Inyo National Forest

Recreational Activities - Mt. Whitney Lottery

2008 Mt. Whitney Lottery

Mt. Whitney Zone Day Use via all routes is included in the Day Use Quota.
All trails, routes, cross country travel, including the Mountaineers Route, East Face/ East Buttress and other summits within the Mt. Whitney Zone are included in the day use quota of 100 people each day. This includes the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek day use beyond Lower Boy Scout Lake. Overnight use of the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek has a separate quota and is not in the lottery.

Wilderness Permit Policy Reminders:

• Permits are required year round for entry into the Mt. Whitney Zone. A valid overnight permit or day use permit is required.
• All members of your party must enter the wilderness on the entry date specified.
• A day use permit cannot be used as part of an overnight trip. Overnight permits cannot be used for day hikes.
• No consecutive day use permits. There must be at least one “rest day” between day hike attempts.
• Only a listed alternate leader can replace the original leader if the group leader is unable to participate in the trip.
• Maximum group size is 15 people. This is to protect the wilderness and other visitors experience.
• Reserved Mt. Whitney permits are issued at the Eastern Sierra InterAgency Visitor Center, south of Lone Pine, CA.
• Reservations will be canceled if you do not pick up your permit or confirm before the deadline. This is to allow other visitors to use canceled space. Pick up permit or call, one or two days before trip, to confirm group size and arrival time.
  Day Use confirmation deadline is noon on day before entry date. Overnight confirmation deadline is 10a.m. on entry date.
• Submission of application indicates agreement to terms and conditions.

Lottery Topics:

• Do I need to enter the lottery? What is the lottery process?
• What is the quota for Mt. Whitney? Are there walk in permits?
• How do I enter the lottery? Applications must be sent by mail in February.
• The "2008 Mt Whitney Lottery" application must be used to be accepted into the Lottery.
• What are the most common errors on applications? Lottery applications will be rejected if they are incomplete, illegible, lacking payment information or sent by fax. Rejected applications will be returned by mail.
• How can I tell if my application was accepted into the lottery? Use a post office return receipt if you want proof the mail was delivered. Optional to enclose a postcard with the application (postcard must be stamped and self addressed) and we will indicate the application was accepted into the lottery. Telephone confirmation is not available.
• When do I pay the reservation fee? Is there a fee to enter the lottery? You must provide payment of the reservation fee with your application, however you will only be charged if you receive a reservation.
• When will I get the results? Notification will be by mail. Lottery results are usually complete by April 1st.
• Send only one application per party. To request additional trips during the year, send a separate application for each trip.
• No refunds. Multiple reservations as a result of submitting multiple applications are not entitled to a refund.
• Once I have a reservation, can I change it? If space is available, some changes can be made. Reservations can not be deferred to future years. Reservations cannot be sold or transferred to other parties.

Are all trips to Mt. Whitney reserved by the lottery? Enter the lottery if you wish to reserve a wilderness permit for overnight trips that begin at the Mt Whitney trail or Mt Whitney Zone Day Use. Review the descriptions below to determine if you need to enter the lottery for your trip. Permits are based on where you will begin your trip. Please note that your entry date is the date you actually start on the trail. The quota season (May 1 to Nov 1) is the time of the year when there is a limit on the number of people that will be issued permits.
For any of the following, you do NOT need to enter the lottery:

• Day hikes that will not enter the Mt. Whitney Zone do not require a permit.
• For trips that begin in a National Park, such as Yosemite or Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, obtain your permit from the National Park. Specify your exit as Mt Whitney trail and the permit issued by the National Park will be valid for your entire trip, including the summit of Mt Whitney and exit on the Mt. Whitney trail.
• Overnight trips on the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek are not in the lottery. Overnight quota is reserved as all other trails.
• Overnight trips that begin in Inyo National Forest on a trail other than the the Mt. Whitney trail (such as Shepherd Pass, Kearsarge Pass, Cottonwood Pass, etc) can reserve six months in advance of your entry date. Apply with the general application. If trip will end on the Main Mt Whitney trail, request "Trail Crest Exit".
• If your trip begins during the non-quota season (November 2 to April 30), the number of permits that will be issued is not limited and may be self-issued at the Eastern Sierra InterAgency Visitor Center.
• If you missed the February lottery you can apply for leftover space in the current season, up until 2 days before the trip.

