Onion Valley to Mt. Whitney
Itinerary
Onion Valley Trailhead
8.5 mi • 2,600 ft gain
Vidette Meadow
10 mi • 3,600 ft gain
2nd lake after Forester Pass
14.5 mi • 2,100 ft gain
Guitar Lake
15.6 mi • 4,000 ft gain
Whitney Portal Trailhead
How to get a permit
This trip requires a Inyo National Forest Wilderness Permit. Reservations depend on your start date:
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
May 1 – Nov 1
Limited number of permits available.1 option
A
Online reservations
| Opens | 6 months ahead | 7 AM PT |
|---|---|---|
| Closes | Day of | 11:59 PM PDT |
Passed Advance release: 6 months ahead at 7 AM PT
Last-minute release: 2 weeks ahead at 7 AM PDT
Permit details
Here is how to fill out the Inyo National Forest Wilderness Permit application:
| Permit Type | Overnight Exiting Mt Whitney |
|---|---|
| Entry Point | Kearsarge Pass |
| Exit Point | Mt. Whitney (Trail Crest Exit) |
| 1st night Camp Area | SEKI - Center Basin - Vidette |