Walk the Karl Knapp (Prairie Creek) to Foothill Trail Loop
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
The trail can be muddy and slippery during winter rains and after storms — wear shoes with actual tread, not fashion sneakers. Sections near the creek can get waterlogged.
Roosevelt elk roam this area regularly. They look docile but are large, unpredictable animals — keep at least 75 feet of distance and never position yourself between a cow and her calf.
Trail Details
- 1
Start at the Prairie Creek Visitor Center trailhead and hike the loop counterclockwise — you'll hit the Karl Knapp Trail first, which runs creekside and is the more scenic half, so you get the best stuff while your kids are still excited.
- 2
Arrive before 10 AM in summer to snag parking at the visitor center lot. It fills up fast and the overflow situation along Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway is not ideal with small children in tow.
- 3
Bring a wide-angle lens or switch your phone to 0.5x — these trees are so massive that standard framing cannot capture them. The best photo spot is about halfway along the Karl Knapp section where several giants cluster around the creek.
Photos
NPS
