Reservation6/10
SEKI Copper Creek permit
Wilderness permit for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks via Cedar Grove — Co...
SEKI Wilderness Permit — Cedar Grove — Woods 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 — Woods Creek.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Woods Creek were gone within 10 minutes.
Plan the full trip, not just the permit
Build your full itinerary start to finish
Add your dates and get a day-by-day plan: what needs a permit, what gear to bring, and one link to share with your whole group to coordinate every step.
Start a plan — it's free
No permit needed to start
Woods 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
Woods Creek Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Woods Creek in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Woods Creek is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The permit season for Woods Creek runs May 22 through September 26.
- Cancelled Woods 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
- •Clockwise is the easier direction on the Rae Lakes Loop, and Woods Creek is the only way to start it
- •Six and a half miles before you can camp, so treat day one as a full day
- •Lower Paradise Valley is designated sites only, so arrive with time to find one
- •Five of the 25 daily spots are held back from reservations for walk-ups at Roads End
- •Reservations release daily at 7:00 AM Pacific, from six months to one week out
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
- •Mist Falls and Paradise Valley in the first 6.5 miles
- •First camping at Lower Paradise Valley, in designated sites only
- •A quota season of May 22 to September 26, 2026, with free self-issue permits outside it
Best Time to Visit
The quota season is May 22 to September 26 in 2026. Late May and June give the best Mist Falls flow. July and August are hot low down but clear on Glen Pass. September is the quietest month inside the quota season.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Heat on the open river section between Roads End and Mist Falls
- !High water at Mist Falls in spring, where the rock beside it is slick
- !Bears through Paradise Valley, which is why containers are required
- !Afternoon storms above Woods Creek Crossing
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 May and September
Conditions
Mist Falls at peak, snow lingering on Glen Pass, high creek crossings.
Crowd Level
ModerateAdvantages
- +The falls are at their best
- +Cooler climbing
- +Quota season opens May 22
Challenges
- !Glen Pass may still be snowbound
- !High water crossings
- !Slick rock at the falls
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 clockwise, which is the easier direction, and anyone heading for the JMT at Woods Creek.
Recommended Experience
Prior multi-day backpacking and comfort with a 6.5-mile first day before you can camp.
Not Recommended For
Anyone wanting the loop counter-clockwise, which needs the Bubbs Creek entry point.
About This Permit
Cedar Grove - Woods Creek is a Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness entry point at Roads End, and the 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 six months to one week before the entry date and 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.
NPS states this permit does not allow you to start the Rae Lakes Loop in the counter-clockwise direction, which requires the Bubbs Creek entry point instead.
The Experience
Why It Matters
NPS names Woods Creek as the entry point to start the popular Rae Lakes Loop in the easier clockwise direction, with access to the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails at Woods Creek Crossing. It calls it a popular trail with many people at any given time, which is the honest description of the most-walked route in Kings Canyon.
The Route
From Roads End the trail runs up the South Fork Kings River past Mist Falls into Paradise Valley. NPS puts the first allowable camping 6.5 miles from Roads End at Lower Paradise Valley, where designated sites only are permitted.
Above Paradise Valley the trail climbs Woods Creek to the crossing, where the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails come through. Turning south takes you into the Rae Lakes basin and over Glen Pass to close the loop down Bubbs Creek.
Camping limits: designated sites only in Lower Paradise Valley, a two-night limit for Paradise Valley, Charlotte Lake and Kearsarge Lakes, and no camping within a quarter mile of Bullfrog Lake.
The Feeling
The first miles follow the South Fork Kings River past Mist Falls, which is loud and crowded and worth it. Above the falls Paradise Valley opens out flat and wide, and then the trail climbs all day up Woods Creek to the suspension bridge that everyone photographs.
Rules & Regulations
- •The first allowable camping is 6.5 miles from Roads End at Lower Paradise Valley
- •This permit does not allow you to start the Rae Lakes Loop in the counter-clockwise direction
- •Use designated sites only in Lower Paradise Valley
- •Park-allowed portable animal-resistant food storage containers are required May 1 to October 31 in the Bubbs and Woods Creek drainages
- •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 here
- Water treatment
- Sun protection for the exposed river section below Paradise Valley
- Warm layers for the Rae Lakes basin
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Woods Creek
🚐
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
Browse all shuttles🧭
Guide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
Browse all guidesSome links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
Key Landmarks
Roads End
Trailhead and permit station in Cedar Grove.
Lower Paradise Valley
NPS puts the first allowable camping here, in designated sites only.
Woods Creek Crossing
Where the trail meets the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails.
Rae Lakes basin
South on the JMT, with a one-night-per-lake limit.
Woods Creek FAQ
How many people per day get a Woods Creek wilderness permit?
NPS publishes a 25-person daily quota for the Woods Creek entry point, of which 20 are reservable.
Can I hike the Rae Lakes Loop counter-clockwise on a Woods Creek permit?
No. NPS states this permit does not allow you to start the loop in the counter-clockwise direction. That requires the Bubbs Creek entry point.
Where is the first place I can camp on the Woods Creek trail?
NPS puts the first allowable camping 6.5 miles from Roads End at Lower Paradise Valley, in designated sites only.
When is the Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness quota season?
NPS runs the 2026 quota season from May 22 to September 26. Outside it, from September 27 2026 to May 20 2027, wilderness permits are free, self-issued and not limited by daily entry quotas.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
Sign in to report trail conditions.
Questions
No questions yet
Be the first to ask about Woods Creek.
Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Evening in Paradise Valley, when the canyon walls go warm above the river.
Best Light
Morning at Mist Falls, before the sun hits the spray.
Beat the Crowds
Mist Falls is a day-hike destination and is busy until mid-afternoon. Walk it early or late.
Classic Shots
- 📍Mist Falls at high water
- 📍The flat river bends through Paradise Valley
- 📍The Woods Creek suspension bridge
Can't Get a Woods Creek Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Cedar Grove - Bubbs Creek
Similar ExperienceThe counter-clockwise start on the same loop, up Bubbs Creek.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Steeper for the first four miles, but the first legal camp comes 2.5 miles sooner.
Rae Lakes Loop
Same AreaThe loop watched across both Roads End entry points at once.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Covers both directions rather than committing to one.
Cedar Grove - Lewis Creek
Same AreaA quieter Cedar Grove climb toward Frypan Meadow and the Monarch Divide.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Far fewer people and much easier permits, without the Rae Lakes payoff.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Woods Creek trip
A small favor
One tick helps us more than you’d think
Google lets you pick the sites it highlights for you. Add PermitSnag and our permit pages get marked as one of yours in AI Overviews and AI Mode.
Add PermitSnag in Google
Takes less than a minute.