This route includes the Pacific Crest Trail, the John Muir Trail, and Mt. Whitney! We start at the Cottonwood Pass trailhead and finish at the Shepard pass trailhead. We will pick you up at the end of the trip an bring you back to your vehicles.

Inclusions

Price includes guiding, permits, tents, kitchen gear, shuttles, breakfasts, lunches, dinners and a resupply. Shuttle is included in your trip price and is organized by SMC. Our meals are healthy and prepared by your guide before the trip. We use good quality dehydrated ingredients to make a variety of delicious, protein-packed meals. We rarely serve pre-packaged dehydrated meals.

Prerequisites

Prior day hiking experience is required. No prior overnight experience is required but you need to be in good physical condition, able to walk 13 miles, and gain up to 3,000 feet daily while carrying a multi-day backpack.

Acclimatization & Physical Training

For proper acclimatization, we suggest spending at least one night at a moderate altitude, higher than 8,000 feet, just prior to the start of the journey. See our detailed tips on acclimatizing an physical training in the “Resources” tab.

Distances

Day Out Destination Mileage Elevation Gain Hiking Time
Day 1 Chicken Springs Lake 5.3 miles 1405 4 hours
Day 2 Rock Creek Crossing 10.5 miles 620 7 hours
Day 3 Guitar Lake 10.3 miles 2985 8 hours
Day 4 Mount Whitney then back to Guitar Lake 8.8 miles 3278 8
Day 5 Tyndall Creek 10.08 miles 1906 7 hours
Day 6 To Shepherd Trailhead 12.25 miles 2035 8 hours