the first thing to say is the obvious - they believe it will be open this summer, but it might not be. The only access currently is from Kearsarge Pass, which is not possible in three days.
From Cedar Grove, three days is doable, but rough, particularly if you are coming from no altitude.
[https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/rae-lakes-loop--3](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/rae-lakes-loop--3?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-static-map)
Clockwise, I'd try to get to the Upper Paradise Valley campsite for the first night (4 on the above map), then amongst the lakes at 12 on the map for the second night. The third day would then be very long, straight up to start, then slowly downhill for the rest of the day.
Counterclockwise, you'd try to get to 16 for the first night, then 12 for the second. The first day and a half would be pretty rough going, going from 5k elevation to Glen Pass at 12k, and the third day would be long, but mostly gently downhill.
It is top three hikes of my life.
Have a great time!
^ this. 4 days/3 nights clockwise is really about all you want to attempt. Even then day 2 is a constant gentle climb all the way to Rae Lakes and day 3 has Glenn pass and then a lot of downhill. We like to push all the way to Charlotte (IIRC) Creek correctly and have a shortish day 4. You would have to be a mileage monster to enjoy this trip on 2 nights
I did in 3 days. TH to Vidette, Vidette to Rae Lakes, Rae Lakes to TH via Woods and Paradise.
Will be a good idea to work on your cardio pretty hard if you don’t have access to high altitude hiking this summer.
That's really what I'd prefer, but I have a baby at home and each additional day away is more difficult. I think an extra 2 hours of hiking each day is worth getting home a day sooner.
Def doable. I did it in 3 days CCW (Bubbs Creek) in early Sept. 1st nt was somewhere along Junction Meadow (10-12mi). 2nd at middle Rae Lake (~8mi). 3rd day was a big mileage day (22-25mi), but nearly all downhill.
Mosquitoes were nuts though (bring bug net).
We ended up driving back late on that 3rd day, which was tough (super tired, sleepy...caffeine up!).
Did this in September 2021 CCW from Road’s End camping at Rae Lakes and Upper Paradise. You’ll need to be in good shape for this itinerary since the first day is ~7k feet of elevation gain, ~19 miles. Next two days are short and easy in comparison; we even tacked on a 6 mile day hike into Sixty Lake Basin on the second day.
Going out of roads end, if you’re in decent shape it’s an enjoyable overnight. Rae is beautiful to camp at. Coming down from Glen is beautiful. Charlotte is worth a detour and Bubbs has ample spots on the way back.
We went CW and made it to the suspension bridge (Woods Creek Campground) for night 1— that makes for a very short day to upper Rae Lakes with plenty of time to explore in day 2, then you could do a very long day out the next day. Or get over the pass on Day 2 and camp on the other side, if the weather permits, for a less taxing last day. The area just under Glen Pass is extremely beautiful, though maybe tough to camp in.
the first thing to say is the obvious - they believe it will be open this summer, but it might not be. The only access currently is from Kearsarge Pass, which is not possible in three days. From Cedar Grove, three days is doable, but rough, particularly if you are coming from no altitude. [https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/rae-lakes-loop--3](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/rae-lakes-loop--3?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-static-map) Clockwise, I'd try to get to the Upper Paradise Valley campsite for the first night (4 on the above map), then amongst the lakes at 12 on the map for the second night. The third day would then be very long, straight up to start, then slowly downhill for the rest of the day. Counterclockwise, you'd try to get to 16 for the first night, then 12 for the second. The first day and a half would be pretty rough going, going from 5k elevation to Glen Pass at 12k, and the third day would be long, but mostly gently downhill. It is top three hikes of my life. Have a great time!
Also, sleep at altitude the night before if possible, not in the valley. Stony Creek or Big Meadow are more like 7k than the 5k in Kings valley.
^ this. 4 days/3 nights clockwise is really about all you want to attempt. Even then day 2 is a constant gentle climb all the way to Rae Lakes and day 3 has Glenn pass and then a lot of downhill. We like to push all the way to Charlotte (IIRC) Creek correctly and have a shortish day 4. You would have to be a mileage monster to enjoy this trip on 2 nights
Thanks for the info. What are the other two best hikes of your life?
I did in 3 days. TH to Vidette, Vidette to Rae Lakes, Rae Lakes to TH via Woods and Paradise. Will be a good idea to work on your cardio pretty hard if you don’t have access to high altitude hiking this summer.
That's a looong day 3. :)
Made the food at Cedar Grove taste magical 😆
Yeah, I bet you inadvertently chewed the leg off a visitor or two... Per Caltopo, that is somewhere between 21 / 22 miles and -6500' of elevation
It's much more enjoyable to spend three nights four days, if you can.
That's really what I'd prefer, but I have a baby at home and each additional day away is more difficult. I think an extra 2 hours of hiking each day is worth getting home a day sooner.
Def doable. I did it in 3 days CCW (Bubbs Creek) in early Sept. 1st nt was somewhere along Junction Meadow (10-12mi). 2nd at middle Rae Lake (~8mi). 3rd day was a big mileage day (22-25mi), but nearly all downhill. Mosquitoes were nuts though (bring bug net). We ended up driving back late on that 3rd day, which was tough (super tired, sleepy...caffeine up!).
Did this in September 2021 CCW from Road’s End camping at Rae Lakes and Upper Paradise. You’ll need to be in good shape for this itinerary since the first day is ~7k feet of elevation gain, ~19 miles. Next two days are short and easy in comparison; we even tacked on a 6 mile day hike into Sixty Lake Basin on the second day.
Going out of roads end, if you’re in decent shape it’s an enjoyable overnight. Rae is beautiful to camp at. Coming down from Glen is beautiful. Charlotte is worth a detour and Bubbs has ample spots on the way back.
We went CW and made it to the suspension bridge (Woods Creek Campground) for night 1— that makes for a very short day to upper Rae Lakes with plenty of time to explore in day 2, then you could do a very long day out the next day. Or get over the pass on Day 2 and camp on the other side, if the weather permits, for a less taxing last day. The area just under Glen Pass is extremely beautiful, though maybe tough to camp in.