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Middle Fork Trail

Tulare · Managed by Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (NPS) · Region: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Difficulty /100 · out and back#foothills#year-round#river#quiet
Distance
7 mi
Elevation
3,291–5,564 ft
Days
1–2
Permit
Required
Campfires
Campfires allowed

Overview

The Middle Fork Trail is Sequoia's winter and early-spring escape: a mild grade along the Kaweah's Middle Fork through oak and pine foothills to Panther Creek's camp, walkable almost any month of the year.

Highlights

  • A green, flowing river corridor in the low foothills
  • Wildflowers in March and April
  • The park's most accessible backcountry camp, usable year-round
  • Big-leaf maples and river pools in autumn

Logistics

  • Trailhead: Middle Fork Trailhead (Buckeye Flat) (3,291 ft) · parking: Buckeye Flat area, Mineral King Road junction off Highway 198
  • Water: The Middle Fork Kaweah River; treat all water.
  • Resupply: None; Three Rivers has services below.
  • 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 Middle Fork 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 9,000 ft in the Kaweah drainage 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: March, April, May, October, November.

Snow: Year-round; the foothill trail is accessible in all seasons barring storms.

Heat: Hot in summer; early and late season are best.

Bugs: Ticks and poison oak — beware spring through early summer.

Weather forecast

Know before you go

  • Watch for ticks, poison oak, and rattlesnakes in warm months
  • The foothills bake in summer — hike early or late in the season
  • Bear canisters are required

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. SRTM90 elevation data (sampled). OpenTopoData (SRTM, NASA/USGS-derived open data) via Photon geocoding (OpenStreetMap). https://www.opentopodata.org/. Accessed 2026-09-10. Elevation sampled at geocoded coordinates; location from OpenStreetMap data (ODbL).
  2. Wilderness Trail Descriptions — Foothills. 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). Middle Fork Trail description, first allowed campsite at Panther Creek (3.5 miles), year-round access, and hazards (ticks, poison oak, rattlesnakes).
  3. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Permits. Recreation.gov / National Park Service. https://www.recreation.gov/permits/445857. Accessed 2026-09-07. Permit requirements, fees, food-storage rules, and fire guidance.
  4. Wilderness Regulations and Minimum Impact Restrictions. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (NPS). 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.