More information for permits described above can be found in How to Obtain a Wilderness Permit .

Are there walk in permits for Mt. Whitney? The quota space for the Mt. Whitney trail is all reservable. Space is not saved or set aside for walk-in permits, however cancellations and any space that was not filled by reservations will be available at the Eastern Sierra InterAgency Visitor Center, south of Lone Pine. There is no fee for these unreserved permits that will be issued to walk-in visitors starting at 11 am the day before the entry date. Additionally, any permits that have been reserved, but are not confirmed or picked up will be cancelled and made available to other parties on a walk-in basis.

What is the Quota for the Mt Whitney Zone? From May 1 st to November 1 st there is a quota, or limit on the number of people allowed each day:

• 60 people can begin on the Mt. Whitney trail for overnight / multi-night backpack trips.
  
• 100 people can day hike in the Mt. Whitney Zone including all routes and trails.
  
• 25 people can use Trail Crest exit space to end backpack trips that began on other Inyo trails.

The quota is NOT higher on weekends.

What is the difference between a day use permit and overnight permit? Day use is for hiking in the Mt Whitney Zone on a single calendar day. You can start a day hike before dawn but you will not sleep or camp. A day use permit cannot be used as part of an overnight trip. Overnight permits are for backpacking where you will stay in the wilderness for one or more nights.

What is the lottery process? The Mt. Whitney lottery in February is the first opportunity to reserve a wilderness permit for the Mt Whitney trail and Mt. Whitney Day Use. To be accepted into the lottery you must use the "2008 Mt Whitney Lottery" application. The application must arrive by mail with a February postmark. Application must be complete, legible and include payment for reservation fees. We will not accept lottery applications by fax, phone, internet or email. Applications will be stirred together into random order as they are accepted. Please be sure that your application is accurate and complete as lottery staff will not be able to revise or intercept applications. Use post office certified mail with return receipt if you want proof your application arrived. Telephone confirmation is not available. On February 15th the applications that have been accepted to date, will be thoroughly stirred to assure random order and processing will begin. Applications are drawn at random. When your application is drawn a reservation will be made if space is still available on entry dates you requested. List your alternate dates in order of preference. Applications accepted after February 15th are mixed into the same ongoing lottery at the end of each business day. Applications postmarked in February that arrive in March will still be accepted. The process of considering every application usually takes five to six weeks.

How do I get a lottery application form? Open and print the Lottery Application form below to enter the lottery and reserve a Mt. Whitney wilderness permit.

• Lottery Application (Microsoft Word)
• Lottery Application (Adobe PDF)

Need help? To request an application form be sent to you by mail or fax, or other questions about the lottery, please call:
Wilderness Permit Reservation Office at (760) 873-2483.

Do I need to use the Mt. Whitney Lottery Application? You must use the "2008 Mt. Whitney Lottery" application specifically for the lottery in February. If you are applying after the lottery (applying in April or later) then you should use the general Inyo National Forest Wilderness Permit Application. If you are applying for a trip starting on other trails such as Kearsarge Pass, Cottonwood Pass or North Fork of Lone Pine Creek to access Mt Whitney, remember that you do not need to enter the lottery. See " Other Trails" and " Trail Crest" information below and use the general Inyo National Forest Wilderness Permit Application.

How can I maximize my chances in the lottery?

