Rae Lakes Loop: 4-Day Itinerary, Permit & Camps
The Rae Lakes Loop is the trip most people mean when they say they want to try High Sierra backpacking. It has everything: a river canyon approach, a chain of alpine lakes beneath granite walls, one real mountain pass, and a loop shape that gets you back to your car without a shuttle.
The National Park Service lists the loop at 41.4 miles, climbing from 5,035 feet at Road’s End to 11,978 feet at Glen Pass (NPS). Ridgefold’s own route measurement, taken from OpenStreetMap trail geometry, comes in a bit shorter at 37.6 miles with 8,320 feet of gain. That’s the kind of gap you’ll see between an agency’s rounded trail-guide number and a GPS track, and one more reason to check your own plan’s numbers rather than trust a single source.
Quick facts
| Distance | 37.6–41.4 mi (Ridgefold measurement vs. NPS figure) |
| Days | 3–4 typical, this itinerary uses 4 |
| Elevation gain | ~8,300 ft |
| High point | 11,978 ft (Glen Pass) |
| Direction | Either; clockwise from Woods Creek is more common |
| Permit | Wilderness permit, quota-controlled in season |
| Season | Late June through September |
The 4-day itinerary
This spreads the loop across 4 days instead of the aggressive 3-day version some fit hikers do, because Glen Pass at nearly 12,000 feet is a much better crossing when you’re not also trying to bank miles. It starts counterclockwise from Road’s End up Bubbs Creek, the steeper of the two approaches, saving the more gradual Woods Creek grade for the way out.
| Day | Route | Miles | Climb | Camp | Water | Permit note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Road’s End → Junction Meadow | ~9 mi | ~2,000 ft | Junction Meadow | Bubbs Creek, frequent | Pick up permit at Road’s End the morning of or afternoon before |
| 2 | Junction Meadow → Rae Lakes (via Glen Pass) | ~9 mi | ~3,500 ft | Rae Lakes basin | Rae Lakes, abundant | One-night camping limit at Rae Lakes |
| 3 | Rae Lakes → Woods Creek Crossing | ~11 mi | ~500 ft | Woods Creek | Woods Creek, reliable | — |
| 4 | Woods Creek → Road’s End | ~10 mi | ~200 ft | Trailhead (exit) | South Fork Kings River | — |
Glen Pass sits on Day 2, in the middle of the trip rather than at the start or the end. That’s deliberate: you’re acclimatized but not yet worn down, and a mid-trip pass gives you camps on both sides to retreat to if the weather turns.
Camping at Rae Lakes itself is limited to one night per group, and Charlotte Lake and Kearsarge Lakes (common alternate camps if you’re entering or exiting via Kearsarge Pass) cap at two nights (NPS). Bear-resistant canisters are required for the whole loop.
How the permit works
For the general mechanics of lotteries, quotas, and walk-up permits, see backpacking permits explained. Sequoia and Kings Canyon run their wilderness permits on a rolling reservation system through Recreation.gov, not a lottery. During the 2026 quota season (May 22 through September 26), each day’s slots for a trailhead release 6 months ahead of that date, at 7:00am Pacific (NPS). If you want a July 15 start, mark your calendar for mid-January.
The fee structure is a $15 non-refundable reservation fee plus $5 per person, refundable if you cancel more than a week out (NPS). Outside the quota season, permits are free and self-issued at the trailhead.
Road’s End, Bubbs Creek, and Woods Creek are the three trailhead names you’ll see on Recreation.gov for this loop, since each is a separate quota entry point onto the same circuit. Check availability across all three rather than fixating on one; your itinerary and entry direction may need to adjust depending on which trailhead has an opening. Popular entry dates sell out within minutes of the 7am release (NPS).
Pick-up happens at the Road’s End Permit Station (for Bubbs/Woods Creek entries) or the wilderness office, generally open 7am to 3:30pm, with early pickup available from 1pm the day before your start.
Best time to go
Late June through September is the standard window. Glen Pass can hold snow into mid-to-late July in a heavy winter, so an early-season date carries real risk of postholing or needing an ice axe on the pass approach (NPS). Mosquitoes peak in July around the lakes; August and September are drier and buggier-free but the water sources thin out slightly later in the season.
Frequently asked questions
Should I hike Rae Lakes Loop clockwise or counterclockwise?
Either direction works. Clockwise (starting via Woods Creek) is slightly more popular and gives a more gradual climb toward Glen Pass. Counterclockwise (starting up Bubbs Creek) is steeper on the approach but gets that climbing done earlier in the trip, before fatigue sets in.
How hard is Glen Pass?
It’s the crux of the loop: a rocky, switchbacking climb to 11,978 feet with real exposure near the top. It’s not technical, but it’s slow going with a full pack, and afternoon thunderstorms in July and August make a morning crossing the safer plan.
Do I need a bear canister?
Yes. Bear-resistant food storage is required for the entire Rae Lakes Loop, not just at specific campsites.
Can I do this trip in 3 days instead of 4?
Yes, and many fit hikers do. Your permit controls your entry trailhead and date, not the number of nights you take to finish, so compressing the same route to 3 days is a matter of hiking further each day rather than a separate permit category. Expect one long day in the 13 to 14 mile range if you compress it, usually the day that includes the Glen Pass crossing.
Once you’ve got a sense of the shape of the trip, Ridgefold has the Rae Lakes Loop pre-loaded with the real route and elevation profile. Drag the camps to match your permit dates or your own pace, and it recalculates the per-day miles and climbing automatically. You can also see the full trail page with the elevation chart and difficulty rating before you commit, or check how many miles per day is realistic if you’re deciding between the 3-day and 4-day version of this loop.