Very High DemandReservation4 min read

Updated August 10, 2026

How to Get a Bubbs Creek Permit

The counter-clockwise start on the Rae Lakes Loop, and the entry point for East Lake, Vidette Meadow and the John Muir Trail out of Kings Canyon.

Check Bubbs Creek permit availability

People Per Day

NPS charges $15 each trip plus $5 per person within the quota season, paid on Recreation.gov permit 445857.

Permit Cost

3-5 days

Duration

strenuous

Difficulty

About Bubbs Creek

Cedar Grove - Bubbs Creek is a Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness entry point at Roads End, and the counter-clockwise start for the Rae Lakes Loop. NPS publishes a 25-person daily quota for this entry point, of which 20 are reservable. The 2026 quota season runs May 22 to September 26, with reservations available from six months to one week before the entry date and released daily at 7:00 AM Pacific. Outside the quota season, from September 27 2026 to May 20 2027, wilderness permits are free, self-issued and not subject to daily entry limits. NPS is explicit that this permit does not allow you to start the Rae Lakes Loop in the clockwise direction. For that you need the Woods Creek entry point. Permits must be picked up and validated in person at a wilderness office, and entry date and trailhead cannot be modified once reserved.

NPS describes Bubbs Creek as the entry point to start the popular Rae Lakes Loop in the more strenuous counter-clockwise direction, with access to East Lake and the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails at Vidette Meadow. It calls the trail dramatic and diverse, steep and strenuous to Sphinx Creek and then a steady moderate climb.

The Experience

You start on the canyon floor at Roads End with 4,000-foot walls above you, and the first four miles up to Sphinx Creek take everything you have. Above that the grade eases and Bubbs Creek runs beside you the whole way to Vidette Meadow, where the John Muir Trail comes in and the Kearsarge Pinnacles fill the sky.

From Roads End the trail crosses the South Fork Kings River and turns up Bubbs Creek. NPS puts the first allowable camping at 4 miles from Roads End at the Sphinx Creek crossing, so the steep section has to be done in one go.

Above Sphinx Creek the climb steadies through Junction Meadow to Vidette Meadow, where the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails run through. From there the loop turns north over Glen Pass to Rae Lakes, or you can head east over Kearsarge Pass or continue up toward Forester.

Camping limits are tight in this drainage. NPS sets designated sites only in Lower Paradise Valley, no camping within a quarter mile of Bullfrog Lake, and a two-night camping limit for Paradise Valley, Charlotte Lake and Kearsarge Lakes.

What to Expect

A 25-person daily quota, of which 20 are reservable, per NPS

Permits issued at the Roads End Contact Station, with parking at Roads End

A steep first four miles to Sphinx Creek, then a steady moderate climb

Access to East Lake, Vidette Meadow and the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails

A quota season of May 22 to September 26, 2026, and free self-issue permits outside it

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Permit Requirements

The first allowable camping is 4 miles from Roads End at the Sphinx Creek crossing

This permit does not allow you to start the Rae Lakes Loop in the clockwise direction

Park-allowed portable animal-resistant food storage containers are required May 1 to October 31 in the Bubbs and Woods Creek drainages

Use designated sites only in Lower Paradise Valley

No camping within 0.25 miles of Bullfrog Lake

Two-night camping limit for Paradise Valley, Charlotte Lake and Kearsarge Lakes

Maximum group size is 15

Permits must be physically picked up and validated at a wilderness office

Gear & Preparation

Required Gear

•A park-allowed portable animal-resistant food storage container, required May 1 to October 31 in this drainage
•Water treatment
•Trekking poles for the steep first four miles
•Warm layers for camps at and above Vidette Meadow

Hazards & Safety

A steep, hot, exposed first four miles out of the canyon

Bears throughout the Bubbs and Woods Creek drainages, which is why containers are mandatory

Afternoon thunderstorms once you are above Junction Meadow

Creek crossings running high during spring melt

Best Time to Visit

The quota season is May 22 to September 26 in 2026. Late June through August is when Glen Pass and the high country are clear. September is cooler and quieter, and the free self-issue season starts September 27 for parties willing to work around the weather.

Pro Tips

Four miles to the first legal camp means one hard push on day one, so start early

Book the direction you actually want - Bubbs is counter-clockwise only, Woods Creek is clockwise

Twenty of the 25 daily spots are reservable, so five are held for walk-ups at Roads End

Reservations release daily at 7:00 AM Pacific, six months to one week ahead

Entry date and trailhead cannot be changed after booking, so get them right the first time

Written by

PermitSnag Team

100+ wilderness permits, extensive backcountry experience

This guide is based on personal experience obtaining wilderness permits and is regularly updated to reflect current policies and strategies.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a Bubbs Creek permit?

Bubbs Creek permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.

When is the best time to visit Bubbs Creek?

How difficult is Bubbs Creek?

Parties doing the Rae Lakes Loop counter-clockwise, or heading for Vidette Meadow and the John Muir Trail.

What gear do I need for Bubbs Creek?

Essential gear includes: A park-allowed portable animal-resistant food storage container, required May 1 to October 31 in this drainage, Water treatment, Trekking poles for the steep first four miles, Warm layers for camps at and above Vidette Meadow.