Woods Creek Gear Checklist

What shapes your gear on Woods Creek

Mist Falls

The 2010 route describes a 60 foot wall of water about 4 tenths of a mile past cascades, and says late May is peak flow. A 1999 day hiker was sprayed from 100 yards away and found his camera covered in mist. In 2013 the wind blew the mist into the faces and lenses of a group trying to photograph it.

From Backpacker, Kevin's Hiking Page and Backcountrycow

Designated sites and a bear locker

The Park Service says camping in Lower Paradise Valley is only in designated sites and limited to two nights in Paradise Valley. The 2013 group picked site number 9, sunny, near a pit toilet and right beside a bear locker, with only two other sites taken on the day the road opened.

From National Park Service, Sequoia & Kings Canyon: Rae Lakes Loop, National Park Service, Sequoia & Kings Canyon: Minimum Impact Restrictions and Backcountrycow

Bears near camp

The 2013 group saw a small bear walk past their site along the river at dinner. A day hiker had a bear break through bushes at arm's length beside the trail. The 2010 magazine route told hikers to store smelly items in a locker or canister at least 50 yards from the tent.

From Backcountrycow, Venture Beyond the Picture and Backpacker

Where the first camp is, by source

The Park Service trail list gives Paradise Valley at 6.5 miles as the first allowed camp. Its Rae Lakes mileage table puts Lower Paradise at 5.7 miles, with no camping at Mist Falls at 3.9 miles. A 2013 overnighter reached Lower Paradise at 7.4 miles by their count and a 2010 magazine route reached Upper Paradise at 9.1 miles, against 10 miles in the Park Service table.

From National Park Service, Sequoia & Kings Canyon: Wilderness Trail Descriptions, National Park Service, Sequoia & Kings Canyon: Rae Lakes Loop, Backcountrycow and Backpacker

Food storage, as the Park Service pages state it

The food storage page lists the Rae Lakes Loop among the areas that require a container from May 1 through October 31, and the Park Service loop table starts with Paradise Valley. The minimum impact page names the Woods Creek drainage south from Pinchot Pass and the Bubbs Creek drainage. The permit page says containers are required in most of the park. Rentals are at visitor centers other than Cedar Grove, so a hiker starting at Roads End needs to arrive with one.

From National Park Service, Sequoia & Kings Canyon: Wilderness Food Storage, National Park Service, Sequoia & Kings Canyon: Rae Lakes Loop, National Park Service, Sequoia & Kings Canyon: Minimum Impact Restrictions and National Park Service, Sequoia & Kings Canyon: Wilderness Permits

The river bridge

According to the Park Service, winter storms in 2016 to 2017 took out the South Fork Kings River bridge upstream of Paradise Valley, and it calls the crossing potentially extremely hazardous. Trip reports from before that, such as the 2013 one that walked over a bridge at Upper Paradise, describe conditions from before the washout.

From National Park Service, Sequoia & Kings Canyon: Rae Lakes Loop and Backcountrycow

Elevation of the valley

A 1999 hiker put Mist Falls at 5,663 feet and Paradise Valley at 6,600 feet. The Park Service sets the Kings Canyon campfire limit at 10,000 feet and says to use existing fire rings where fires are allowed.

From Kevin's Hiking Page and National Park Service, Sequoia & Kings Canyon: Minimum Impact Restrictions

The hot, sandy start

On a late April day in 2013 the opening two miles ran level over sand with no cover from the sun, and the group found it hot even though they had expected cold at that elevation. The trailhead sits at about 5,036 feet.

From Backcountrycow

What hikers carry on Woods Creek

• A way to keep the camera dry at Mist Falls

  A 1999 photographer's camera was covered in mist 100 yards from the base. In 2013 the wind blew spray into a group trying to shoot it, so they moved to the top of the falls for lunch.

  From Kevin's Hiking Page and Backcountrycow

• A pump or filter and a plan for the walk to the water

  The 2013 group pumped water at the river and walked about half a mile along it to a small sandy beach. The 2010 route advised against stashing food near the river, so water and food storage pull toward different spots.

  From Backcountrycow and Backpacker

• A bear canister

  The 2013 group bought one right before the trip and a small bear still came past camp. The 2010 magazine route also called canisters required in Paradise Valley, in line with the Park Service listing of the Rae Lakes Loop.

  Rentals are not available at Cedar Grove, so arrive with a canister.

  From Backcountrycow, Backpacker and National Park Service, Sequoia & Kings Canyon: Wilderness Food Storage

• Bug protection for the river

  Mosquito bites started as soon as the 2013 group pitched, so they put on mosquito-proof gear before walking to the river. A later day hiker met a swarm so dense they could not stop or talk near the water, though it eased at the falls.

  From Backcountrycow and Venture Beyond the Picture

• Sun cover and water for the first two miles

  The flat sandy stretch near the trailhead was hot and exposed on a late April day. The climb after Mist Falls had little shade, and the group took frequent breaks in full sun.

  From Backcountrycow and Backpacker

• A warm layer for the cold night

  The same group baked on the trail in April and still slept cold at their Lower Paradise site. That group ate mashed potatoes topped with chicken noodles, and a dip in the river at Upper Paradise lasted only a couple of minutes.

  From Backcountrycow

Gear questions for Woods Creek