Cascades & US peaks · climb

Mount Whitney guides

As of 26 October 2026, no operator has a verified client review for Mount Whitney (Sierra) yet. 1 Pro guide lists trips here.

Been here with a guide? Write a review to help other travellers choose.

Also serving Mount Whitney

Pro guides who run trips here but have no reviews for Mount Whitney yet.

AAI (American Alpine Institute)
ERTI 4.93 overall
Based in United States

About Mount Whitney

Elevation: 4,421 m (14,505 ft)
Country: United States

Climbing history

First ascent in 1873 by Charles Begole, A.H. Johnson, and John Lucas. At 4,421m, the highest peak in the contiguous United States. Named after state geologist Josiah Whitney. The Whitney Trail is one of America's most popular summit hikes.

Notable itineraries

Mount Whitney Trail (1-2 days): 22-mile round trip from Whitney Portal. East Face: Technical rock climbing routes. Mountaineer's Route: Winter/spring snow climb. John Muir Trail: Finishes at Whitney summit.

Weather and best time to go

Weather: During the climbing season, temperatures at the base of Mount Whitney can reach the mid-30s Celcius (mid-90s Fahrenheit). Toward the summit, these drop from -1 ºC to 7 ºC (30 ºF to 45ºF). In the summer months, Mount Whitney receives next to no rain., Best Time to Visit: May to October, Average Expedition Length 1 to 3 days

Currency

US Dollar (USD) is the currency. Permit required (lottery system). Advance reservations essential May-November. Whitney Portal store and lodging available. Very competitive permit process.

Languages

Official: English. Universally spoken. Ranger station provides information. One of America's most iconic peaks with detailed trail information available.

Every review is checked by our team before it's published, and guides cannot pay for a better rating.

Recommended gear for Mount Whitney

Technical essentials picked for glaciated mountaineering. Recommended by our expert team.

La Sportiva G2 Evo Mountaineering Boots (double boots): View at CampSaver
Petzl Sarken Crampons (Leverlock Universel) (crampons): View at CampSaver
Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe (ice axe): View at Black Diamond
Black Diamond Couloir Harness (harness): View at Black Diamond
Black Diamond Half Dome Helmet (helmet): View at Black Diamond
Global Rescue membership (rescue and evacuation): View at Global Rescue

Affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you buy through them.

All Cascades & US peaks guides

How this page works

Every review is checked by hand by our team before it's published. Critical reviews stay up.

Paying ExpedReview never changes the ranking.

The ERTI badge beside each name is a company-wide score out of 5, built from reviews we verify and many other factors. It is not a rating for this route.

Last updated 9 October 2026 (editorial review).

Spotted an error? Email hello@expedreview.com

Frequently asked questions

How are reviews verified on ExpedReview?

Every review is checked by hand by our team before it's published. Critical reviews stay up, and paying ExpedReview never changes the ranking.

Which guides run trips to Mount Whitney (Sierra)?

AAI (American Alpine Institute).

How to choose a guide
Cascades Climbing Guides: Verified Reviews for Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan
Climbing in the North Cascades: operators ranked by verified ExpedReview client reviews for Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan, the main peaks and routes, glacier courses, season, permits, skills, cost and how to choose an operator.