• Be sure your "2008 Mt .Whitney Lottery" application is complete, legible and sent by mail with a February postmark so it will be accepted into the lottery. Express delivery services are acceptable if the date mailed appears on the envelope.
• List as many alternate entry dates as possible in case your first choice is unavailable. There is no limit to the number of alternate dates you can list. Clearly mark the trip leader name and order of preference on any extra pages you attach.
• Specify a simple block of time that you would be able to go. Example, write in " Willing to take any entry date in August -overnight 2 nights" (please specify how many nights you would stay in the backcountry for overnight trips). Second example, I am willing to day hike any day in July.
• A smaller group size will help as dates are close to full. There might be space for 2 people when there is not space left for 6.
  Caution: Do NOT send multiple applications for the same group or trip. This practice is unfair to other visitors. You will be liable for all reservation fees incurred from multiple reservations that could result from such applications and you will not be entitled to a refund.

What are the most common errors on applications?

• Incomplete or illegible name and address. The mail label box will be used to mail back applications. The group leader name and address must be complete and legible. Email and phone are optional.
• Incomplete trip information. Remember to fill in the group size, entry and exit dates that you want. Prioritize with your first choice date at the top of the list.
• Incomplete or incorrect payment information. We will no longer phone applicants for missing payment information. Be sure to provide the expiration date and complete 16 digit card number to pay by Visa or Master Card. Money orders and checks must be payable to: USDA Forest Service
• Incorrect entry date. The entry date is the date you actually start on the trail. Many people mistakenly count the night before their trip or nights camping at Whitney Portal Campground as part of their wilderness trip.
• Incorrect dates for Day Hike. For a day hike the entry date and exit date would be the same (the date you will actually hike on the trail).

How do I determine the entry date? The entry date is the date all members of your party must actually start on trail and enter the wilderness boundary. Do not include any dates you will spend at trailhead or car accessible campgrounds such as Whitney Portal Campground. If you are applying for a day-hike, the entry date and exit date would be the same, the date that you will actually hike on the trail.

Must I list alternate leaders? It is optional to list alternate leaders. You can name up to three people in your group that you authorize as alternate leaders. In the event that the original group leader is unable to participate in the hike, any of the listed alternates can pick up the permit and replace the group leader.

When can I apply to the lottery? Applications for the Mt. Whitney Lottery must be mailed in February. Please note that there is no advantage given to the first applications to arrive. Applications MUST have a February postmark. Again, faxed applications will NOT be accepted for the Mt. Whitney Lottery.

Are all applications in the lottery considered? Yes, we attempt to make reservations for all applications accepted into the lottery. Every application will be drawn and considered. When your application is drawn, a reservation will be made if quota space is still available for the entry dates that you requested.

Is there a fee to enter the lottery? There is not a fee to enter the lottery, however, you must include payment for the reservation fee with your application. You will only be charged the reservation fee if you are successful in the lottery.

How much is the reservation fee? The reservation fee for the Mt Whitney Zone is $15.00 per person. That is $15.00 per person, per trip, regardless of the number of nights spent in the backcountry. The wilderness permit reservation fee does not include Whitney Portal Campground or any other car accessible campgrounds.

When is the reservation fee due? Reservation fees must be paid in full at the time the reservation is made. For the Lottery in February, this means that your application must include a check or money order or credit card information. Checks or money orders must be payable to USDA Forest Service. Visa or Master Card payment information must include expiration date and16 digit card number. Payment must be in U.S. funds. Applications without payment will be rejected.

Are refunds available for reservation fees? No. Reservation fees are not refundable once your reservation is processed. Submission of your application indicates your agreement to the terms and conditions listed on the application. The following are some examples of the no refund policy.

There is no refund if you cancel your trip. No rain checks (or snow & ice checks). Reservation fees cannot be applied to future years. Reservations and wilderness permits are not for re-sale.

Duplicate reservations that result from submission of multiple or duplicate applications are not entitled to a refund. Submit only one application per group. The lottery staff must assume that every application we receive is a request to reserve a separate trip. You are not entitled to a refund for multiple reservations that may result from sending multiple applications. We are unable to revise or intercept your multiple or duplicate applications even if you request it. Please be sure that your application is accurate and complete before you send it.

What is considered a duplicate application? Some examples of duplicate applications that you should not send; exact duplicates, facsimiles, photocopy's, handwritten copies, originals, and all other types of copies, applications from other members of the same party requesting the same trip, slight modifications of the original, request to revise or intercept your application. You are liable for all reservation charges that may result from multiple reservations even if you identify an application as a copy or a duplicate.

