Upper Middle Fork Kings Trail

Overview

This is a remote, 8.1-mile point-to-point backcountry segment along the Middle Fork of the Kings River between Simpson Meadow and the PCT junction near Palisade Creek. It’s stunning, raw, and punishing—best thought of as a rugged route with intermittent, faint tread rather than a consistently maintained trail. Expect granite canyons, emerald pools, and long stretches where progress is slow.

Trail Experience

From the Simpson Meadow side, you’ll get classic views of the rushing Middle Fork before the route tightens into a deep canyon with sheer walls. Sections are minimally maintained with periods of bushwhacking through thorny brush, deadfall detours, and rocky, overgrown tread. Descents into the gorge can feature loose, dusty switchbacks. Near the river, travel often devolves into boulder-hopping on polished granite; route-finding is continuous and the “path” can simply vanish. Parts of the corridor pass through a treeless, dry plateau that bakes in summer and shows open, burn-scarred landscapes.

Water crossings are a defining challenge. The junction with Palisade Creek can be swift and high in average snow years; in big snow years, fords may be dangerous or impossible. Bridges are not reliable—one trip report encountered a missing footbridge and had to wade. Expect few viable fords at higher flows and plan for very slow travel.

Best Time to Hike

Late season (late summer into fall) is the safest window when river levels drop and fords become more reasonable. Spring and early summer snowmelt can push flows to levels that make river travel and crossings unsafe. Summer heat can be intense in exposed sections; the canyon’s steep walls also mean early shadows and long nights at river level outside midsummer.

Nature Notes

You’re walking through classic Sierra granite with steep canyon walls and patches of glacially polished rock. Vegetation ranges from buckthorn, manzanita, black oak, chemise, and bear clover at lower elevations to mixed conifer higher up. Wildlife in this corridor can include mule deer, black bear, bobcat, mountain lion, rattlesnakes, and plenty of birds. Mosquitoes can be persistent in and around meadows.

Logistics, Permits, and Camping

This segment is typically part of a longer, multi-day itinerary—common loops tie in Copper Creek/Granite Pass, Simpson Meadow, the Middle Fork, the PCT/JMT corridor, and beyond. Primitive camps exist but are sparse; don’t count on plentiful sites, and you may need to ford to reach them. Treat all water. A wilderness permit is required for overnight trips in this area.

Who It’s For—and Who It’s Not

If you love off-trail travel, granite boulders, and genuine solitude, this route is extraordinary. If you want a constructed, well-signed path, look elsewhere. For big canyon scenery on real trail, consider the Paradise Valley/Mist Falls corridor—very different fork, very different experience.

Tips and Cautions

• Prioritize river flows over itinerary: if a ford looks sketchy, turn around.
• Trekking poles and sticky rubber help on slick granite; start early and set modest mileage goals.
• Expect a faint route—carry reliable navigation and be ready to backtrack.
• Heat, sudden weather, and mosquitoes are all in play; pack accordingly.