Permits to hike in Inyo N.F. are different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There are no walk-up permits at all -- everything is handled via the Recreation.gov website and email. You are emailed your pass, and there may be a phone call required for ranger instructions--at least National parks are doing that.

Currently (in June 2020), Recreation.gov is releasing available (unreserved) permits back to the online website 2 weeks in advance of the hike date. (need to check to see what time each day). You can then book the permit at that time, online.

If anyone actually logs onto Rec.gov and cancels their reservation (rarely occurs) a few days before the hike, it might show up on rec.gov (in the past, they showed up "at a random time in the next 24 hours"). Not sure if this is happening this year.

Here is the link to all except the Whitney Zone day use and Mt Whitney overnight permits:
https://www.recreation.gov/permits/...ype=overnight-permit&date=2020-06-06
Notes on using the Rec.gov page:
  1. If you intend to get a permit, you MUST log in. It is easiest if you log in first (upper-rt corner of that page).
  2. Permit Type: Overnight or Overnight exiting Mt Whitney. (The "exiting" permit means they will try to schedule you for two permits, your entry permit, plus the difficult to obtain Trail Crest Exit Permit.)
  3. Set the date to start looking for permits.
  4. Set the group size -- must be at least 1.
  5. Set the "No" button under "Is this a commercial guided trip?"
  6. At this point, it should show you a table with trails and numbers. Numbers show how many are available for the date. If no numbers, they are already reserved, or not available for some other reason.
  7. To book a permit (make sure your group size is accurate), click the number to the right of the trail, under the date you will start hiking, then click the Book Now button (you may need to scroll down to see Book Now).


For Whitney Zone day use and Mt Whitney overnight permits, use this link:
https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233260
  or this one:
https://www.recreation.gov/permits/...?type=overnight-permit&date=7/1/2020
Note that at this time (6/6/20), there are no Whitney permits available, and current permit holders' permits are being cancelled and refunded a week in advance of the permit date.