41.4 mi
Distance
9,675 ft
Elev. Gain
17h 43m
Est. Time
Loop
Route Type
Expert
Difficulty
About This Trail
We don't publish a description for Rae Lakes Trail unless we can point you at the agency it came from. We don't have one yet. The planning figures above — distance, elevation gain, estimated time, route type — come from the source listed on this trail.
National Park Service manages this trail and is the authority for conditions, closures and route notes. See official sources below. Spot something we should add?
Trail Conditions
Trail Conditions
We have no current condition data for this trail. Check with the operator before you go, and submit a report below if you've been recently.
No recent condition reports. Be the first to share what you see on the trail.
Elevation Profile
| Point | Distance from start | Elevation |
|---|---|---|
| Start | 0.0 mi | 1,554 ft |
| High point | 15.5 mi | 3,643 ft |
| End | 37.1 mi | 1,554 ft |
Trail Details
- No dogs
- Route Type
- Loop
Permit required
Apply through the issuing agency. Many systems run seasonal lotteries or fixed application windows — confirm current dates on the agency page.
Overnight trips on the Rae Lakes Loop need a wilderness permit, issued only from the Road's End Permit Station in Cedar Grove. During the quota season the number of people starting each day is limited by entry point, so book on Recreation.gov. Permits are not required for day hikes in the parks, other than Mt. Whitney.
Official sources & verification
Managed by National Park Service
Reserve or permit
- Apply for permit
Required permit application for this trail. Many systems run seasonal lotteries or fixed application windows — confirm current dates here.
- Wilderness permits (Recreation.gov)
Recreation.gov
Source of truth
- Agency source page
The page our published rules and notes are derived from.
- Trail conditions
National Park Service
- Day hiking
National Park Service
- National Park Service unit page
Alerts, conditions, and the unit's plan-your-visit page.
Where it is
- Nearest town:
- Independence, CA · about 20 mi away
- County:
- Fresno County, CA
- Jurisdiction:
- Kings Canyon National Park · National Park Service
Nearest town and county from U.S. Census Bureau place records and county boundaries.
Verify by phone or mail
- Operator:559-565-3341
Highlights
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your experience and help others plan their visit.
Legacy import — verify before navigating
Path geometry came from our pre-launch legacy database. Routes have not yet been re-verified against the operator and may differ from the actual trail.
Nearby Trails
More trails near Rae Lakes Trail
Paradise Valley Trail
Roads End to Onion Valley Trail
King's Canyon to Mt Whitney
Avalanche Pass Trail to Roaring River Via Kanawyers Trail
Mt. Whitney Loop
Rae Lake via Bubbs Creek
In this park
Other trails in Kings Canyon National Park
Mist Falls Trail
California
Big Baldy Ridge Trail
California
Roaring River Falls Trail
California
Zumwalt Meadow Loop Trail
California
Zumwalt Meadow And Roaring River Falls
California
Paradise Valley Trail
California
Stay nearby
Campgrounds near this trail
ReservableMoraine Campground
4.4 mi away · CA
ReservableCanyon View Group Sites
4.6 mi away · CA
ReservableKings Canyon National Park Canyon View Group Sites
4.6 mi away · CA
ReservableSentinel Campground
4.9 mi away · CA
ReservableSheep Creek Campground
5.4 mi away · CA
Jennie Lakes-Backcountry
6.5 mi away · CA
Similar length
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Mount Whitney Trail
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High Sierra Trail
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Mount Langley
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American River Bike Trail (Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail)
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Iron Horse Regional Trail
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Trans-Catalina Trail
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