Stony Creek
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| | Raps:3-4, max ↨160ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:Required 10 min Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 9 Aug 2025
"On its own, Stony Creek is easily a 4-star canyon. The approach is straightforward—an easy trail that leads you right to a string of fun slides and |
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| Best season: | Jun to Oct
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36.6462, -118.8468
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Introduction[edit]
The top of Stony Creek is a semi-popular swimming arrow with beautiful low angled gorge and a really fun slide. Below here, it gets steeper with a short gorge section and a large waterfall that drops into the North Fork, which makes for a fun fairly short technical adventure, or a more exciting approach to the Upper North Fork for an overnight. Combining Stony Creek, Upper North Fork, and Lower North Fork, is surely one of the greatest overnight canyoneering trips in the Sierras, if not the whole country.
Approach[edit]
Leave one car over at Dorst Creek (or far off near Hartland at the exit for Upper or Lower North Fork Kaweah for something substantially more committing and epic).
One may head down from Stony Creek campground to the top of the gorge, though a trail from the store parking lot leads to the creek downstream.
You can hop along the side of the creek to where Woodward Creek comes in from the right and there is a really fun slide. Suit up there and head down, though it's a ways to the first rappel.
Dorst Creek versus Stony Creek (as an approach to the Upper and Lower North Fork trips):
Stony requires a longer rope for the last (confluence) rappel off a tree DCL. Stony has better parking at the store and a bathroom which Dorst start does not. Having done both I feel they are equal in time to reach the confluence. Stony has the feel of Middle Earth in Yosemite with bare granite walls the majority of the creek whereas Dorst is well-forested.
The canyon offers some beautiful features and fun jumps, but the challenging Dorst Creek exit can make it a tough call for some teams.
Descent[edit]
Measurements are estimates—proceed with discretion. Pool depths can change seasonally. Two 200’ ropes worked well for our team.
Jump 1 (~15 ft) Before the technical section begins, there’s a small jump DCL (down canyon left) off a lip into a pool. This makes for a nice swimming hole but is not part of the main technical descent.
Rappel 1 (~25 ft) At the start of the gorge, you’ll see a fallen tree spanning the canyon. A ~25 ft rappel can be done off a rock chock, but the drop is unremarkable and easily bypassed by staying DCR or climbing up and around DCL.
Jump 2 (~15 ft) Jump from the lip into a pool. Usually deep, but depth can vary—send someone to check before committing.
Jump 3 (~25 ft) From the previous pool, climb DCR to a ledge above the next drop. The pool below is generally deepest in the center; granite slopes upward toward the canyon walls. Depth check is essential—you may barely graze the bottom in lower water.
Rappel 2 (~160 ft) DCR, there is a large tree with webbing. This drop takes you into the gorge. The waterfall is scenic and the walls here are polished granite—use caution if wet.
Rappel 3 (~50 ft) Anchor from a perfect knot chock in the cave ceiling. While the vertical section over the waterfall is ~30 ft, the full rappel from the anchor is about 50 ft.
Rappel 4 (~150 ft)
Continue down canyon to the final large waterfall. Afternoon light can make this an excellent swimming spot. Anchor from a piton DCR. The pool at the bottom is large and inviting.
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Bypass Notes
Nearly every technical feature in Stony Creek, except for the final rappel, can be bypassed by hiking around—useful if you’re short on time or continuing to the North Fork. If running Stony Creek on its own (and exiting via Dorst Creek), take your time and enjoy the features.
Exit[edit]
Head left up Dorst Creek to your car.
The route out of Dorst Creek is physically demanding and not for the faint of heart. While the mileage may seem manageable, there is no defined trail until the final 200 feet to the car. Expect steep, uneven terrain, loose ground, and frequent detours around obstacles.
Initial Ascent From the bottom of the gorge, you’ll see a waterfall blocking the route ahead. Begin your exit by climbing the slope to the southeast (up canyon right). Gain roughly 250 feet in elevation until you’re above the granite boulders. From there, traverse laterally up canyon, maintaining that elevation until you can re-enter the creek bed.
Bypassing Waterfalls You’ll need to repeat this bypass maneuver four to five more times, always exiting to your right (up canyon right). Each detour avoids a waterfall—scenic but impassable from below. These slopes have just enough footing to get by, but they are exposed and can be unstable. The area has burned in past wildfires, leaving hollow trees, loose dusty soil, and brittle rock. Treat this section less like a canyon exit and more like ascending an entirely new canyon. The polished granite here can be as slick as Stony Creek, so move carefully.
Upper Section As you near the rim of the canyon, aim to intersect the Dorst/Lost Grove Trail. However, do not spend significant time searching for it—the trail is heavily overgrown and nearly impossible to follow. Instead, continue in the general direction of the trail alignment, bushwhacking most of the way.
Time Estimate Expect the exit to take 3–4 hours, depending on fitness and conditions. Plan your day accordingly and be prepared for a slow, strenuous climb.