrown out.
Elevation Sierra Adventure in Lone Pine is a great place to pick up last-minute supplies, rent crampons if they're required, and get some additional information from the amazing staff. If you have a spare car that you need to leave in Lone Pine, talk to the front desk at the Dow Villa Hotel. Ask about their overflow parking in the back - if you only need to leave it a few days and they’re not too busy, they’ll give you a free parking pass.
This is a butt-kicker, but worth every second. If you stay smart, know your limits, and do your research, Whitney won't fail to amaze.
Written July 6, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BobT360
Atlanta, GA113 contributions
Oct 2012 • Friends
50% of the people who try to summit Whitney will not make it. Among the challenges you need to overcome: the highly restrictive permit application process, physically demanding conditions, extreme weather, dehydration, and if you can overcome all of those things, you never know if acute mountain sickness (altitude sickness) might set in. I am very thankful to have summited last October. We arrived in Lone Pine on a Tuesday night, camped out at the portal the first night (8000'). Be sure to say hello to Doug if you stop at the Portal store, he's one of the good guys. We let the portal at 10 am and ascended to Trail Camp by Wednesday night at 4pm (12,000'). We summited on Thursday (14,505') by leaving at 4:45 am and made the trek all the way down by 7:30 pm. We took Diamox to help with AMS and stayed well-hydrated and loaded with caffeine and ibuprofen. My most difficult time on the mountain came at 10,000 ft, but after making it past that point, I was issue free with the exception of a persistent dull headache while 11,000 ft.
I would HIGHLY recommend planning this trip well in advance, especially if you will be flying to this location. I started planning more than a year in advance. The permits are hard to obtain, and I would hold out for an overnight pass rather than a 24 hour one. Rent a bear canister from the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitors Center for $5 as they are required gear in the Whitney Zone. I would try to eat as much as possible while climbing in lower altitudes as I have heard AMS makes you lose your appetite, and you'll need the energy. Water sources beyond Trail Camp are scarce to non-existent. Plan on taking 3 liters of water per person to get you up the 97 switchbacks and the final 5 miles to the summit. We got hit with a blizzard near Trail Crest (13,600') but weren't about to turn back. I would also start early from Trail Camp as unpredictable weather can pop up as noon approaches. This was a killer experience, truly extreme, highly rewarding, a great team effort, and provided unrivaled views of the Sierras and beyond. As they say: The summit is optional, the parking lot is mandatory. Be safe and take your time.
I would HIGHLY recommend planning this trip well in advance, especially if you will be flying to this location. I started planning more than a year in advance. The permits are hard to obtain, and I would hold out for an overnight pass rather than a 24 hour one. Rent a bear canister from the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitors Center for $5 as they are required gear in the Whitney Zone. I would try to eat as much as possible while climbing in lower altitudes as I have heard AMS makes you lose your appetite, and you'll need the energy. Water sources beyond Trail Camp are scarce to non-existent. Plan on taking 3 liters of water per person to get you up the 97 switchbacks and the final 5 miles to the summit. We got hit with a blizzard near Trail Crest (13,600') but weren't about to turn back. I would also start early from Trail Camp as unpredictable weather can pop up as noon approaches. This was a killer experience, truly extreme, highly rewarding, a great team effort, and provided unrivaled views of the Sierras and beyond. As they say: The summit is optional, the parking lot is mandatory. Be safe and take your time.
Written April 14, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Claim your listingMount Whitney - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Mount Whitney
- Attractions near Mount Whitney:
- (9.71 mi) Alabama Hills
- (4.79 mi) Mount Whitney Trail
- (2.43 mi) Lone Pine Lake
- (4.79 mi) Lone Pine Creek
- (7.93 mi) John Muir Trail