Rae Lakes Loop

Rae Lakes Loop is a 41.4-mile circuit from Road’s End through the Kings River canyon, up Woods Creek to the Rae Lakes basin, over Glen Pass and down Bubbs Creek. This is a hard, high-altitude backpacking trip, not a long day hike. Plan at least four days for the full circuit, with shorter days if you need time to acclimatize. The trail rises from about 5,035 feet to Glen Pass at 11,978 feet. Published totals for accumulated climbing vary, so plan for sustained climbing rather than relying on one gain figure.

The park describes the clockwise route via Woods Creek and the counterclockwise route via Bubbs Creek. Clockwise puts the long climb to Glen Pass on the Rae Lakes side; counterclockwise makes for a steep, sustained climb from Junction Meadow toward the pass. Either way, check conditions and your party’s comfort with altitude before committing to the high crossing.

Overnight trips require a wilderness permit, and entry is quota-limited during the reservation season. Carry a bear-resistant food canister. Lower Paradise Valley camping is restricted to designated sites; Paradise Valley allows two nights, and each Rae Lake allows one. Campfires are prohibited above 10,000 feet. Pets and wheeled vehicles are not allowed on park trails.

From Road’s End, the Paradise Valley side reaches Mist Falls at 3.9 miles, Lower Paradise at 5.7, Upper Paradise at 10, and Woods Creek crossing at 15.7. The lower route follows the South Fork Kings River through canyon and forest, with Mist Falls as a major stop. The first section around Kanawyers can be sandy and tiring; the climb toward Woods Creek gradually leaves the canyon for higher, more open terrain. At Woods Creek, a suspension bridge crosses the river before the trail climbs toward Dollar Lake and Rae Lakes.

There is a serious river hazard above Paradise Valley: the South Fork Kings crossing is unbridged. Water levels change, and the crossing can be dangerous. Be prepared to turn back if it is not safe to cross. Spring high water is a recurring concern.

The trail reaches Dollar Lake around mile 19.7 and Rae Lakes around mile 22.7. After the long climb, the lakes sit among bare granite, meadows and scattered pines, with Fin Dome and the Painted Lady rising above the water. The tread around the basin shifts between rocky ground, gravel, dirt and grass. It is worth slowing down here: frame the Painted Lady across the lake from shore to catch its reflection, then look toward Fin Dome from the eastern edge of the second lake.

Glen Pass comes at about mile 24.6. The trail climbs steep switchbacks to 11,978 feet, where the Rae Lakes basin opens below; the descent on the far side is rocky and can hold snow into mid or late summer. This is the route’s most demanding stretch, and altitude can make a hard climb feel harder. Do not treat a clear trail at lower elevations as proof that the pass is ready.

From the pass, the route drops past Charlotte Lake Junction around mile 26.7, Vidette Meadow at 28.2 and Junction Meadow at 31.1, then continues toward Sphinx Junction and the return to Road’s End. The Bubbs Creek section is a long descent through a rugged canyon, with creek-side stretches and sandy, dusty footing lower down. The loop rewards a fit backpacker who wants a complete high Sierra journey; its distance, elevation and river crossing make it a poor choice for a rushed itinerary.