Route guide · Kings Canyon National Park, California

Rae Lakes Loop

The Sierra's benchmark loop: 41 miles out of Roads End over 11,978 ft Glen Pass, past the chain of lakes under the Painted Lady. Altitude does the real gatekeeping — camp low the first night and take the loop counter-clockwise up Bubbs Creek if you want the gentler acclimatization. Bear canisters are mandatory.

Length: 35.8 mi
Duration: 4–5 days
Gain: +7,550 ft
Season: Jul – Sep

loophigh point 11,950 ftstrenuousno dogs

Plan this trip — it’s free See the day-by-day

permit required · we track who booked what · the whole crew on one page

23 campsites

Expand map ↓

Permit required — SEKI wilderness permit, quota season late May–late Sep — reserve on Recreation.gov. Official info

The shape of the trail

Route profile · camps

campelevation

Day by day

A reference itinerary, from real camps

Camps below are mapped campsites spaced to balance the daily miles — the same planner that builds a Trailmix trip. Your dates, pace and direction reshape it live.

Total35.8 mi · 4 nights

Days on trail

Day 1 · 8 mi · +3,180 ft
Trailhead → Camp 1
The first leg is a demanding climb into the high country, with significant and sustained elevation gain from the trailhead into the Bubbs Creek drainage.
major climb
passes unnamed site (5.3 mi)
Day 2 · 7.5 mi · +3,860 ft · hardest
Camp 1 → Camp 2
A second day of serious climbing, this leg tackles the highest part of the route over Glen Pass (11,978 ft), requiring good acclimatization.
high pass
passes unnamed site (8.2 mi) · unnamed site (10.4 mi) · unnamed site (10.5 mi) · unnamed site (10.8 mi) · unnamed site (11.7 mi) · unnamed site (12.8 mi) · unnamed site (13.6 mi) · unnamed site (13.9 mi)
Day 3 · 6.4 mi · +150 ft
Camp 2 → Camp 3
After the major ascent over Glen Pass, this leg is a gentle, mostly downhill ramble through the scenic Rae Lakes basin.
lakes basin
passes unnamed site (16.3 mi) · unnamed site (16.9 mi) · unnamed site (17.7 mi) · unnamed site (17.8 mi) · unnamed site (18.7 mi) · unnamed site (20.6 mi)
Day 4 · 6.8 mi · +140 ft
Camp 3 → Upper Paradise Valley
From the Woods Creek Crossing area, this leg is a moderate and mostly flat walk downstream to Upper Paradise Valley.
river walk
passes unnamed site (23.2 mi)
Day 5 · 7.1 mi · +220 ft
Upper Paradise Valley → Back to trailhead
This is the final leg out to the trailhead from Upper Paradise Valley, following the South Fork Kings River downstream.
final descent
passes Middle Paradise Valley (30.4 mi) · Lower Paradise Valley (31.8 mi)

Conditions at the trailhead

Kings Canyon National Park, California · updated daily

SAT 08·22

88° / 66°

part sun · 6%

SUN 08·23

86° / 67°

cloud · 4%

MON 08·24

85° / 65°

cloud · 1%

TUE 08·25

86° / 64°

cloud · 3%

WED 08·26

88° / 65°

part sun · 3%

RIVER CROSSING — A bridge over the South Fork Kings River above Paradise Valley is washed out and will not be replaced before 2027; this crossing can be hazardous and may be impassable, especially early in the season.

CAMPING RESTRICTIONS — Special camping limits apply in popular areas: camping at Rae Lakes is limited to one night per lake, and Paradise Valley is limited to two nights total.

Know before you go

nationalparkentry.com · nps.gov · recreation.gov · shoutintothewilderness.com

Best months

share of dry days · Open-Meteo Archive (ERA5), 10-year normals at the trailhead

TRAILHEAD

The loop begins at the Roads End permit station in the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon, which closes for winter, typically from mid-November to late April or early May.

NPS

PERMIT

A wilderness permit is required for overnight trips during the quota season and costs $15 per trip plus $5 per person.

Recreation.gov

BEARS

Proper food storage is mandatory; you must carry an approved portable bear-resistant canister.

NPS

WATER

Water sources are generally plentiful along creeks and at lakes, but treatment or filtration is required before drinking.

NPS

CAMPFIRES

Campfires are prohibited above 10,000 feet (3,048m) to protect the fragile high-elevation environment.

NPS

CELL SERVICE

Cellular coverage is limited or nonexistent along the entire loop; do not rely on a phone for navigation or emergencies.

NPS

Asked around the fire (about this trail)

Do I need a permit for the Rae Lakes Loop?

Yes. SEKI wilderness permit, quota season late May–late Sep — reserve on Recreation.gov.

How many days does the Rae Lakes Loop take?

Most groups take 4–5 days. The reference itinerary here plans 4 nights, camp to camp.

When is the best time to hike the Rae Lakes Loop?

July – September. Outside that window expect snow, storm damage or closures to change the plan.

Which direction should I hike the loop?

Hiking counter-clockwise (up Bubbs Creek) offers a more gradual ascent to the high altitude of Glen Pass. The clockwise direction (up Woods Creek) is steeper and gets you to the scenic lakes basin faster.

Are pets allowed on the Rae Lakes Loop?

No, pets are prohibited on all park trails in the backcountry of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

How difficult is Glen Pass?

Glen Pass, at 11,978 feet, is a strenuous, high-altitude climb. It can hold snow and be impassable for hikers until mid-to-late July, or even later depending on the year's snowfall.

Get the Rae Lakes Loop in the bag.

Dates, camps, gear split, meals and the crew — planned together on one page instead of forty threads.

Start a trip — it’s free