How to Get a Eagle Lake Permit
Three and a half miles from the end of the Mineral King road to a lake in a granite bowl, on the shortest real overnight in the valley.
Check Eagle Lake permit availability25
People Per Day
NPS charges $15 each trip plus $5 per person within the quota season, paid on Recreation.gov permit 445857.
Permit Cost
1-3 nights
Duration
moderate
Difficulty
About Eagle Lake
Mineral King - Eagle Lake is a Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness entry point in the upper Mineral King Valley. 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 from six months to one week before entry, released daily at 7:00 AM Pacific. Outside that season, from September 27 2026 to May 20 2027, permits are free, self-issued and not subject to daily entry limits. The defining rule is where you sleep: NPS puts the first allowable camping 3.4 miles in at Eagle Lake and bars camping between the trail and the lake. Trips whose first night is White Chief or Mosquito Lakes need those entry points instead.
NPS describes the Eagle Lake trail as moderately strenuous, with lakes, forests and vistas. Mineral King is the quietest developed corner of Sequoia, reached by a long mountain road, and Eagle Lake is the classic first night for people who make the drive.
The Experience
The trail climbs out of the valley through fir and then opens onto slabs, past the Eagle Sinkhole where the creek disappears into the rock. The lake sits in a bowl with steep walls on three sides, and it holds the cold all day.
From the end of the road in the upper Mineral King Valley the trail climbs steadily. NPS puts the first allowable camping 3.4 miles from the trailhead at Eagle Lake, and prohibits camping anywhere between the trail and the lake.
That makes this a single-objective trip: you walk to the lake, you sleep there, and you come back. Campfires are prohibited, and overnight stock use is limited to walking parties with burros or llamas.
If your first night is at White Chief or Mosquito Lakes instead, NPS requires you to select one of those entry points rather than this one.
What to Expect
A 25-person daily quota, of which 20 are reservable, per NPS
Permits issued at the Mineral King Ranger Station
Parking at the end of the road in the upper Mineral King Valley
First allowable camping at Eagle Lake, 3.4 miles in
No campfires anywhere on this permit
Get Eagle Lake Alerts
Be first to know when cancellations happen.
Permit Requirements
The first allowable camping is 3.4 miles from the trailhead at Eagle Lake
No camping between the trail and Eagle Lake
No campfires
If your first night is at White Chief or Mosquito Lakes you must select one of those entry points
Overnight stock use is only for walking parties with burros or llamas
Maximum group size is 15
Permits must be physically picked up and validated at a wilderness office
Gear & Preparation
Required Gear
- •A park-allowed animal-resistant food storage container
- •A stove, since campfires are prohibited on this permit
- •Water treatment
- •Warm layers for a lake basin that stays cold
Hazards & Safety
A long, narrow mountain road to the trailhead that takes far longer than the distance suggests
Afternoon thunderstorms on the open slabs above the sinkhole
Snow in the basin into early summer
Cold nights at the lake even in August
Best Time to Visit
The quota season runs May 22 to September 26 in 2026, and the Mineral King road governs access. July through September is the reliable window, with September the quietest month inside the quota season.
Pro Tips
Allow far more time than the map suggests for the Mineral King road
This permit only lets you camp at Eagle Lake, so do not plan a stop short of it
Five of the 25 daily spots are held back from reservations
Carry a stove, since fires are banned on this entry point
September 27 starts the free self-issue season if you can handle cold nights
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a Eagle Lake permit?
+
Eagle Lake permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Eagle Lake?
+
The quota season runs May 22 to September 26 in 2026, and the Mineral King road governs access. July through September is the reliable window, with September the quietest month inside the quota season.
How difficult is Eagle Lake?
+
Parties who want a short, high, quiet overnight and are willing to drive the Mineral King road.
What gear do I need for Eagle Lake?
+
Essential gear includes: A park-allowed animal-resistant food storage container, A stove, since campfires are prohibited on this permit, Water treatment, Warm layers for a lake basin that stays cold.
Don't Miss Your Eagle Lake Permit
Cancellations happen every day. PermitSnag monitors Eagle Lake availability 24/7 and alerts you the moment a spot opens up.
Get Permit Alerts
