How to Get a Franklin Lakes Permit
Steep and strenuous over Franklin Pass into Rattlesnake Creek and the Kern Canyon, on the biggest quota in Mineral King.
Check Franklin Lakes permit availability30
People Per Day
NPS charges $15 each trip plus $5 per person within the quota season, paid on Recreation.gov permit 445857.
Permit Cost
2-5 days
Duration
strenuous
Difficulty
About Franklin Lakes
Mineral King - Franklin is a Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness entry point in the upper Mineral King Valley, climbing the Franklin Pass trail. NPS publishes a 30-person daily quota for this entry point, of which 20 are reservable, making it the largest quota in Mineral King. The 2026 quota season runs May 22 to September 26, with reservations from six months to one week before entry and released daily at 7:00 AM Pacific. Outside that season permits are free, self-issued and not limited by daily quotas. NPS puts the first allowable camping 4 miles in at the Franklin-Farewell Trail Junction, and the entry point is the standard start for loops over Sawtooth Pass, Timber Gap or Farewell Gap.
NPS describes the Franklin Pass trail as steep and strenuous with lakes and vistas, giving access to Rattlesnake Creek and the Kern Canyon, and suggests combining it with Timber Gap, Sawtooth Pass or Farewell Gap for loop options. It is the Mineral King entry that opens the whole southern Sierra behind the valley.
The Experience
The climb up Franklin Creek is a long steady grind with the Farewell Gap wall opposite you the whole way. The lakes sit below the pass in a red-rock bowl that looks nothing like the granite everywhere else in the park.
From the upper Mineral King Valley the trail climbs toward the Franklin-Farewell junction. NPS puts the first allowable camping 4 miles from the trailhead at that junction.
Above the lakes, Franklin Pass drops east into Rattlesnake Creek and on to the Kern Canyon, which is the connection to the High Sierra Trail and the Kern plateau. Loop options come back over Sawtooth Pass, Timber Gap or Farewell Gap.
Fire rules here are unusually detailed. NPS prohibits campfires above 9,000 feet in the Kaweah River drainage, at Pinto Lake, at Hamilton Lakes and in Mineral King Valley above the ranger station, and above 10,000 feet in the Kern River drainage. There is also no camping at Columbine Lake and a one-night camping limit at Hamilton Lake.
What to Expect
A 30-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 valley or at the Sawtooth trailhead
First allowable camping 4 miles in at the Franklin-Farewell junction
Loop options over Timber Gap, Sawtooth Pass or Farewell Gap
Get Franklin Lakes Alerts
Be first to know when cancellations happen.
Permit Requirements
The first allowable camping is 4 miles from the trailhead at the Franklin-Farewell Trail Junction
No camping at Columbine Lake
One-night camping limit at Hamilton Lake
No campfires above 9,000 feet in the Kaweah River drainage, at Pinto Lake, at Hamilton Lakes, or in Mineral King Valley above the ranger station
No campfires above 10,000 feet in the Kern River drainage
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 fires are banned across most of the elevation you will camp at
- •Water treatment
- •Warm layers for camps at and above the Franklin Lakes basin
Hazards & Safety
A long steep climb with limited shade above the Franklin-Farewell junction
Afternoon thunderstorms on an exposed pass crossing
Snow at Franklin Pass into early summer
The Mineral King road, which is slow and narrow
Best Time to Visit
The quota season runs May 22 to September 26 in 2026. July through September is the reliable window for the pass. September is the quietest month before the free self-issue season starts on September 27.
Pro Tips
This is the biggest quota in Mineral King, so it is the entry point to try first
Four miles of steep climbing before you can camp means an early start
Carry a stove - the fire bans cover essentially everywhere you will sleep
Franklin Pass is the door to the Kern, which is where the trip gets interesting
Ten of the 30 daily spots are not reservable and are held for walk-ups at the ranger station
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 Franklin Lakes permit?
+
Franklin Lakes permits require advance reservations. Book online as soon as reservations open for your desired dates.
When is the best time to visit Franklin Lakes?
+
The quota season runs May 22 to September 26 in 2026. July through September is the reliable window for the pass. September is the quietest month before the free self-issue season starts on September 27.
How difficult is Franklin Lakes?
+
Parties heading over Franklin Pass to the Kern, or linking a Mineral King loop.
What gear do I need for Franklin Lakes?
+
Essential gear includes: A park-allowed animal-resistant food storage container, A stove, since fires are banned across most of the elevation you will camp at, Water treatment, Warm layers for camps at and above the Franklin Lakes basin.
Don't Miss Your Franklin Lakes Permit
Cancellations happen every day. PermitSnag monitors Franklin Lakes availability 24/7 and alerts you the moment a spot opens up.
Get Permit Alerts
