Kings Canyon National Park – A Stunning Glacial Canyon
Kings Canyon National Park competes with Yosemite Park, located slightly to its north, for the title of the most breathtaking canyon in California. Like Yosemite, Kings River's mountainous canyon was carved out by a glacier in granite rock, creating a stunning U-shaped valley landscape. The park spans the western temperate slopes of the Sierra Nevada, adjacent to Sequoia National Park to its south. Besides the valley's breathtaking beauty, the park boasts a large cluster of giant sequoia forests, topped by the General Grant tree, the second largest tree in the world.
How many days are needed for a trip to Kings Canyon National Park?
For a trip to Kings Canyon National Park, it's recommended to allocate a full day. In general, it's best to dedicate a full day to each of the adjacent parks, but you can combine Sequoia and Kings Canyon in one day, assuming you don't venture too far from the car.
It's highly recommended to find accommodation near Kings Canyon National Park, in Three Rivers or Fresno.
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What must you see and do at Kings Canyon National Park?
- Visitor Center at Grant Grove Village
- Visitor Center at Cedar Grove
- General Grant Tree
- Boyden Cavern
- Picnic at Grizzly Falls
- Take a short hiking trail on the north side of the canyon at Hotel Creek Trail or on the south side at Don Cecil Trail
- The rushing waters of Roaring River Falls
- The nature of Zumwalt Meadow
- The mountainous view of Mist Falls
What is Kings Canyon National Park?
Kings Canyon National Park is one of the most beautiful and unique locations along the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada in California. The park stretches along a U-shaped valley formed by the retreat of an ancient glacier, similar to the valley in Yosemite National Park to the north on the slopes of the range. The depth of the canyon is about a mile and a half below the surrounding ridges. Above the valley, the peaks of the north shoulder of Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the mainland USA outside of Alaska, stand tall. The peaks exceed four kilometers in height.
The area was designated as a national park in 1890, the second to be established in the USA after Yellowstone Park in Wyoming. When established, its name was General Grant National Park, and it also included the area of Sequoia National Park to the south. In 1940, the two parks were separated, but administratively they are still managed as one park. Similar to its southern neighbor, Kings Canyon National Park includes massive forests of giant sequoias, alongside river valleys, rushing channels, exposed granite mountain views, and meadows with wildlife. The canyon named after it is carved by the tributaries of the Kings River.
Map of Kings Canyon National Park
How to get to Kings Canyon National Park?
How to get there by plane?
Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) – Fresno's international airport is located just a 10-minute drive west of downtown Fresno. The airport serves tourists heading to Yosemite National Park, but it's actually closer to the two southern Sierra Nevada parks, Kings Canyon and Sequoia. The drive from the airport to Grant Grove Village, the gateway to Kings Canyon, is only about an hour. The regional airport is linked with major airports in the western and Midwestern United States.
How to get there by car?
Kings Canyon National Park is located at almost the same distance from both Los Angeles and San Francisco, just a three and a half hour drive from both of California’s major cities. Access to the park is via Highway 99, the main route of the Central Valley from the east (parallel to I-5 from the west). The nearest large cities to the park are Bakersfield and Fresno in the San Joaquin Valley, an hour to an hour and a half drive away.
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When to visit Kings Canyon National Park?
Kings Canyon National Park is a very popular destination for a summer trip. The weather in the park is mild, and due to its elevation, it features harsh and snowy winters. The park itself is much busier and more crowded than the adjacent Sequoia National Park to the south, and during peak season, there can even be traffic jams.
- The perfect season to visit Kings Canyon National Park is late spring. During this time, the sun sets late, and the weather is often comfortable, ranging from cool to warm, with generally no heavy rainfall. This season also marks the beginning of blooming in the valley, making it particularly colorful and delightful. Late spring, from mid-May to late June, is characterized by a reasonable amount of tourist traffic, certainly in comparison to the number of people visiting the park in August.
- Summer is a fantastic season to explore the park – there's plenty of sunshine, warm weather, and the breathtaking views of the peaks and forests are at their prime along with the stunning blossoms. The main downside of summer is the park's popularity and its high number of visitors.
- Fall is breathtakingly beautiful. Although the weather starts cooling down and there are also rainy days (and snow in the peaks), the park is painted in orange and red hues of the foliage.
Winter in the park is tough. Most parts of the park are snow-covered and inaccessible, and the roads are icy. The park is partially active in winter (it's important to check in advance as it depends on the weather), but you must come prepared with tire chains, appropriate thermal clothing, and stay in close contact with the park rangers if you plan to go on hikes.
How to plan a trip route in Kings Canyon National Park?
