SEKI Wilderness Permit — Mineral King — Franklin Lakes
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks · California
Wilderness permit for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks via Mineral King — Franklin Lakes.
Get an alert when Franklin Lakes opens on your dates.
When it opens
- 6 months
- First come, first served from six months before your entry date, at 7 am Pacific, until one week beforeYou book on the agency's site.
Source: nps.gov
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Franklin Lakes were gone within 10 minutes.
Franklin Lakes reservation dates
- Season
- May 22 to September 26
- daily quota
- 30people
- max group size
- 15people
How to get a Franklin Lakes permit
As of September 2026, Franklin Lakes in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Franklin Lakes is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Franklin Lakes permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The permit season for Franklin Lakes runs May 22 through September 26.
- Type
- Overnight
- Location
- Sierra Nevada, CA
Step 1: Create a National Park Service account
Sign up at National Park Service if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
Step 2: Know the release schedule
Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.
Step 3: Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
Step 4: Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Franklin Lakes pro tips
- This is the biggest quota in Mineral King, so it is the entry point to try first
- Four miles of steep climbing before you can camp means an early start
- Carry a stove: the fire bans cover essentially everywhere you will sleep
- Franklin Pass is the door to the Kern, which is where the trip gets interesting
- Ten of the 30 daily spots are not reservable and are held for walk-ups at the ranger station
More on Franklin Lakes: Live availability activityWhen Franklin Lakes permits open up
How much a Franklin Lakes permit costs
Franklin Lakes permit fee: NPS charges $15 each trip plus $5 per person within the quota season, paid on Recreation.gov permit 445857.
The Franklin Lakes hike
- Route Type
- Varies
- Duration
- 2-5 days
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
Franklin Lakes landmarks
- 1Mineral King trailhead
Parking at the end of the road in the upper valley or at the Sawtooth trailhead.
- 2Franklin-Farewell Trail Junction
NPS puts the first allowable camping here.
- 3Franklin Lakes
The red-rock basin below the pass.
- 4Franklin Pass
The crossing east toward Rattlesnake Creek and the Kern Canyon.
Steep and strenuous over Franklin Pass into Rattlesnake Creek and the Kern Canyon, on the biggest quota in Mineral King.
About this permit
Mineral King - Franklin is a Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness entry point in the upper Mineral King Valley, climbing the Franklin Pass trail.
NPS publishes a 30-person daily quota for this entry point, of which 20 are reservable, making it the largest quota in Mineral King. The 2026 quota season runs May 22 to September 26, with reservations from six months to one week before entry and released daily at 7:00 AM Pacific. Outside that season permits are free, self-issued and not limited by daily quotas.
NPS puts the first allowable camping 4 miles in at the Franklin-Farewell Trail Junction, and the entry point is the standard start for loops over Sawtooth Pass, Timber Gap or Farewell Gap.
The route
From the upper Mineral King Valley the trail climbs toward the Franklin-Farewell junction. NPS puts the first allowable camping 4 miles from the trailhead at that junction.
Above the lakes, Franklin Pass drops east into Rattlesnake Creek and on to the Kern Canyon, which is the connection to the High Sierra Trail and the Kern plateau. Loop options come back over Sawtooth Pass, Timber Gap or Farewell Gap.
Fire rules here are unusually detailed. NPS prohibits campfires above 9,000 feet in the Kaweah River drainage, at Pinto Lake, at Hamilton Lakes and in Mineral King Valley above the ranger station, and above 10,000 feet in the Kern River drainage. There is also no camping at Columbine Lake and a one-night camping limit at Hamilton Lake.
Why it matters
NPS describes the Franklin Pass trail as steep and strenuous with lakes and vistas, giving access to Rattlesnake Creek and the Kern Canyon, and suggests combining it with Timber Gap, Sawtooth Pass or Farewell Gap for loop options. It is the Mineral King entry that opens the whole southern Sierra behind the valley.
The feeling
The climb up Franklin Creek is a long steady grind with the Farewell Gap wall opposite you the whole way. The lakes sit below the pass in a red-rock bowl that looks nothing like the granite everywhere else in the park.
Franklin Lakes hike highlights
- A 30-person daily quota, of which 20 are reservable, per NPS
- Permits issued at the Mineral King Ranger Station
- Parking at the end of the road in the upper valley or at the Sawtooth trailhead
- First allowable camping 4 miles in at the Franklin-Farewell junction
- Loop options over Timber Gap, Sawtooth Pass or Farewell Gap
How hard the Franklin Lakes hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required4/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills1/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential3/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity2/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route3/5
Best for: Parties heading over Franklin Pass to the Kern, or linking a Mineral King loop.
Recommended experience: Prior multi-day backpacking and comfort with sustained climbing at altitude.
Not recommended for: Anyone wanting a short overnight, since the first legal camp is 4 miles up a steep trail.
