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Copper Creek Trail

Fresno · Managed by Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (NPS) · Region: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Difficulty /100 · out and back#kings-canyon#high-country#climbing-approach#solitude
Distance
8 mi
Days
1–2
Permit
Required
Campfires
Campfires allowed

Overview

The Copper Creek Trail is Kings Canyon's steepest doorway to the high country: a hot, demanding 4-mile climb from Road's End to Lower Tent Meadow, then on toward the granite basins of the Middle Fork Kings. It is the quiet route north — the one the Rae Lakes crowds don't take.

Highlights

  • Real solitude on the park's least-used Cedar Grove corridor
  • Views of the Kings Canyon peaks opening above Lower Tent Meadow
  • Access to the alpine country below Mount Gardiner and the Sierra Crest
  • The reward of leaving the car at 5,000 feet and climbing out of the canyon

Logistics

  • Trailhead: Road's End (Copper Creek Trailhead) · parking: Road's End parking, Cedar Grove
  • Water: Copper Creek and Granite Creek; treat all water.
  • Resupply: None; Cedar Grove Village has a small store in season.
  • Shuttle: Not needed for an out-and-back.
  • Bear canister required.

Permits

  • Agency: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (NPS)
  • Reserve or apply on recreation.gov
  • Quota: Trailhead quota for the Copper Creek entry applies during quota season.
  • Reservation window: Advance reservations via recreation.gov; walk-ups when quota remains.

Campfires & stove regulations

Campfires allowed. Campfires are allowed in existing rings below 10,000 ft in Kings Canyon unless fire restrictions are in effect. Current fire restrictions. Rules change with conditions — always confirm with the managing agency before your trip.

Best time to go

Best months: July, August, September.

Snow: Usually clear by mid-June; Road's End opens in spring.

Heat: The lower trail is hot and exposed — start early.

Bugs: Moderate in the meadows.

Weather forecast

Know before you go

  • The trail is hot and steep for the first miles — leave at first light
  • Water is limited until Copper Creek; carry plenty
  • This route sets up long trips — plan the itinerary before starting

Sources & citations

Data compiled 2026 from public agency and reference sources. All descriptive text on this page is original; verify current conditions with the managing agency before your trip.

  1. Wilderness Trail Descriptions — Cedar Grove and Road's End. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (National Park Service). https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/traildesc.htm. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). Copper Creek Trail description, first allowed campsite at Lower Tent Meadow (4 miles), and access to the Middle Fork Kings River country.
  2. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Permits. Recreation.gov / National Park Service. https://www.recreation.gov/permits/445857. Accessed 2026-09-07. Quota season, fees, food-storage requirements, and fire rules (10,000-ft line in Kings Canyon).
  3. Wilderness Regulations and Minimum Impact Restrictions. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (National Park Service). https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/minimum-impact-restrictions.htm. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). Camping and campfire restrictions across the parks.