Skip to map

Mount Whitney Trail

Mount Whitney Trail — the trail guide

The Mount Whitney Trail is a 35.4 km trek in United States, typically walked in 1-2 days, with 2369 m of total ascent. It rates Extreme on our published rubric (67 m of gain per km, topping out at 4409 m).

From Whitney Portal at the end of the road above Lone Pine, the Mount Whitney Trail climbs relentlessly through Jeffrey pine and granite past Lone Pine Lake, Outpost Camp and Trail Camp, where the last reliable water sits beside a tarn at about 3,650 m. Above it the trail attacks the famous switchbacks — around 97 of them, one stretch protected by cables — to reach Trail Crest and join the John Muir Trail. The final stretch traverses the shaded western side of the Whitney crest to the summit hut at 4,421 m, the highest point in the contiguous United States. Nothing on it is technical. What makes it serious is the altitude and the sheer length of the day: Inyo National Forest tells day hikers to expect 12 to 14 hours and to start before sunrise.

Quick facts

Distance35.4 km
Total ascent2369 m
Typical duration1-2 days
Difficulty (computed)Extreme
Steepness67 m gain per km
High point4409 m
CountryUnited States
RegionUnited States

Difficulty is computed from gain-per-km and maximum altitude on a published rubric, identically for every trail in the catalogue — so an "Extreme" here means the same thing everywhere on DirtbagMaps.

Elevation profile

Low point 2557 m · high point 4409 m · 2369 m total ascent over 35.4 km.

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Mount Whitney Trail?

The Mount Whitney Trail is 35.4 km, and most hikers complete it in 1-2 days. Total elevation gain is 2369 m.

How difficult is the Mount Whitney Trail?

It rates Extreme on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 67 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 4409 m. The rubric classifies every trail from gain-per-km and maximum altitude, so ratings are comparable across the whole catalogue.

Where is the Mount Whitney Trail?

In United States. The route starts near 36.587, -118.240 — the interactive 3D map above shows the full line, and the planner splits it into daily stages.

Can I get the GPX and plan daily stages?

Yes. Open the trail in the DirtbagMaps planner to drag the elevation profile into daily stages, see huts and accommodation along the corridor, and export a per-day GPX for your watch or GPS.

More treks in The United States