Shining Creek Path

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Commonly Backpacked · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Swimming · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Trail ascends/descends 2500 feet over 4 miles at a pretty steady rate. If you’re doing this as a loop with Old Butt Knob Trail #100, the ascent/descent on this part is less severe than that trail, which has it covered in 2 miles. If you were choosing which to hike with a backpack, between the two I’d choose this one.

There are some areas where you could camp nearer to the East Fork end, which is popular for fishing.
The trail follows Shining Creek the whole way, so you always have it in sight. It’s pristine and features many cascades. There are good spots for swimming and wading too, where it pools. You cross many tributaries, sometimes on stones, sometimes on logs.

The trail is mainly rocky although there are no big rocks and in some spots it gets muddy from the creek. The trail is in forest but it’s mainly open so there are great views.

Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!