Mt. Whitney Day Lottery Odds
Inyo National Forest runs one Mt. Whitney lottery a year, opening February 1 and closing March 1. The Forest Service publishes no success rate for it; what it does publish is the quota, which caps the trail at 100 people per day for day use and 60 per day for overnight.
Figures from official agency statistics, last verified August 6, 2026.
Success rates by year
| Year | Lottery | Applications | Awarded | Success rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Annual lottery (February 1 - March 1)Quota season caps entry at 100 people per day for day use and 60 per day for overnight. Results post March 15; winners pay by April 21; remaining dates open for web reservation April 22. Inyo publishes no success rate. |
Sources: Inyo National Forest — Mount Whitney · Recreation.gov Mt. Whitney lottery
How to improve your Mt. Whitney Day odds
- 1
Apply inside the February 1 - March 1 window. Inyo runs a single lottery each year, so there is no second draw to fall back on.
- 2
Put April 22 on your calendar. Lottery winners must pay the per-person fee by April 21, and every unclaimed and forfeited date opens for web reservation the next day.
- 3
Unclaimed and cancelled dates return to the reservation pool after the lottery. Tracking the Whitney trail catches those releases.
The backup plan: cancellation alerts
Demand for this permit runs well past the daily quota, so most applicants lose. But lottery winners cancel all season, and those dates return to the booking system. PermitSnag checks Mt. Whitney Day continuously and alerts you within seconds when dates open, which is how most people who lose the lottery still get on the trail.
Mt. Whitney Day lottery questions
What are the odds of winning the Mt. Whitney Day lottery?
Inyo National Forest runs one Mt. Whitney lottery a year, opening February 1 and closing March 1. The Forest Service publishes no success rate for it; what it does publish is the quota, which caps the trail at 100 people per day for day use and 60 per day for overnight.
How can I improve my Mt. Whitney Day lottery odds?
Apply inside the February 1 - March 1 window. Inyo runs a single lottery each year, so there is no second draw to fall back on. Put April 22 on your calendar. Lottery winners must pay the per-person fee by April 21, and every unclaimed and forfeited date opens for web reservation the next day. Unclaimed and cancelled dates return to the reservation pool after the lottery. Tracking the Whitney trail catches those releases.
What if I lose the Mt. Whitney Day lottery?
Set a cancellation alert. Lottery winners cancel or miss payment deadlines, and those dates return to the booking system all season. PermitSnag checks Mt. Whitney Day around the clock and tells you the moment one opens.