Did you double check your application? You must use the "2008 Mt. Whitney Lottery" application. To be accepted into the lottery your application must be complete, legible, include reservation payment and have a February postmark. Please note that we are unable to revise or intercept applications. Be sure that your application is accurate and complete before you send it. Send only one application for your party. If you wish to confirm receipt of your application use certified mail with return receipt requested, or you may include a self addressed, stamped postcard and we will mail the postcard back indicating we accepted your application. Mail your application to the Inyo National Forest Wilderness Permit Office:

Mt Whitney Lottery

Wilderness Permit Office

351 Pacu Lane, Suite 200

Bishop, CA 93514

Applications cannot be submitted to the 2008 lottery by fax, telephone, email or internet.

Can I make changes to my lottery application? Your lottery application cannot be intercepted once it has been submitted. Please be sure that your information is complete and correct before you mail your application. After the lottery is complete there will be a waiting period before any changes can be requested, so that all lottery applicants will have time to be notified of the results.

When will I receive results from the lottery? All the lottery applications should be processed and you should receive a response via mail by early April. We will mail you confirmation of your reservation and instructions for permit pick up if you are successful. If no space was available for the dates that you requested, your unsuccessful application will be returned by mail. Please be patient, there are many applications and we attempt to fill every reservation request!

Can I change the reservation I received in the lottery? Yes, if space is available. Once we begin accepting applications again, you can request changes in your reservation. If you wish to change your entry date or entry trail, a $10.00 change fee will apply. If you wish to add to your group size, the $15.00 per person fee will apply for the added people. However, you cannot postpone reservations to future years. Reservations cannot be sold or transferred to other parties.

Can I still make a reservation if I missed the lottery? Yes, if space is available, you can still reserve a wilderness permit. When applying in April or later, for space leftover after the lottery, use the Inyo National Forest general Wilderness Permit Application. These post-lottery applications are accepted by telephone, fax or mail. If space is available, permits can be reserved up to two (2) days before your trip entry date. For example, if you plan to enter the wilderness on Friday, we will stop taking reservations for that day at the close of business on Wednesday. If time does not allow us to mail out a confirmation letter, we'll provide instructions for how to pick up your permit over the phone or by fax. If you are applying a week or less before your trip date, we recommend that you do not apply by mail.

After the lottery…when can I apply for dates with space left? After the lottery is completed, usually by April 1st, all dates with space still available for the Mt. Whitney trail will be listed on the Mt. Whitney reservation availability calendar. The Wilderness Permit Reservation Office will begin accepting new applications, or make changes to existing reservations,
beginning on the following dates:

• For trips that will begin in May or June, apply the 4th Wednesday of April or later.
• For trips that will begin in July, apply the 5th Wednesday of April or later.
• For trips that will begin in August, apply the 1st Wednesday of May or later.
• For trips that will begin in September or later, apply the 2nd Wednesday of May or later.

What is Trail Crest? If your trip to Mt .Whitney will begin on some other trail on Inyo National Forest, and you will exit at Whitney Portal using the Mt. Whitney trail, your exit point will be called “Trail Crest”. Your permit will need Trail Crest exit space, you cannot use a day hike permit to begin or end an overnight trip. Trail Crest is the only exit point on the Inyo National Forest with a quota. The Trail Crest exit quota is 25 people per day; 60% can be reserved and 40% will be set aside for walk-ins. You do NOT apply for the Mt. Whitney Lottery. Reservations for your Trail Crest exit may be reserved up to six months in advance of your entry date along with your entry trail. When using Trail Crest exit the $15.00 per person Mt .Whitney Zone reservation fee would apply instead of the $5.00 per person fee. For a full list of trail names where Trail Crest exit would apply, see All Other Trails reservation availability. Trail Crest exit space does not apply if your trip originates in Yosemite or Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

US Forest Service - Inyo National Forest
Last Modified: Friday, 04 January 2008 at 06:45:52 EST