Woods Creek Trail to Woods Creek Crossing

Woods Creek Trail to Woods Creek Crossing is a 31.4-mile out-and-back from Road’s End, on the northern approach to the Rae Lakes Loop. It climbs up the Kings River canyon through Paradise Valley, then follows Woods Creek to its suspension bridge before returning the same way. The park’s route table places the crossing 15.7 miles from Road’s End; other mapped estimates come in about a mile shorter each way, so plan around the longer figure. For most hikers, this makes more sense as a two- or three-day backpack than a day hike.

The climb starts steadily from Road’s End, with Mist Falls as an early landmark. Paradise Valley arrives around six miles in, where the trail passes river-side camps beneath tall trees and granite walls. Lower Paradise camps are limited to designated sites. Upper Paradise is about 10 miles from the start, so plan your overnight stops before setting out rather than assuming you can camp anywhere along the river. This is one of the best stretches for a break: the valley gives the long approach a clear change of scenery, and the river and granite walls fit naturally in the same view.

Above Paradise Valley, the South Fork Kings River bridge is washed out, leaving an unbridged crossing on the route. Water levels change; high water can make this crossing extremely hazardous, especially in early season. Check current park conditions before committing to the longer route, judge the crossing carefully, and be prepared to turn back.

Past Upper Paradise, follow Woods Creek Trail toward the crossing. There are several junctions around Upper Paradise that can send hikers the wrong way; the park’s route directions call for following the path south, downstream from the suspension bridge there before it bends east and west. The destination is a separate, older suspension bridge over Woods Creek, where this route meets the John Muir Trail. Turn around there unless you intend to continue on the much longer Rae Lakes route.

An overnight wilderness permit is required, and seasonal entry quotas apply. A bear-resistant food canister is required in this area, and pets are not allowed on park trails. No on-route food service is confirmed, so plan meals for every day out. If you want a shorter outing from Road’s End, Mist Falls is a worthwhile turnaround, but it doesn’t reach the Woods Creek bridge or the high-country section beyond Paradise Valley.