In short
Mount Whitney 2027: lottery applications for the trail permit should be accepted from Monday, February 1, 2027 to Monday, March 1, 2027. Results are expected on Monday, March 15, 2027. Best season: Quotas from 1 May to 1 November.
Entry dates estimated from previous years.To be confirmed once officially announced.
What are the 2027 lottery dates?
- Today
- Feb. 1, 2027 Lottery opens for the trail permitTime doesn't matter: it's a lottery
- March 1, 2027 Lottery applications close
- March 15, 2027 Lottery results
- Quotas from 1 May to 1 November Best season
What do you book, at what price, with what chances?
| What you book | The trail permit |
| Your odds in the lottery | ~27% (2023 edition) 26,219 applicants for 7,152 lottery places. ~17% for a day hike, ~10% for an overnight trip, based on the first choice of dates.Source: 2023 figures from Inyo National Forest, relayed by hiking guides. Rate = places ÷ applicants, our calculation. to be checked |
| Price | $6 per application, then $15 per person if you win (2026)Price taken from the source, with its year. |
What is the route like? from OpenStreetMap
Move your finger or mouse along the curve to read the km and the altitude. Approximate curve, from a terrain model.
Mount Whitney Trail from Whitney Portal
17 km+1,955 m gain2,538 m → 4,413 m
Altitude by distanceMin 2,538 m · max 4,413 m
4 huts, lodges and campsites within 400 m of the route, shown on the 3D map. Length measured along the OpenStreetMap track, one way; elevation gain and altitudes from a terrain model. Approximate figures, check them against the official guide. Tracks © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Mount Whitney on the 3D map Follow the route in 3D, then explore the 62 other trails and races on the map. Open the 3D mapHow do you apply for the lottery, step by step?
- Create your Recreation.gov accountBefore February 1, 2027, so you don't lose time.
- Pick up to 15 datesWeekdays and May or October overnight trips are less in demand.
- Apply before March 1, 2027$6 per application, not refunded even if you lose.
- Results around March 15, 2027Won: confirm and pay $15 per person before 21 April (2026).
Don't miss the date
Add the upcoming dates to your calendar: your phone reminds you 1 week before the first one, then the day before each, and on the morning of results day.
The next permit lotteries
Other great hikes with a permit lottery, in order of opening.
Frequently asked questions
Mount Whitney 2027: what is the opening date?
Lottery opens for the trail permit on Monday, February 1, 2027. Closes on Monday, March 1, 2027. Date estimated from previous years, to be confirmed.
Can you get a Mount Whitney permit after the lottery?
Yes: unclaimed permits go back on Recreation.gov on 22 April at 7 am Pacific time (2026), then cancellations come up all summer.
How much does a Mount Whitney permit cost?
$6 per lottery application, then $15 per person if you win (2026). Nothing is refunded.
Do you need a permit to day-hike Mount Whitney?
Yes, from 1 May to 1 November, as soon as you go past Lone Pine Lake, even for a day hike. Outside these dates, the permit is free and has no quota.
Mount Whitney 2027: when are the lottery results published?
Results are expected on Monday, March 15, 2027.