Pear Lake in Sequoia National Park: The Lakes Trail and the Winter Hut
Pear Lake sits at 9,200 feet, about 6 miles and 2,000 feet of climbing from the Wolverton trailhead (7,200 feet) on the Lakes Trail. It is a wilderness destination: an overnight stay needs a wilderness permit, and for a few weeks each winter the Sequoia Parks Conservancy opens a reservable ski hut at the same lake. Sequoia entrance costs $35 per vehicle, valid seven days and good at Kings Canyon too, with no reservation required. Pair the hike with our Sequoia National Park itinerary.
The Lakes Trail to Pear Lake
The trail starts at Wolverton, off the Generals Highway near Giant Forest, at 7,200 feet. About two miles in, it forks: the Hump Trail climbs a bare granite shelf, shorter and steeper with almost no shade, while the Watchtower Trail is longer, holds more shade, and passes a cliff-edge overlook above Tokopah Valley. Both routes rejoin before Heather Lake. From there the trail continues past Emerald Lake and up to Pear Lake, the last and highest basin, at 9,200 feet. All in, plan on about 6 miles and 2,000 feet of gain one way, which most parties treat as a full day hike or an overnight.
Wilderness Permit for Pear Lake
A day hike to Pear Lake needs no permit. Camping overnight anywhere past the day-use area does. During the quota season, May 22 through September 26, permits cost $15 per trip plus $5 per person. Reserve on Recreation.gov up to six months ahead, with new dates released daily at 7 a.m. Pacific time, then pick the permit up in person at a trailhead desk with photo ID between 1 p.m. the day before your trip and 10 a.m. the morning of. Walk-up permits open at 1 p.m. the day before, and a waitlist forms once the quota fills. Outside the quota season, permits are free, self-issued, and not limited by a daily quota.
The Pear Lake Winter Hut
From February through early April, the Sequoia Parks Conservancy runs a backcountry hut near Pear Lake that sleeps ten. The 2026 season runs February 6 through April 5, and reservations open December 9 at 9 a.m., first come, first served rather than a lottery. A bed costs $75 per person per night, and the Conservancy caps bookings at ten people a night. This is not a beginner outing: the access route is the same 6 miles and 2,000 feet of climbing from Wolverton, on skis or snowshoes, over avalanche terrain, and it can take eight hours or more in poor conditions. The Conservancy is explicit that it is for experienced backcountry skiers and snowshoers only.
Entrance Fee and When to Go
Sequoia and Kings Canyon share a single entrance fee: $35 per vehicle, valid for seven days, with no timed entry or reservation required to get into the park. The trail itself is a different story. At 9,200 feet, the basin around Pear Lake holds snow well after the valley floor has cleared, and most years it is not reliably free of snow until well into summer. Late summer and early fall, after the quota season ends on September 26, is a quieter, permit-simpler window, but check current trail and snow conditions on the park website before you go.
Plan the Rest of Your Sequoia Trip
Pear Lake works best as one big day inside a longer Sequoia stay built around Giant Forest and the Generals Highway. Tell us your dates and we will help you fit the permit and the rest of the park around it. Planning is free.
Keep planning with Sequoia National Park Day Trip and Best Things to Do in Sequoia National Park (2026 Guide).
Pear Lake in Sequoia National Park: The Lakes Trail and the Winter Hut FAQs
About 6 miles and 2,000 feet of climbing one way from the Wolverton trailhead, on the Lakes Trail to 9,200 feet.
Only if you stay overnight. A day hike needs no permit. Camping past the day-use area requires a wilderness permit, which costs $15 per trip plus $5 per person during the May 22 to September 26 quota season.
A winter backcountry hut run by the Sequoia Parks Conservancy near Pear Lake, open February 6 through April 5 in 2026. Reservations open December 9 at 9 a.m., first come first served, at $75 per person per night, for experienced backcountry skiers and snowshoers only.
They are the two forks of the Lakes Trail and rejoin before Heather Lake. The Hump is shorter and steeper with little shade. The Watchtower is longer, holds more shade, and passes a cliff-edge overlook above Tokopah Valley. Many hikers go up one and down the other.
$35 per vehicle, valid for seven days and good at both Sequoia and Kings Canyon, with no reservation needed.
At 9,200 feet, the basin holds snow later than the trailhead below it. Most years it is not reliably clear until well into summer. Check the park's current trail conditions before an early-season trip.
Yes. The worked day-by-day plan is Kings Canyon Backpacking: A 4-Day Sierra Itinerary (4 Days), with the permits, the stays and the drive times already sorted. Tell us your dates and we will put it together for you and confirm what is genuinely open on those days. Asking is free: no card, no deposit, and nothing is held until you say yes.
