USDA Forest Service
 

Inyo National Forest

 
 

Inyo National Forest
351 Pacu Lane
Suite 200
Bishop, CA 93514

760-873-2400
TTY: 760-873-2538

United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

Recreational Activities - Mt. Whitney Trail Reservation Availability

The calendar below shows entry dates that are still available as of the date this page was updated~ July 11, 2009.

~The numbers in the calendar below are how many people that space is available for, on that date. Reservation applications are now being accepted by phone, fax or mail. Wilderness Permit Reservation Office open hours are 8 am to 4:30 pm, open every day. ~Phone 760-873-2483 ~Fax 760-873-2484. Submission of an application indicates your agreement to permit and reservation terms and conditions.


Keep an eye on the sky and watch for approaching storms. Thunderstorms are common, and could bring sleet, wind and hail as well as rain. Be aware of lightning hazard associated with thunderstorms. You will need to access the risks involved with wilderness travel under the conditions you encounter. You must judge what is within your ability. Safety is YOUR Responsibility.

July 2009 Availability for Overnight / multi-night

 Sunday   Monday  Tuesday  Wednesday  Thursday   Friday  Saturday
     
1
28
2
11
3
0
4
5
5
9
6
8
7
12
8
31
9
20
10
0
11
2
12
2
13
5
14
15
15
11
16
11
17
1
18
17
19
14
20
17
21
6
22
5
23
15
24
2
25
2
26
7
27
2
28
14
29
0
30
8
31
2

July 2009 Day Use Availability

 Sunday   Monday  Tuesday  Wednesday  Thursday   Friday  Saturday
     
1
18
2
15
3
4
4
0
5
19
6
16
7
23
8
15
9
20
10
12
11
1
12
1
13
13
14
20
15
5
16
0
17
28
18
0
19
6
20
25
21
17
22
17
23
16
24
10
25
0
26
11
27
12
28
7
29
12
30
31
31
13

 


Any available cancellations will be added back into the calendar with each update.


August 2009 Availability for Overnight / multi-night

 Sunday   Monday  Tuesday  Wednesday  Thursday   Friday  Saturday
1
7
2
0
3
1
4
6
5
16
6
2
7
5
8
0
9
1
10
0
11
19
12
4
13
2
14
0
15
0
16
0
17
0
18
0
19
0
20
0
21
0
22
0
23
0
24
0
25
0
26
0
27
0
28
1
29
0
30
0
31
0

 

August 2009 Day Use Availability

 Sunday   Monday  Tuesday  Wednesday  Thursday   Friday  Saturday
1
0
2
11
3
17
4
21
5
20
6
0
7
0
8
0
9
0
10
11
11
6
12
11
13
4
14
0
15
0
16
0
17
0
18
1
19
0
20
0
21
0
22
0
23
0
24
0
25
0
26
0
27
0
28
0
29
0
30
0
31
0


Late September and October expect shorter days, cold temperatures and possible winter storms bringing snow.


September 2009 Availability for Overnight / multi-night

 Sunday   Monday  Tuesday  Wednesday  Thursday   Friday  Saturday
1
0
2
0
3
0
4
0
5
0
6
0
7
0
8
0
9
0
10
0
11
0
12
1
13
0
14
0
15
0
16
0
17
0
18
1
19
0
20
0
21
0
22
0
23
0
24
0
25
0
26
0
27
0
28
0
29
0
30
0

 

September 2009 Day Use Availability

 Sunday   Monday  Tuesday  Wednesday  Thursday   Friday  Saturday
1
0
2
0
3
0
4
0
5
0
6
0
7
0
8
0
9
0
10
0
11
0
12
0
13
0
14
0
15
0
16
0
17
6
18
0
19
1
20
0
21
1
22
0
23
69
24
40
25
0
26
0
27
0
28
44
29
92
30
89


~#~2008 Snow on October 4th. ~#~2007 Snow on September 20th.~#~2006 Snow on October 3rd.~#~


October 2009 Availability for Overnight / multi-night

 Sunday   Monday  Tuesday  Wednesday  Thursday   Friday  Saturday
1
0
2
1
3
0
4
0
5
0
6
10
7
54
8
49
9
0
10
0
11
43
12
43
13
60
14
50
15
44
16
0
17
30
18
60
19
60
20
58
21
58
22
54
23
56
24
52
25
60
26
58
27
60
28
60
29
60
30
60
31
53
Nov. 1
60

October 2009 Day Use Availability

 Sunday   Monday  Tuesday  Wednesday  Thursday   Friday  Saturday
1
89
2
59
3
0
4
75
5
100
6
100
7
99
8
99
9
98
10
73
11
100
12
98
13
100
14
100
15
100
16
100
17
94
18
100
19
100
20
100
21
100
22
100
23
100
24
96
25
100
26
100
27
100
28
100
29
100
30
100
31
100
Nov. 1
100

Winter mountaineering skills, experience, and equipment are essential to travel safely when ice and snow are on the Mt. Whitney Trail. The switchbacks above Trail Camp may be covered by snow and ice through the end of June and again in late September or October. During early spring, late fall and winter, trails will be partially or entirely covered with snow. Expect to navigate entirely with map and compass. Whenever snow is present, climbers should be equipped with ice axes, crampons and helmets. Be prepared for extreme temperatures, wind, rain, sleet, snow, intense sun, drifting snow and slick icy slopes. Location, sun, wind, weather and time of day all affect snow and ice conditions. Avalanches and rockslides are naturally occurring processes that are present throughout the winter.

Permits are required for all seasons for Mt. Whitney. Self issue permit forms are available for winter mountaineering trips. Reservations are not needed for winter trips with an entry date in the non quota season of November 2 until the end of April.
Permits for the quota season, May 1st to November 1st, can be reserved by the February lottery or up until 2 days before the trip entry date if space is available. Any remaining un reserved permits are made available for free, on a walk in basis one day before the entry date.
All permits beginning from Whitney Portal into the Mt. Whitney zone are issued at the Eastern Sierra InterAgency Visitor Center, at the junction of Highway 395 and SR 136. Visitor Center phone (760) 876-6200.

US Forest Service - Inyo National Forest
Last Modified: Thursday, 13 August 2009 at 12:37:27 EDT


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