When to hike Franklin Lakes
Best time to visit
The quota season runs May 22 to September 26 in 2026. July through September is the reliable window for the pass. September is the quietest month before the free self-issue season starts on September 27.
- Peak
- July and August
- Shoulder
- Late June and September
Summer
Warm on the climb, cold at the lakes, storms most afternoons.
Crowd level · moderate
- Advantage: Largest quota in Mineral King
- Advantage: Franklin Pass clear from July
- Advantage: Loop options in three directions
- Challenge: A long exposed climb
- Challenge: Storms at the pass
- Challenge: Fire bans across most camping elevations
Fall
Cold and clear. Quota season ends September 26, then free self-issue.
Crowd level · low
- Advantage: Best climbing weather
- Advantage: Free self-issue permits from September 27
- Advantage: Empty basin
- Challenge: Hard freezes above 10,000 feet
- Challenge: Reduced ranger services
- Challenge: Road closes with early snow
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Backcountry Tips
- Day 4: Extreme heat (96°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
- Day 5: Extreme heat (96°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
- Day 6: Extreme heat (99°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
Today
76°
58°
Tue
81°
60°
Wed
91°
67°
Thu
96°
71°
Fri
96°
73°
Sat
99°
74°
Sun
99°
75°
Franklin Lakes photography guide
Golden Hour
Evening light on the Farewell Gap wall from the Franklin Creek climb.
Best Light
Morning at Franklin Lakes, when the red rock above the basin catches first sun.
Beat the Crowds
Most parties stop at the lakes. Cross the pass and you will not see anyone until the Kern.
Classic Shots
- Mineral King Valley from the switchbacks
- The Franklin Lakes basin under the pass
- The Kern side from the top of Franklin Pass
Franklin Lakes rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- A park-allowed animal-resistant food storage container
- A stove, since fires are banned across most of the elevation you will camp at
- Water treatment
- Warm layers for camps at and above the Franklin Lakes basin
Rules & regulations
- 01The first allowable camping is 4 miles from the trailhead at the Franklin-Farewell Trail Junction
- 02No camping at Columbine Lake
- 03One-night camping limit at Hamilton Lake
- 04No campfires above 9,000 feet in the Kaweah River drainage, at Pinto Lake, at Hamilton Lakes, or in Mineral King Valley above the ranger station
- 05No campfires above 10,000 feet in the Kern River drainage
- 06Maximum group size is 15
- 07Permits must be physically picked up and validated at a wilderness office
Hazards & considerations
- A long steep climb with limited shade above the Franklin-Farewell junction
- Afternoon thunderstorms on an exposed pass crossing
- Snow at Franklin Pass into early summer
- The Mineral King road, which is slow and narrow
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Franklin Lakes.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Franklin Lakes · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
Some links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
Franklin Lakes FAQ
How many people per day get a Mineral King Franklin permit?
NPS publishes a 30-person daily quota for the Franklin entry point, of which 20 are reservable. That is the largest quota in Mineral King.
Where is the first place I can camp on the Franklin Pass trail?
NPS puts the first allowable camping 4 miles from the trailhead at the Franklin-Farewell Trail Junction.
Where are campfires banned on the Franklin Pass trail?
NPS prohibits campfires above 9,000 feet in the Kaweah River drainage, at Pinto Lake, at Hamilton Lakes, in Mineral King Valley above the ranger station, and above 10,000 feet in the Kern River drainage.
Can I camp at Columbine Lake on a Franklin permit?
No. NPS prohibits camping at Columbine Lake, and sets a one-night camping limit at Hamilton Lake.
Franklin Lakes trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
Sign in to report trail conditions.
Questions
No questions yet
Be the first to ask about Franklin Lakes.
Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a Franklin Lakes permit
- Same AreaPermit required
Mineral King - Sawtooth Pass Road
The Sawtooth Pass approach toward Columbine Lake and the Big Five Lakes.
Tradeoffs
A rougher, steeper crossing on a separate entry point.
- Same AreaPermit required
Mineral King - Timber Gap
North out of the valley over Timber Gap toward Cliff Creek.
Tradeoffs
A shorter pass crossing that pairs with Franklin for a loop.
- Easier AlternativePermit required
Mineral King - Eagle Lake
A 3.4-mile walk to a lake basin in the same valley.
Tradeoffs
Much shorter and simpler, but a single destination rather than a route.
Where to stay near Franklin Lakes
- Potwisha CampgroundSequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
- Buckeye Flat CampgroundSequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
- Atwell Mill CampgroundSequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
- All California campgrounds
Trip planning
Articles that plan a trip around this permit.
Plan the full trip, not just the permit
Build your full itinerary start to finish
Add your dates and get a day-by-day plan: what needs a permit, what gear to bring, and one link to share with your whole group to coordinate every step.
No permit needed to start
One tick helps us more than you’d think
Google lets you pick the sites it highlights for you. Add PermitSnag and our permit pages get marked as one of yours in AI Overviews and AI Mode.
Takes less than a minute.