Introduction
The Rae Lakes Loop in Kings Canyon National Park is one of the crown jewels of Sierra Nevada backpacking. The 41.5-mile loop crosses two passes above 11,000 feet, strings together a series of brilliant turquoise alpine lakes (the Rae Lakes basin), and traverses some of the most dramatic granite wilderness in the entire country. It's consistently rated one of the top backpacking routes in North America.
Route Overview
The loop starts and ends at Roads End in Cedar Grove (elevation 5,035 feet). Going counterclockwise is the classic direction — you ascend the Woods Creek drainage, cross Glen Pass (11,978 feet) into the Rae Lakes basin, then exit via the Bubbs Creek trail. Doing it counterclockwise saves the most dramatic scenery (Rae Lakes) for the middle of the trip.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 (11 miles): Roads End to Paradise Valley. The trail follows the South Fork Kings River through Kings Canyon — one of the deepest canyons in North America. Paradise Valley is a broad meadow with good camping and the last easy water before the climb.
Day 2 (8 miles): Paradise Valley to Rae Lakes via Glen Pass. The most demanding day — 3,500 feet gain to Glen Pass with views back to the Rae Lakes basin ahead. The lakes are stocked with golden trout and surrounded by granite domes. Camp at Dollar Lake or the Rae Lakes basin designated sites.
Day 3 (Rest day at Rae Lakes): Spend a day exploring the basin, fishing, and swimming (it's cold). Fin Dome (the pointed granite peak above the lakes) is a technical scramble for experienced scramblers.
Day 4 (10 miles): Rae Lakes to Vidette Meadow via Kearsarge Pass junction. Long descent via Bubbs Creek with excellent views of the Kings-Kern Divide.
Day 5 (12.5 miles): Vidette Meadow to Roads End. Long valley walk back out via Bubbs Creek — mostly downhill.
Permits
A quota permit is required for overnight camping in the Kings Canyon backcountry from late May through late September. The Roads End quota fills immediately — enter the lottery on recreation.gov (lottery opens in February for the coming summer). A small number of walk-up permits are available at the Wilderness Permit Station in Cedar Grove starting at 1pm the day before your trip.
Leave No Trace in the Sierra
The Rae Lakes area receives heavy use. Camp only at designated sites (signed in the Rae Lakes basin). Use existing fire rings or a camp stove only — wood fires are prohibited above 10,000 feet. Pack out all waste including food scraps. Bear canisters are required throughout Kings Canyon backcountry.
