Do I need a permit to backpack Rae Lakes Loop?
Yes. You need a permit to backpack Rae Lakes Loop in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. It is the Rae Lakes Loop Permit, and it is booked in advance through a reservation system rather than won in a lottery.
Permit required
What the Rae Lakes Loop permit costs and covers
- Fee
- $15 + $5/person
- Group size limit
- 15 people
What the rules require
- Wilderness permit required for overnight camping
- Bear canister mandatory—no exceptions; bear boxes are for thru-hikers only
- Bear spray is ILLEGAL in Sequoia/Kings Canyon—do not bring
- Campfires prohibited above 10,000 feet (includes all of Rae Lakes basin)
- Pack out all toilet paper—does not decompose in Sierra conditions
- 1-night limit at each Rae Lake; 2-night limit at Paradise Valley
- Bullfrog Lake closed to camping and grazing
Published rules for the Rae Lakes Loop Permit, quoted as written.
Getting one
Dates for Rae Lakes Loop sell out and then come back as people cancel. PermitSnag watches Rae Lakes Loop Permit and sends you an alert the moment one reappears.
Common questions about the Rae Lakes Loop permit
Do I need a permit to backpack Rae Lakes Loop?
Yes. You need a permit to backpack Rae Lakes Loop in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. It is the Rae Lakes Loop Permit, and it is booked in advance through a reservation system rather than won in a lottery.
How much does a Rae Lakes Loop permit cost?
$15 + $5/person.
How many people can be on one Rae Lakes Loop permit?
15 people.