Rae Lakes Gear Checklist
The Rae Lakes Loop is a 41.4 mile circuit in Kings Canyon that tops out at Glen Pass, just under 12,000 feet. The park requires a bear canister and bans fires above 10,000 feet. Past that, the hikers we read carried sandals for a river ford with no bridge, bug repellent for the meadows, sun cover for the exposed climb, and a warm layer for cold lake camps. Their regrets were a day of too few snacks and gear that could not handle a wet crossing.
What shapes your gear on Rae Lakes Loop
- Distance and climb
- The loop is 41.4 miles. It starts at 5,035 feet at the trailhead and climbs to 11,978 feet at Glen Pass.
- Snow and high water
- The park warns that stream crossings can run high in May and early June, and that Glen Pass may not be passable for hikers until mid to late July. One blogger says snow can linger on the pass's northern face into June or even July, depending on the winter.
From Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (NPS) and Backcountry Emily
- The ford above Paradise Valley
- The bridge over the South Fork of the Kings River washed out in the winter of 2016 to 2017, and the park says a replacement will not be built before 2027. Hikers now wade it. The park calls the crossing potentially extremely hazardous early in the season and tells counterclockwise hikers to be ready to backtrack.
From Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (NPS), Backcountry Emily and Reddit r/Ultralight: Rae Lakes Loop Pack Shakedown (r/Ultralight)
- Camping limits
- Camping is one night per Rae Lake, two nights at Charlotte Lake and in Paradise Valley, and none at Bullfrog Lake. Campfires are banned above 10,000 feet.
- Heat and dust at the start
- The trailhead sits near 5,000 feet and the first two miles are sandy and exposed. One trip report says it turns hot after about 11 am and suggests starting before 9 am.
From Backpackers Review
What the agency requires on Rae Lakes Loop
A portable bear canister
The park says bears on this trail have taken food that was hung in trees, so hikers must carry a portable bear-resistant canister. The fixed metal food boxes along the way are meant for PCT and JMT thru-hikers only.
A stove instead of a fire above 10,000 feet
Campfires are prohibited above 10,000 feet, which covers the Rae Lakes basin and the approach to Glen Pass. Plan to cook on a stove.
What hikers carry on Rae Lakes Loop
A canister sized for the days you are out
Besides being the rule, hikers say rangers advised against hanging food because bears learned to knock it down. One thru-hiker turned loop hiker fits about five days of food in a mid-size canister when she packs it well, and another pair of hikers carried one shared canister for four days.
From Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (NPS), Backpackers Review, Backcountry Emily and The Outdoor Dads
Camp sandals for the river ford
Several hikers wade the South Fork of the Kings River at the start of a morning in camp sandals, then put dry socks and shoes on the far side so the day does not begin with soaked feet. One writer said her feet were numb by the other side.
From Backcountry Emily, Backpackers Review and The Outdoor Dads
Insect repellent and a bandana
Mosquitoes are worst in the meadows and along streams, and trip reports name Vidette Meadow, Junction Meadow and the Bubbs Creek trail. One hiker pretreats clothes and tent with an insect-repellent spray and also carries a repellent lotion. A bandana doubled as a dust filter on the sandy first miles and as a bug guard. Another hiker said early-July mosquitoes worried them more than the river crossings.
From Backcountry Emily, Backpackers Review and Reddit r/Ultralight: Rae Lakes Loop Pack Shakedown (r/Ultralight)
Sun cover for a shade-poor climb
Past Upper Paradise Valley the trail opens up and there is little shade until you start the long downhill days. Hikers wear a sun hoody or long-sleeve shirt, a hat and sunscreen, and they fill water at the start of the day because the creek is out of reach along stretches of the Woods Creek trail.
From Backcountry Emily, Backpackers Review and The Outdoor Dads
A warm layer for camp
Once the sun drops behind Fin Dome at the Rae Lakes, it gets cold quickly. Hikers pack a light down or synthetic jacket, wool layers and a sleeping bag good to about 25 degrees.
