Inyo National Forest
Mount Whitney permit lottery
Every lottery date for your trip, the claim deadline you can't miss, and what to do if you lose.
When do I apply for my date?
Pick the date you want, and see the day and time it becomes bookable.
Rule from Inyo National Forest: Mount Whitney, checked November 2, 2026. Confirm on the official site before you rely on it.
Hiking Mount Whitney from Whitney Portal between May 1 and November 1 needs a permit from the Inyo National Forest lottery on Recreation.gov: 100 day hikers and 60 overnight hikers a day. You apply once per group in February, results come March 15, and winners pay $15 a person by April 21. The trail is usually snow-free only from July to late September.
The lottery dates
- February 1 to March 1: apply on Recreation.gov. One application per group or household, with up to 10 alternate choices.
- March 15: results posted in your Recreation.gov account.
- April 21, 9 p.m. Pacific (midnight Eastern): winners must pay $15 a person and finish checkout, or the date is lost.
- April 22, 7 a.m. Pacific: leftover dates go on sale online, first come, first served, and stay open the rest of the season. No phone sales.
The Forest Service lists these dates without a year. Its page was last updated December 16, 2025, for the 2026 season, so we show 2027 as expected until it's confirmed.
Day use or overnight
The lottery has two permit types and they aren't interchangeable. Day use covers one calendar day in the Mt. Whitney Zone, by any route. Overnight covers multi-night trips starting on the Mt. Whitney Trail, and can extend onto the John Muir or Pacific Crest Trail.
Rules that trip people up
- Only the leader or alternate named on the application can pick up or use the permit. No resale, transfer, rain checks or name changes.
- Groups over 15 aren't allowed. Children count toward group size.
- If Recreation.gov goes down during the lottery (for example in a federal funding lapse), the application window isn't extended.
Lost the lottery? What to do next
Book through Recreation.gov first. It's the only place to reserve. If your date is gone:
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Lost the lottery? Next moves
- Leftover dates go on sale April 22 at 7 a.m. Pacific on Recreation.gov, first come, first served, and stay open all season. That's also how to get a second trip.
- Go outside the quota season: from November 2 to April 30 permits are unlimited, but expect snow and ice; winter skills are needed.
- Climbers heading for the Mountaineers Route or East Face on an overnight trip need a North Fork of Lone Pine Creek permit, which isn't in the lottery.
Stay in Lone Pine
Most Whitney day hikers start before sunrise from Whitney Portal. Sleep close.
Get the reminder by email
One email the week before the big California dates (the Mount Whitney lottery in February, the Half Dome lottery in March, and North Pines' early-access lottery once NPS announces it). Nothing else.
Before any reminder, you'll get one email asking you to confirm. It comes from New England Reservations (hello@newenglandreservations.com), our sister site. Unsubscribe anytime. See the privacy policy.
When is the 2027 Mount Whitney lottery?
Expected February 1 to March 1, 2027, with results March 15, a claim deadline of 9 p.m. Pacific April 21 and leftover dates on sale April 22 at 7 a.m. Pacific. The Forest Service lists the same dates every year; confirm on its Mount Whitney page.
Do you need a permit for Mount Whitney in winter?
Yes, but from November 2 to April 30 it's the non-quota season: permits are unlimited and the Forest Service says to book online up to 2 weeks before your trip. Expect snow and ice.
How much is a Mount Whitney permit?
$15 per person, paid when you claim a lottery win.
Sources
- Inyo National Forest: Mount Whitney, checked November 2, 2026.
Rules change. Always confirm on the official site before you rely on a date.