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Popular trail to nearby meadows, cascades, and waterfall. Lightly used backcountry fir forest trail past the waterfall.


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Map Key

4.2

Miles

6.8

KM

Point to Point

7,278' 2,218 m

High

5,998' 1,828 m

Low

172' 52 m

Up

1,452' 443 m

Down

7%

Avg Grade (4°)

33%

Max Grade (18°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features River/Creek · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers

Description

Kings Creek Trail is found along the park road at a well marked trailhead. From the trailhead sign, head down the steps into the fir forest. Flat at first, the trail runs along Kings Creek that is to the right/south. Lower Kings Creek Meadows with the creek running through them are soon passed. Sifford Lakes Trail is passed on the right at the 0.4 mile mark.

At the 0.6 mile mark a trail fork is reached. Both directions of the fork rejoin later. To continue on Kings Creek Trail, go left at this fork. One can NOT go right at this fork - the right fork is Kings Creek Cascades Foot Trail, a one-way, narrow exposed stair step trail down along Kings Creek Cascades. When returning from Kings Creek Falls (hiking in the opposite direction from what is shown here), one can take Kings Creek Cascades Foot Trail.

For the next half mile, Kings Creek Trail descends past some rocky overlooks with great views, and then winds down through the fir forest to meet up again with Kings Creek Cascades Foot Trail at the 1.1 mile mark. Continuing on in the forest along Kings Creek, a few large cascades/mini waterfalls are passed before reaching Bench Lake Trail on the right/south at the 1.3 mile mark. Almost immediately after Bench Lake Trail, one comes to Kings Creek Falls. Rocky outcrops with viewing platforms provide a place to see the falls drop their entire 40+ feet. This is a great place to take a break, admire the falls and surrounding beauty, and snack.

Past the falls, Kings Creek Trail is very lightly used as it descends (mostly) gradually through the fir forest for the next 2.2 miles to the Summit Lake to Corral Meadow Trail junction. Leaving the falls, the trail veers north, away from Kings Creek. An unnamed creek is soon reached, and without crossing it, the trail swings right/east and follows it to where it empties into Kings Creek at the 3.4 mile mark. Just before the unnamed creek empties into Kings Creek, the trail crosses it.

At the 3.6 mile mark, Summit Lake to Corral Meadow Trail comes in from the north/left. Kings Creek Trail then veers south/right. After a short ways further, Kings Creek Trail comes to Kings Creek and crosses it on some well placed logs. From here, the trail is almost flat as it follows Kings Creek downstream. Kings Creek is to the left/east but drops steeply in its creek valley, so the trail is soon quite a ways above it.

Kings Creek Trail ends after another 0.6 miles, at a trail junction with the PCT and Grassy Swale Trail.

Flora & Fauna

Primarily fir forest with thin undergrowth. A few grassy meadows with Mule's Ears in creek areas. Wildflowers.

Contacts

Shared By:

Joan Pendleton

Trail Ratings

  4.1 from 12 votes

#8446

Overall
  4.1 from 12 votes
5 Star
33%
4 Star
42%
3 Star
25%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#720

in California

#8,446

Overall
1 Views Last Month
448 Since Jul 2, 2020
Intermediate Intermediate

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Photos

Looking up from the base of Kings Creek Falls.
Jul 6, 2020 near Chester, CA
Looking south from the trail to Kings Creek Falls.
Jul 6, 2020 near Chester, CA
Heading to Kings Creek Falls and overlooking the mountain
May 30, 2018 near Chester, CA
The Kings Creek Valley is below and mountains stretch forever into the distance including Mt. Hoffman, 7,833 ft., (center right). Juniper Lake is in the distance at the extreme right. Looking east from high on Kings Creek Trail.
Jul 3, 2020 near Chester, CA
Kings Creek Falls
May 30, 2018 near Chester, CA
Kings Creek Falls
May 30, 2018 near Chester, CA

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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 95 days ago
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Check-Ins

Jul 31, 2022
Tom H
Oct 2, 2020
Trevor Moore
2.2mi — 1h 59m
Jul 1, 2020
Joan Pendleton
Jun 10, 2020
Mike Peck
great falls
Aug 17, 2019
Z K
Jul 17, 2019
Matthew McVey
4.5mi — 3h 00m
Jan 27, 2019
Genady Shagal
Aug 7, 2018
Genady Shagal
40.460611, -121.459354
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