Reservation7/10
SEKI Franklin Lakes permit
Wilderness permit for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks via Mineral King — F...
SEKI Wilderness Permit — Mineral King — Eagle Lake
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks · California
Each entry point carries its own quota
Wilderness permit for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks via Mineral King — Eagle Lake.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Eagle Lake were gone within 10 minutes.
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Eagle Lake 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
Eagle Lake Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Eagle Lake in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Eagle Lake is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The permit season for Eagle Lake runs May 22 through September 26.
- Cancelled Eagle Lake 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
- •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
What to Expect
Route Details
Route Type
Out & Back
Duration
1-3 nights
Difficulty
ModerateHighlights
- •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
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.
Hazards & Considerations
- !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
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
Warm days, cold nights at the lake, storms in the afternoon.
Crowd Level
ModerateAdvantages
- +Short enough for a first overnight
- +Basin fully clear of snow
- +Quietest developed corner of Sequoia
Challenges
- !Only one legal camping area on the permit
- !Storms over open slabs
- !Long approach drive
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand3/5
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
Commitment2/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Parties who want a short, high, quiet overnight and are willing to drive the Mineral King road.
Recommended Experience
Comfort with a 3.4-mile climb carrying a pack.
Not Recommended For
Anyone planning to camp before the lake, which NPS does not allow here.
About This Permit
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.
The Experience
Why It Matters
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 Route
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.
The Feeling
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.
Rules & Regulations
- •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 Checklist
Required
- 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
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Eagle Lake
🚐
Shuttle Services
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Key Landmarks
Mineral King trailhead
At the end of the road in the upper Mineral King Valley. Permits issued at the Mineral King Ranger Station.
Eagle Lake
NPS puts the first allowable camping here.
Eagle Lake FAQ
Where can I camp on an Eagle Lake wilderness permit?
At Eagle Lake, 3.4 miles from the trailhead. NPS states that is the first allowable camping and prohibits camping between the trail and the lake.
How many people per day get a Mineral King Eagle Lake permit?
NPS publishes a 25-person daily quota for this entry point, of which 20 are reservable.
Are campfires allowed on the Eagle Lake trail?
No. NPS prohibits campfires on this entry point, so bring a stove.
What if my first night is at Mosquito Lakes instead of Eagle Lake?
You need a different permit. NPS states that if your first night is at White Chief or Mosquito Lakes you must select one of those entry points.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Questions
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Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Evening on the headwall above Eagle Lake, when the west light hits the bowl.
Best Light
Early morning at the lakeshore, before wind comes up the canyon.
Beat the Crowds
Day hikers own the trail from mid-morning. Walk up in the late afternoon and have the lake at sunset.
Classic Shots
- 📍The Eagle Sinkhole where the creek vanishes into the rock
- 📍Eagle Lake in its granite bowl
- 📍The Mineral King valley from the switchbacks
Can't Get a Eagle Lake Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Mineral King - Mosquito Lakes
Same AreaThe neighbouring Mineral King basin, on its own entry point.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
A separate permit and a different chain of lakes, at similar effort.
Mineral King - Franklin Lakes
Same AreaThe Franklin Pass trail toward Rattlesnake Creek and the Kern Canyon.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
A 30-person quota and access to much longer routes, but steep and strenuous.
Mineral King - Timber Gap
Same AreaNorth out of the valley over Timber Gap toward Cliff Creek.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
A pass crossing rather than a lake basin, on a quieter entry point.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Eagle Lake trip
Trip planning
Articles that plan a trip around this permit.
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