Paradise Valley Trail

Paradise Valley Trail is an 11.4-mile out-and-back from Road’s End to Lower Paradise, following Woods Creek past Mist Falls and into a broad granite valley. Allow about seven hours for a long day with roughly 1,500 feet of climbing. This map ends at Lower Paradise, not Upper Paradise and not the full Rae Lakes Loop. The mapped endpoint is Lower Paradise, listed 5.7 miles from Road’s End, so the saved distance uses that one-way figure twice. A separate Woods Creek description places the first allowed Paradise Valley campsite 6.5 miles away, which appears to be farther into the valley. Confirm the designated overnight site at the permit station. If the full valley is too much, Mist Falls is the shorter turnaround, listed separately at 8 miles round trip.

Start beside the Road’s End Permit Station. The first couple of miles follow a broad, sandy track through open ponderosa pine, incense cedar, and black oak, with the canyon walls already framing the river corridor. At the junction about two miles in, keep left for Woods Creek. The steel bridge goes over to Bubbs Creek, the other leg of the Rae Lakes Loop. Beyond the junction, the footing alternates between rocky open patches, damp ground near the river, and cooler forest. There is some shade, but the exposed parts can feel long on a warm day. This is a real approach walk, not a quick stroll to the waterfall.

Mist Falls arrives after roughly four miles. The last mile to the falls gains about 600 feet. The river pours over smooth granite and throws spray across the rocks, which makes the viewing area slippery and dangerous. Stay on the established path instead of scrambling closer to the water. The falls make a natural turnaround, but continuing means climbing rough steps and steep switchbacks above them. The view back down the canyon opens as you gain height; the forested walls and granite formations, including the Sphinx-shaped rock pile, give you a better sense of the canyon’s scale.

Above the switchbacks, cascades spill over granite slabs before the river narrows at a jam of bleached logs. That logjam marks the entrance to Paradise Valley. The canyon floor opens, the river slows into green pools, and cottonwoods and aspens line parts of the bank. The trail becomes nearly level for a stretch through dense woods, so the scenery is quieter and more enclosed than the climb below. Lower Paradise is a common walking destination and the mapped endpoint here. The route continues beyond it toward the higher Rae Lakes backcountry, but that is a longer itinerary with different camping and river-crossing decisions. Cottonwoods and aspens may add fall color along the water.

The mileage is manageable for a fit hiker, but the long return and rocky climb beyond Mist Falls make this a hard day hike. For a shorter outing, turn around at the falls; the separate Mist Falls walk is listed as 8 miles round trip. Overnight trips require a wilderness permit issued at Road’s End, and food must be stored in a bear-resistant canister. Camping in Lower Paradise is limited to designated sites, and stays in Paradise Valley are limited to two nights. Pets are not allowed on park trails. The permit station and restroom are at the end of Highway 180 in Cedar Grove, about an hour’s drive from the Kings Canyon Visitor Center. Highway 180 normally closes for winter in mid-November and typically reopens in late April, subject to CalTrans, so check seasonal road access before making the drive.