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Wilderness permit for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks via Grant Grove — Do...
SEKI Wilderness Permit — Cedar Grove — Bubbs Creek
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks · California
Each entry point carries its own quota
Wilderness permit for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks via Cedar Grove — Bubbs Creek.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Bubbs Creek were gone within 10 minutes.
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Bubbs Creek Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelHigh7/10
SeasonMay 22 - September 26
CostNPS charges $15 each trip plus $5 per person within the quota season, paid on Recreation.gov permit 445857.
Daily Quota25 people
Max Group Size15 people
Bubbs Creek Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Bubbs Creek in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Bubbs Creek is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The permit season for Bubbs Creek runs May 22 through September 26.
- Cancelled Bubbs Creek permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Key Dates
SeasonMay 22 - September 26
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level7/10
LocationSierra Nevada, CA
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
What to Expect
Route Details
Route Type
Varies
Duration
3-5 days
Difficulty
StrenuousHighlights
- •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
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.
Hazards & Considerations
- !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
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
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92°
70°
Sun
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83°
62°
Mon
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85°
60°
Tue
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90°
65°
Wed
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90°
65°
Thu
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89°
64°
Fri
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92°
67°
View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Create a National Park Service account
Sign up at National Park Service if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
2
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
3
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
4
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Learn More
When to Go
Peak: July and AugustShoulder: Late June and September
Conditions
Hot in the canyon, clear on the passes from July, storms in the afternoon.
Crowd Level
HighAdvantages
- +Whole Rae Lakes Loop open
- +Long days for the climb to Sphinx Creek
- +Full permit station hours at Roads End
Challenges
- !Real heat on the first four miles
- !One of the busiest entry points in the park
- !Bear pressure in the drainage
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand4/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill1/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk2/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation1/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment4/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Parties doing the Rae Lakes Loop counter-clockwise, or heading for Vidette Meadow and the John Muir Trail.
Recommended Experience
Prior multi-day backpacking and one sustained climb with a full pack.
Not Recommended For
Anyone planning the loop clockwise, which requires the Woods Creek entry point instead.
About This Permit
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.
The Experience
Why It Matters
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 Route
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.
The Feeling
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.
Rules & Regulations
- •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 Checklist
Required
- 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
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Bubbs Creek
🚐
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Key Landmarks
Roads End
Trailhead and permit station in Cedar Grove. Parking at Roads End.
Sphinx Creek crossing
NPS puts the first allowable camping here.
Vidette Meadow
Where Bubbs Creek meets the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails.
Bullfrog Lake
No camping within a quarter mile, per NPS.
Bubbs Creek FAQ
How many people per day get a Bubbs Creek wilderness permit?
NPS publishes a 25-person daily quota for the Bubbs Creek entry point, of which 20 are reservable.
Can I hike the Rae Lakes Loop clockwise on a Bubbs Creek permit?
No. NPS states this permit does not allow you to start the Rae Lakes Loop in the clockwise direction. To do that you must select the Woods Creek entry point.
Where is the first place I can camp on the Bubbs Creek trail?
NPS puts the first allowable camping 4 miles from Roads End at the Sphinx Creek crossing.
Do I need a bear canister for a Bubbs Creek wilderness permit?
Yes. NPS requires park-allowed portable animal-resistant food storage containers from May 1 to October 31 in the Bubbs and Woods Creek drainages.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
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Questions
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Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Evening light on the Sphinx from the lower Bubbs Creek trail.
Best Light
Morning at Vidette Meadow, when the Kearsarge Pinnacles catch first sun.
Beat the Crowds
The loop traffic concentrates at Rae Lakes and Vidette. East Lake is a short detour and is far quieter.
Classic Shots
- 📍The canyon walls above Roads End
- 📍Bubbs Creek cascading beside the trail
- 📍East Vidette from the meadow
Can't Get a Bubbs Creek Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Cedar Grove - Woods Creek
Similar ExperienceThe clockwise start on the Rae Lakes Loop, up Paradise Valley.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Same 25-person quota and a gentler grade, with the first camping 6.5 miles in.
Rae Lakes Loop
Same AreaThe loop itself, watched across both Roads End entry points.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
One watch covering both directions rather than a single entry point.
Cedar Grove - Copper Creek
Same AreaThe other Roads End climb, north toward Granite Basin and the Monarch Divide.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
A brutally steep start, but far fewer people than the loop.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Bubbs Creek trip
Trip planning
Articles that plan a trip around this permit.
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