1.0 mi of trail, end to end · about 20 ft of climbing · 250 ft of descent · 6,433 ft–6,658 ft · earth surface · trail class Minimally Developed · hiking
Lake Creek - Woodland Trail Loop the Park Service's write-up
1-3 Hours · no dogs · Spring, Summer, Fall
Start Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve
Enjoy scenic views from the shore of Phelps Lake. Photo: NPS Photo/C. Adams
Take an easy hike along Lake Creek to the shore of Phelps Lake. The trail begins at the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve and winds through the surrounding forest and along the banks of Lake Creek. Once at Phelps Lake, the forest opens up to reveal the lake and views into Death Canyon. Follow the Woodland Trail to complete the loop back.
Accessibility The Lake Creek-Woodland Trail Loop is an easy, 3 mi (4.8 km) RT loop hike with 770 ft (230m) of elevation gain with an average slope of 7%. The trail is wide and mostly level, although rocks and exposed roots may be found.
The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.
