Kings Canyon is really two parks. Up top, Grant Grove holds the General Grant Tree and long Sierra views; down below, Highway 180 drops into one of the deepest canyons in North America, with the South Fork of the Kings River running clear and cold through Cedar Grove. Plan one day for Grant Grove and one for the canyon, since the drive down to Road's End takes about an hour each way. In summer, start hikes early, because the canyon floor heats up by midday. These are the hikes we'd plan around.
TRAILS
1 OF 7
Mist Falls
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
8 mi
Elevation gain
600 ft
Cedar Grove · Road's End — The classic Kings Canyon day hike. The first miles run nearly flat along the river under towering canyon walls, then the trail climbs granite steps beside a string of cascades to a wide, roaring fall. In June the spray can reach you from the rocks. Start early for shade, and watch for rattlesnakes on the sunny stretches.
⚠︎ The road to Cedar Grove is usually open from about May to mid-November.
Photo: Moonlitserenity, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2 OF 7
General Grant Tree
Difficulty
Easy
Length
0.3 mi loop
Elevation gain
50 ft
Grant Grove · General Grant Tree parking — A short paved loop to one of the largest trees in the world, known as the Nation's Christmas Tree. Along the way you can walk through the hollow Fallen Monarch, which once sheltered people and horses, and peek into the old Gamlin Cabin. Add the quieter North Grove Loop from the same lot if you want more time among the giants.
Photo: Alen Ištoković, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
3 OF 7
Zumwalt Meadow
Difficulty
Easy
Length
0.8 mi
Elevation gain
50 ft
Cedar Grove · Zumwalt Meadow parking — A short, level walk between the river and a green meadow, with the sheer faces of Grand Sentinel and North Dome rising above. It is one of the best places to feel the size of the canyon without a big climb. Floods have washed out parts of the old loop, so follow the signs for the current route. Late afternoon light on the walls is lovely.
⚠︎ Sections of the loop have been washed out by floods. Check current conditions at Cedar Grove.
Photo: Daniel Mayer (mav), CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
4 OF 7
Panoramic Point
Difficulty
Easy
Length
0.5 mi
Elevation gain
100 ft
Grant Grove · Panoramic Point parking — A short, paved climb from the end of a narrow road above Grant Grove to a railed overlook facing the High Sierra. On a clear day you can trace the peaks of the Great Western Divide and look down toward Hume Lake. It's a fine sunrise or sunset stop with very little effort. Bring a jacket; the ridge catches the wind.
⚠︎ The road to Panoramic Point is narrow, closed to RVs and trailers, and closed to cars in winter.
Photo: JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
5 OF 7
Big Stump Loop
Difficulty
Easy
Length
2 mi loop
Elevation gain
200 ft
Big Stump Entrance · Big Stump picnic area — A sobering and beautiful walk through a grove logged in the 1880s, where giant sequoia stumps the size of rooms still stand among younger trees and a green meadow. It shows what the parks were created to protect. The Mark Twain Stump, from a tree cut for a museum display, is the most famous. It's the first stop after the entrance, so it's easy to fit in.
Photo: David Fulmer, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
6 OF 7
Roaring River Falls
Difficulty
Easy
Length
0.5 mi
Elevation gain
50 ft
Cedar Grove · Roaring River Falls parking — A short paved path through the trees to a powerful waterfall squeezing through a granite chute into a deep green pool. It is an easy stop on the drive to Road's End and worth it in any season the road is open. The pool is beautiful but the current is strong. Admire it from the rocks.
Photo: JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
7 OF 7
Rae Lakes Loop
Difficulty
Strenuous
Length
41 mi loop
Elevation gain
7,000 ft
Cedar Grove · Road's End — The great High Sierra backpacking loop. It climbs out of the canyon along Woods Creek or Bubbs Creek, crosses Glen Pass near 12,000 feet, and passes the chain of Rae Lakes, some of the most beautiful lakes in the range. Most people take four or five days. Bring a bear canister, which is required, and plan for afternoon storms.
⚠︎ Wilderness permit required, with a daily quota in summer. Reserve on recreation.gov.
Photo: Mara Hancock, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Plan your Kings Canyon trip
The Nova Bound app builds the whole trip around these trails: where to stay, where to charge, and what to see each day. Coming soon to the App Store.
Distances are round trip unless noted, from NPS.gov and rounded. Trails, permits and road openings change; always check nps.gov before you go. Trail write-ups by Nova Bound.