From Backcountry Emily, Backpackers Review and The Outdoor Dads
A water filter
Water is frequent but should be treated. One group used a gravity filter and a 2 liter reservoir, and another hiker filters at every break through the day.
From Backpackers Review and Backcountry Emily
Blister care and spare socks
Day three is a 4,200 foot descent from Glen Pass to Junction Meadow, and one hiker said her feet hurt badly from it. Trip reports carry moleskin, a thin liner sock under a wool sock and a spare dry pair for the ford.
From Backpackers Review and Backcountry Emily
Traction and an ice axe only in a snowy year
A hiker who crossed in early June found the north side of Glen Pass scary with snow and says to carry microspikes and an ice axe if conditions call for it. A July 2016 party still crossed snow on the switchbacks. A shakedown commenter said to bring the axe and crampons only when the ranger confirms they are needed.
From Backcountry Emily, Backpackers Review and Reddit r/Ultralight: Rae Lakes Loop Pack Shakedown (r/Ultralight)
15 people can go on one permit. Split this list between them so nobody carries two stoves.
Plan a trip hereWhat hikers regret or leave behind on Rae Lakes Loop
Bear spray
Two bloggers both say it is not allowed in Kings Canyon, so leave it at home. The canister is the protection.
From Backpackers Review and Backcountry Emily
Too few snacks on the longest climb
One of the dads on a four day trip skipped his snacks on the 12.7 mile climb to the lakes and said he ran out of energy by camp, so he could not help set up. Their lesson was to eat steadily and know your limits.
From The Outdoor Dads
Boots that cannot take a wet foot
One of the dads slid into the pool at Mist Falls on day one and hiked the next five uphill miles in his camp clogs while his boots dried. A spare pair of shoes that can carry you for hours is worth the weight.
From The Outdoor Dads
Compass, beacon and a second lighter
One shakedown commenter said a hiker doing only the loop does not need them, because the trail is well marked and you pass people every half hour. Treat that as one person's view and decide based on your own risk.
From Reddit r/Ultralight: Rae Lakes Shakedown (r/Ultralight)
Gear questions for Rae Lakes Loop
Do you need a bear canister on the Rae Lakes Loop?
Yes. The park says hikers are required to carry a portable bear-resistant canister on this trail. Bears here have taken hung food, and the permanent metal food boxes are only for PCT and JMT thru-hikers.
Can you use a bear bag or hang food on the Rae Lakes Loop?
The park lists the canister as the requirement and says bears were successful at getting food hung in trees. A trip report says rangers also discouraged hanging.
From Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (NPS) and Backpackers Review
What do you wear for the river crossing on the Rae Lakes Loop?
Hikers wade the South Fork of the Kings River, where the bridge is gone, in camp sandals and keep their trail shoes and socks dry for the far side. The park warns that the crossing can be extremely hazardous in early season.
From Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (NPS), Backcountry Emily and Backpackers Review
Do you need an ice axe for Glen Pass on the Rae Lakes Loop?
Only in a snowy year or early in the season. The park says the pass may stay impassable to hikers until mid to late July, and hikers carry microspikes and an ice axe when the north side still holds snow. Ask the ranger at pickup.
From Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (NPS), Backcountry Emily and Reddit r/Ultralight: Rae Lakes Loop Pack Shakedown (r/Ultralight)
Sources
- Rae Lakes Loop · Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (NPS) · Agency
- Rae Lakes Loop: Kings Canyon National Park Backpacking (41 mile loop) · Backpackers Review · Trip report
- Backpack the Rae Lakes Loop · Backcountry Emily, Emily Schrick · Blog
- 4-Day Rae Lake Loop Backpacking Trip (Clockwise) · The Outdoor Dads · Trip report
- Rae Lakes Loop Pack Shakedown (r/Ultralight) · Reddit r/Ultralight · Reddit thread
- Rae Lakes Shakedown (r/Ultralight) · Reddit r/Ultralight · Reddit thread