Not only is this the highest peak in the contiguous United States, it’s the crown jewel hike in California and one of the best overall hikes in the country as it traverses from alpine meadows and lakes to staggering heights. A bucket list item for any hiker.
The Mount Whitney hike is roughly 22 miles and is considered difficult. However, don’t let the difficult nature of this trail dissuade you. With enough training and altitude acclimatization, this is an extremely accessible and achievable summit peak that you can brag about the rest of your life. There’s of course an intense elevation gain of 6,600+ feet, and a good stretch of the final ascent is above 14,000 feet. Crazy people can attempt this in a day – most take 2 or 3 days with camping along the route at designated areas. We camped for 1 night at 10,000 feet elevation at Onion Valley Campground, and then did the Mount Whitney hike in 2 days. Still, it was very challenging and gave us a bit of a headache at the highest altitudes. This hike requires very sought-after permits, so pay attention to deadlines and the permit process. There are a ton of logistics required for this hike. Dogs are not allowed to hike this trail.
Details:
Directions (Google Maps): To get to the Mount Whitney trailhead, search for the Mount Whitney Trailhead in Lone Pine, CA or click here.
Directions (old school maps): If you’re coming southern California, make your way to Highway 395 north. Once you get into Lone Pine, you’ll make a left onto Whitney Portal Road.
Driving Info: This is all paved so it’s accessible to anybody.
Time & Weather: We did this hike in the middle of August when the weather is perfect. However, things can always change. When you book permits, most people attempt August or early September to ensure the snow is gone and the weather is tolerable throughout the day and night.
Gear: There’s plenty to prep for this trip. Most people will attempt this as a backpacking trip so you’ll need all your normal overnight gear. Specific to the hike, poles are highly recommended for the grueling 6,600 feet going up (and perhaps more noticeably, going down!). Also bring a headlamp, which you’ll likely have for camping anyways. If you’re camping at any point before the 99 switchbacks, it’s a good idea to start super early in the morning in order to summit before the afternoon storms can potentially roll in. Other things to consider – bear canisters for food storage (you can rent them where you pick up your permits in Lone Pine), and rain gear since the weather is quite variable. Don’t forget tons of water, food, energy chews or something to easily consume while hiking, sunscreen and sunglasses. Even when it’s cold out, the sun can be brutal.
Trail Navigation: This trail is easy to follow, not only because it’s properly maintained but because there are always lots of people hiking it. Nearly every day in the hiking season maxes out the available permits.
Water & Food: This depends on how plan to attempt this hike. Regardless, bring an abundance of water and calories to get you through this epic and challenging hike.
Trailhead Info: The trailhead is easy to find since there are tons of people around and only one general way to ascend.
Pictures of the Mount Whitney trail:
Even the drive to the trailhead is beautiful, so it’s no doubt the trail starts off with some gorgeous alpine landscapes. The beginning of this trail is already at 8,600 feet.
Stunning canyon walls as you cut further into the mountains.
It’s difficult to capture the beauty. Here’s a panorama, still near the first portion of the trail.
Jagged mountain edges strut about above the dark green pines and lush valley floor.
A crossing that is relatively small in the summer months.
Once you start to ascend a bit more you can break off to the left towards Long Pine Lake.
You can see the spectacular Lone Pine Lake. It’s recommended to take this short detour. The lake views run off the lip of the mountain’s edge like an infinity pool.
Back from Lone Pine Lake, you’ll enter this postcard-worthy meadow, complete with the distant mountain range, towering pines and a meandering creek. We hiked a little bit further up this trail.
The next morning we started off before the sun rose. We wanted to get a head-start on the grueling ascent so that we could experience the summit as close to sunrise as possible.
Climb beyond the treeline and up the 99 switchbacks. It’s tough but you’ll be greeted with this other-worldly landscape, complete with small alpine lakes dotted around.
Another stunning panoramic view looking down from the clouds.
As the sun rose, jagged shadows stretched across the barren landscape. The beauty is a nice reprieve from the utter exhaustion we felt at this point.
Here it is. The final stretch across the cracked rock, to one of the most impressive and stunning overlooks in the country.
The spines of old mountain ranges jut out from the shifting tectonic plates below.
A panoramic view to try and do the final view justice.
A closer look at the epic walls of rock up in the sky.
Like the razor sharp fins on a stegosaurus, the rocks shoot up and pierce the sky.
Perfectly lit up by the rising sun, the mountains have awoke.
We start our descent. And we climb down towards more oxygen, we’re provided these magnificent views below.
Getting closer to our campsite, the afternoon sun feels great to relax in at the base of the mountain.
The final view of this absolutely picturesque alpine meadow.
This hike is truly one of a kind, and something that everyone should do. But please take it seriously, and bring more water than you think you’ll need.
There aren’t a ton of food options in Lone Pine, but we went to the Pizza Factory for beer and pizza. After a trek like Mount Whitney, we gorged like animals and it was amazing.
