The following are the guide books and maps we use in planing our practice, acclimatization and Mt. Whitney trips.

Mt. Whitney - The Complete Trailhead-to-Summit Hiking Guide
By Paul Richins, Jr.
The Mountaineers Books
Finally, a Mt. Whitney guide book we like. This is the most comprehensive book we have seen on hiking and climbing Mt. Whitney. Well worth the $15 investment for anyone who want to summit from trailheads other than Whitney Portal.

San Bernardino Mountain Trails
By John W. Robinson
Wilderness Press
We are not big fans of Robinson's style but his books are comprehensive and are considered bibles to SoCal hikers.

Trails of the Angeles
By John W. Robinson
Wilderness Press
See comment above.

Sierra North, 100 Backcountry Trips
By Thomas and Jason Winnett, Lynn Haber and Karen Morey
Wilderness Press
Primarily for backpackers but the trips can be truncated for managable day hikes. We use it for both.

Hiking California
By Ron Adkison
Falcon Press
A mix of 100 backpack and day hike trips throughout California. Your better off using regional guide books than using this as your primary source or the book below.

California Hiking
By Tom Stienstra and Ann Marie Brown
Foghorn Outdoors
Your basic 1,000 hike overview book with ratings for difficultly and beauty. Don't expect any details. A good book for getting ideas for later research. The Mt. Whitney Trail is included in this book.

Best Short Hikes in California's Southern Sierra
By Karen and Terry Whitehall
The Mountaineers Books
A great book for the Sierra south of Yosemite. Believe it or not they have the 22 mile trip up Mt. Whitney in the book.

100 Hikes in California's Central Sierra and Coast Range
By Vicky Spring
The Mountaineers Books
This is our favorite backpacking book for the Sierra because of its illustrated maps and saying where the campsites are in their description of the trail. Good for both day hikers and backpackers. The Mt. Whitney Trail is describe in this book.

California's Eastern Sierra
By Sue Irwin
Cachuma Press
A great book on things to do in and the history or the eastern Sierra. Lot's of great pictures.

Main Mt. Whitney Trail and Mountaineer Route
Best: Mt. Langley and Mt. Whitney 7.5' USGS Quads
Very Good: Whitney Portal Store Map
Good: Tom Harrison Cartography Whitney High Country Map

New Army Pass/Cottonwood Pass to Whitney Portal
Best: Cirque Peak, Mt. Whitney, Johnson Peak and Mt. Langley 7.5' USGS Quads
Incomplete: Tom Harrison Cartography Whitney High Country Map

Note: The Cirque Peak Map does not show the trailhead's current location, it is located at the northern road's end. The trail is picked up on map where the nearby stock trail swings north near the trailhead. Those of you utilizing the Cottonwood Lakes Basin be aware the lakes on this map are number wrong on it's lastest version. Check the Info Board at the Trailhead for the proper sequence especially if you are meeting someone at Lake #3. The Mt. Whitney Map is incorrect at Upper Crabtree Meadow. The trail crosses Whitney Creek here not east of the ranger station as it shows on the map.

The Tom Harrison Map picks up the trail in the Cottonwood Lakes Basin.

Onion Valley to Whitney Portal
Best: Kersarge Peak, Mt. Brewer, Mt. Kaweah, Mt. Williamson, Mt. Clarence King, Mt. Whitney and Mt. Langley 7.5' USGS Quads...that's right 7 maps
Fair: Tom Harrison Cartography Kings Canyon/Sequoia Recreational Map
Incomplete: Tom Harrison Cartography Whitney High Country Map

Note: The Tom Harrison Whitney High Country Map does not pick up the trail until Vidette Medow about 10 miles into the trip.The Mt. Whitney Map is incorrect at Upper Crabtree Meadow. The trail crosses Whitney Creek here not east of the ranger station as it shows on the map.

The High Sierra Trail (Crescent Meadow to Whitney Portal)
Best: Giant Forest, Lodgepole, Triple Divide Peak, Mt. Kaweah, Chagoopa Falls, Mt. Whitney and Mt. Langley 7.5' USGS Quads
Fair: Tom Harrison Cartography Kings Canyon/Sequoia Recreational Map

Note: The Mt. Whitney Map is incorrect at Upper Crabtree Meadow. The trail crosses Whitney Creek here not east of the ranger station as it shows on the map.