Knight Creek
- 7.2 mi
- round trip
- 1,777 ft
- climb
- 3,114 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Feb–Jun, Sep–Nov
- best months
Is Knight Creek open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Stanislaus National Forest. It doesn't name Knight Creek, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Stanislaus National Forest extends seasonal MVUM closure for two high elevation roads
Agency closure covering Stanislaus National Forest · USFS · Stanislaus National Forest
Extension of Seasonal Road Closures
Agency closure covering Stanislaus National Forest · USFS · Stanislaus National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Stanislaus National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Knight Creek is a hard hike in California's Stanislaus National Forest, within the Mi-Wok Ranger District. The trail is an out-and-back of about 7 miles, with a total elevation gain of 1,777 feet, taking you from a low point of 1,942 feet to a high of 3,114 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is open year-round. The route is natural-surfaced and allows both horses and bikes, so it works for riders and pack animals as well as hikers. The climb is a steady one, and the high point sits well above the low point. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Groveland show May highs around 73°F and October highs around 74°F, while July and August average about 91°F. Several other outings sit close by. Noonday Mne and Sonnet Mine are both within a mile, and the Stanislaus River offers canoeing about 5 miles away. Hacienda campground is roughly 9 miles off.
Best time to go · Feb–Jun, Sep–Nov
Best time to visit Knight Creek
Best months: February–June and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
53° / 31°
10 wet
Feb
55° / 32°
9 wet
Mar
60° / 35°
10 wet
Apr
65° / 38°
7 wet
May
73° / 44°
4 wet
Jun
83° / 51°
1 wet
Jul
91° / 56°
0 wet
Aug
91° / 55°
1 wet
Sep
85° / 50°
2 wet
Oct
74° / 42°
4 wet
Nov
60° / 35°
8 wet
Dec
52° / 31°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Groveland 2, CA, 17.6 mi away at 2,800 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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