Paradise Valley Camping

Kings Canyon National Park

Paradise Valley, Kings Canyon National Park, California
Paradise Valley, Kings Canyon National Park, California

Paradise Valley Camping

Kings Canyon National Park


Camping in Paradise Valley

The three designated camping areas are located in lower, middle, and upper Paradise Valley. The first two campgrounds are only a little more than a mile apart in the lower half of the valley. The third campground 1.7 miles beyond the middle campground, at the head of the valley at the confluence of Woods Creek and the South Kings River.

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Backpacking Tents

All three sites are among mature trees offering plenty of shade and shelter. There are numbered sites within each of the three areas, some with more separation than others. Bear boxes are available to share with other campers. Signs point to pit toilets. Water is easily accessible in the nearby river.

Middle Paradise Valley campsite, Kings Canyon National Park, California

Middle Paradise Valley

Fishing

Fish for brook and rainbow trout in the South Fork of the Kings River. Below 9,000 feet in Kings Canyon most fish are catch and release only, using barbless hooks. Check California Freshwater Sportfishing and Hunting Regulations for complete, up-to-date information.


Woods Creek Bridge, California

Old South Fork Kings River Bridge (September)

Explore the Area


The confines of the deep valley limit cross country explorations. A casual stroll through the meadows and woods is often rewarded with sightings of wildlife. By mid-summer wildflowers are in bloom. Some adventurers have been drawn up the wild South Fork of the Kings beyond the Woods Creek junction. Miserable bushwhacking has turned back all but the most determined.

South Fork Kings River Bridge

The old bridge crossing the South Fork of the Kings River at the upper end of Paradise Valley was washed out during the winter of 2016-2017. A new bridge was scheduled to be constructed beginning in 2021, but work has not yet begun (3/2024).

Fording the Kings River, especially early in the season, can be extremely hazardous. The Park Service cautions, "While we can not forecast exact conditions, trips attempting to cross this area may not be possible until sometime in July." Following winters with heavy snowfall, expect dangerous conditions even beyond mid-summer. Check with the Park Service to find out if the new bridge has been completed and, if not, whether it is safe to ford the river: Ray Lakes Loop

Bears

The introduction of bear boxes and bear canisters have virtually eliminated the problem of bears ransacking camps for food. Caution should still be taken to keep all food and odor producing lotions in the bear boxes or in bear canisters.