Rae Lakes

The Rae Lakes are a popular hiking destination in the Kings Beach area near the Sierra Nevada region in the Kings Canyon National Park. They are a series of lake located along the John Muir Trail. Backpackers and hikers love the area because it is scenic, offers challenging terrain and moderate weather conditions. The loop hike around the lakes is 46 miles long and climbs about 6,000 feet throughout. Hikers who want to complete the hike with overnight camping have a few options. There is a four night option that offers adequate time to explore most of the trail. You can do a one night hike if you push through, avoid sightseeing along the way and do some running along the way. You can also extend the hike beyond four nights and set up camp for several nights at each of the lakeshores along the way. Portions of the hike can be done for just a few hours on a daytime trip. The trail is popular in the warmers months, so if you plan to camp, you may need to reserve space. The Cedar Grove Visitor Center and Village features a hotel, restaurant and store. The campgrounds feature pay showers at the Visitors Center. You can reach the Rae Lakes area from Los Angeles or San Francisco in less than six hours.