Sierra backpacking: 7 days Paradise Valley and Rae Lakes extended loop from Kearsarge Pass

Eastern Sierra - Seven days backpacking trip from the Kearsarge Pass Trailhead: Kearsarge Pass, Charlotte Lake, Bubbs Creek, Sphinx Creek, Mist Falls, Lower Paradise Valley, Upper Paradise Valley, Woods Creek, Dollar Lake, Rae Lakes Basin, Glen Pass, Bullfrog Lake, Kearsarge Lakes. John Muir Wilderness - Inyo National Forest Kings Canyon National Park Bishop, California. Trailhead: Kearsarge Pass Trailhead July 2026 Itinerary: This backpacking trip was an extended version of the classic "Rae Lakes and Paradise Valley Loop" that is normally done by most backpackers from the Roads End Trailhead. Our extended version started from the Kearsarge Pass Trailhead and included the Kearsarge Pass Trail over Kearsarge Pass, a first camp night at Charlotte Lake and a final camp night at the Kearsarge Lakes before exiting to the Kearsarge Pass/Onion Valley Trailhead The hike was all on-trail and generally speaking easy - not challenging for expert hikers in good condition. Day 1: Onion Valley Kearsarge Pass Trailhead to Kearsarge Pass. Kearsarge Pass Trail to the Charlotte Lake trail to Charlotte Lake. Camp at Charlotte Lake. Day 2: Charlotte Lake to the JMT Trail, down to Lower Vidette Meadow to the Bubbs Creek Trail. Bubbs Creek Trail to the Sphinx Creek Junction. Camp at Sphinx Creek. Day 3: Sphinx Creek Camp to Upper Paradise Valley via the Bubbs Creek trail and the Paradise Valley trail. Camp at Upper Paradise Valley. Day 4: Upper Paradise Valley to Dollar Lake. Woods Creek Trail from Upper Paradise Valley to the JMT Trail Junction. John Muir Trail to Dollar Lake. Camp at Dollar Lake. Day 5: Dollar Lake to Lower Rae Lake. Day hike around the Rae Lake Basin. Camp at Lower Rae Lake. Day 6: Lower Rae Lake to Kearsarge Lakes. JMT trail from Lower Rae Lake, over Glen Pass to the junction with the Bullfrog Lake Trail. Bullfrog Lake Trail to the Kearsarge Lakes trail to Kearsarge Lakes. Camp at Kearsarge Lakes. Day 7: Kearsarge Lakes to the Kearsarge Pass/Onion Valley Trailhead via the Kearsarge Pass Trail. 72 mi, 12,835 ft elevation gain. https://www.alltrails.com/explore/rec... Notes about the map: the map is indicative of the trip itinerary although mileage and moving time cannot be considered as reference as I often deviated from the route for filming and photography; also the moving time on the map includes all stops and breaks during the day as I stop recording only once camp was setup for each day. #raelakes #paradisevalley #sierranevada #hiking #backpacking #kingscanyonnationalpark #johnmuirwilderness #inyonationalforest CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro 01:57 - Kearsarge Pass trail to Kearsarge Pass 04:16 - Kearsarge Pass 04:49 - Kearsarge Pass to Charlotte Lake 06:00 - Charlotte Lake, Charlotte Lake Camp 06:43 - Charlotte Lake to John Muir Trail to Bubbs Creek Trail 08:14 - Bubbs Creek Trail to Sphinx Creek 10:19 - Sphinx Creek Camp (Avalanche Pass Trail Junction) 10:53 - Bubbs Creek Trail to Paradise Valley Trail 13:08 - Paradise Valley Trail to Mist Falls 15:25 - Mist Falls 17:09 - Paradise Valley Trail to Lower Paradise Valley 18:04 - Paradise Valley Trail to Upper Paradise Valley 19:00 - Upper Paradise Valley Camp 19:48 - Woods Creek Trail to John Muir Trail 21:52 - John Muir Trail to Dollar Lake 23:30 - Dollar Lake Camp 24:42 - Hike through to lower Rae Lakes Basin 27:22 - Arrowhead Lake 28:35 - Lower Rae Lake and Lower Rae Lake Camp 30:00 - Afternoon hike through the Rae Lakes Basin 32:42 - Lower Rae Lake Camp, Golden Hours 33:42 - Lower Rae Lake to Glen Pass (John Muir Trail) 38:14 - Glen Pass 39:07 - Glen Pass to Bullfrog Lake to Kearsarge Lakes 41:39 - Hike around Kearsarge Lakes 43:08 - Kearsarge Lakes camp, Golden Hours 44:16 - Exit route to Kearsarge Pass and Kearsarge Pass trailhead