Backpacking

General Information

 Getting permits

Day hikers do not need a permit but overnight hikers do.

Permits are issued based on the location of the trailhead where you begin your trip. For example, if you plan to enter Dusy Basin in Kings Canyon National Park through Bishop Pass by starting from South Lake, you would get your permit from the Inyo National Forest White Mountain Ranger District Office since the South Lake trailhead is in the Inyo National Forest. However, hikers wishing to enter Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks from the Big Meadows Road trailheads in Giant Sequoia National Monument should get their permits from Grant Grove.

Grant Grove (includes hikers entering the park from the Big Meadows Road trailheads in Giant Sequoia National Monument or Sierra National Forest)

 Permits issued from Grant Grove Visitor Center

Redwood Canyon Trail (Redwood Saddle trailhead): Mostly easy hiking. 2 easy 6-mile (9.6 km) loops through sequoia groves. No campfires. 2-night limit. First campsite - Redwood Creek (1 mile/1.6 km) Limit 15 people/day. Maximum group size is 10.

J.O. Pass Trail (Sunset Meadow trailhead): Moderate hike; first 2 miles (3.2 km) hardest. Forests, lakes. 5.5 miles (8.8 km) to Jenny Lake (Forest Service); 9 miles (14.4 km) to Twin Lakes. First campsite - Rowell Meadow (2 miles/3.2 km) Limit 15 people/day.

Belle Canyon Trail (Sunset Meadow trailhead): Moderate hike; first 2 miles (3.2 km) hardest. Forests, lakes and vistas. 6 miles (9.6 km) to Seville Lake; 8 miles (12.8 km) to Lost Lake. First campsite - Rowell Meadow (2 miles/3.2 km) Limit 25 people/day.

Sugarloaf Trail (Sunset Meadow trailhead): Moderate hike. Spectacular glaciated canyons. First campsite - Rowell Meadow (2 miles/3.2 km) Limit 25 people/day.

 Cedar Grove/ Roads End

Permits issued from Road's End

Bubbs Creek Trail (Road's End): Steep then steady grade. Access to John Muir/Pacific Crest trails (JMT/PCT). Limit 1 night per camp area on JMT from Woods Creek to Glen Pass and in some neighboring areas. No campfires above 10,000' (3048 meters). Trailhead to begin the Rae Lakes Loop going counter-clockwise. See Woods Creek below. First campsite - Sphinx Creek (4 miles/6.4 km) Limit 25 people/day.

Woods Creek Trail (Road's End): Steady moderate climb. Very busy trail. Vistas, rivers and high lakes. Access to JMT/PCT. Trailhead to begin the Rae Lakes Loop going clockwise. See Bubbs Creek above. Bubbs and Woods Creeks are popular horse-party trails. First campsite - Paradise Valley (6.5 miles/10.4 km) Limit 25 people/day.

Copper Creek Trail (Road's End): Hot, steep climb; leave early in the day. Forests, vistas, alpine lakes. Access to Middle Fork of Kings River. No campfires in Granite Basin or above 10,000' (3048 meters). First campsite - Lower Tent Meadow (4 miles/6.4 km) Limit 20 people/day.

Lewis Creek Trail ( Lewis Creek trailhead): Hot, steep, dusty climb. Trail becomes difficult to follow north of Kennedy Pass. Forest, lakes and vistas. No campfires above 10,000' (3048 meters). First campsite - Frypan Meadow (5.5 miles/8.8 km) Limit 25 people/day.

InyoNational Forest, White Mountain Ranger District

Permits issued by Inyo National Forest, White Mountain Ranger District

Piute Pass ( North Lake ): Moderate to strenuous. Access to John Muir Trail, Evolution Valley. First campsite - Lock Leven (3.5 miles/5.6 km) Limit 32 people/day.

Bishop Pass ( South Lake ): Moderate to strenuous. Access to Dusy Basin. First campsite - Long Lake (3 miles/4.8 km) Limit 36 people/day.