The trip to Kings Canyon National Park is part of the journey through California's Central Valley and the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada. The Kings Canyon trip also includes the tour of the Sequoia National Park located to its south, along The Generals Highway. Both parks are equidistant from Los Angeles to the south and San Francisco to the north, and you can access them from either of California's major cities. You can also pair these parks with a trip to Yosemite National Park to the north, a two-hour drive away.
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The 180 Kings Canyon National Park Scenic Byway
The hike in Kings Canyon National Park is a linear trail (round trip) up the canyon along the scenic byway. The road is part of Highway 180 which connects Fresno with the national park, stretching 75 kilometers from the city to the end of the road in the higher section of the park. The road ends at the loop of the Copper Creek Trailhead and the Bubbs Creek and Rae Lakes Loop Trailhead in the Cedar Grove area.
The hike in Kings Canyon National Park is divided between the two main sections of the park:
- Grant Grove Village in the lower part of the canyon
- Cedar Grove in the upper part of the canyon
Near Grant Grove Village is the General Grant Tree, the star of the park and the northern counterpart of the General Sherman Tree, the star of Sequoia Park to the south. After entering the visitor center at Grant Grove Village, head up the canyon to Boyden Cavern, where you'll find stalactites and stalagmites. From there, continue for a picnic at Grizzly Falls.
In Cedar Grove, you can go for a short hiking trail in the northern part of the canyon on the Hotel Creek Trail or in the southern part on the Don Cecil Trail. From there, continue to the canyon's edge where you'll find Roaring River Falls, Zumwalt Meadow, and Mist Falls.
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Everything you need to know about accommodations in Kings Canyon National Park
The trip to Kings Canyon National Park is seamlessly combined with a trip to the neighboring Sequoia National Park, just to the south (administratively, the two parks are managed as a single unit). The small mountain town of Three Rivers is the southern gateway to both national parks and serves as the logistical center. The town offers rustic lodging options like lodges and roadside motels, along with restaurants, grocery stores, and more. The drive from the town center to the heart of the national park is roughly about half an hour, making it ideally located.
For those wishing to stay close to Kings Canyon Park, there are also a few accommodations within the park’s logistical center at Grant Grove Village, the entrance to the national park. In the village, there's a limited selection of rustic lodges. Additionally, along the highways crossing the parks, both the Generals Highway and Highway 180 (the road crossing Kings Canyon), there are a few isolated rural lodges.
A very convenient lodging option near the parks is in Central Valley, at the foot of the mountains. For those who wish to start their visit in Kings Canyon parks and not stay on the mountain slopes but in Central Valley, you can find accommodation in the larger Fresno area, which has numerous motels from all networks, both near the airport and along Highway 180 that climbs to Kings Canyon.
Another convenient lodging solution is the small town of Visalia. The town is an hour and a quarter's drive from Grant Grove Village and the park entrance. It has plenty of motels from all major American chains like Marriott, IHG, and more. Visalia is the preferred spot for those intending to start their trip in Sequoia National Park.
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Map – Where to stay near Kings Canyon National Park?
All Attractions in Kings Canyon National Park
Grant Grove Village
Grant Grove Village isn't exactly a settlement, but more like a logistics hub for the National Park Service's operations as a base for exploring Kings Canyon. The village is adjacent to one of the park's main attractions – the General Grant Tree. In the village, you'll find a few lodge hotels, a restaurant, a mini-market, and a souvenir shop. The Grant Grove Visitor Center, or Kings Canyon Visitor Center, serves as the official park entrance and is where you can take care of any arrangements with park authorities.
The General Grant Tree
General Grant is the star of the western and lower part of Kings Canyon National Park. The giant sequoia tree, nicknamed the “Nation's Christmas Tree” by President Calvin Coolidge in 1926, is the second-largest tree in the world after the General Sherman in the nearby Sequoia Park (in terms of mass and circumference). It stands 82 meters tall with a circumference of nearly nine meters, and its age is estimated to be over three thousand years. Access to the tree is from Grant Grove Village, by driving to an organized parking area within the forest adjacent to the Fallen Monarch tree. The Fallen Monarch is a giant sequoia that fell a long time ago (its fall date is unknown) and is still lying on the ground in the parking area of the General Grant Tree. From the parking area, it's a short walk to General Grant.
Cedar Grove
Cedar Grove Village is the logistical area in the upper part of Kings Canyon National Park and home to the Cedar Grove Visitor Center. The village is located along the mountain stream of the river and is accessible only from early April to mid-November. In the vast expanse of the canyon, there are several hiking trails of varying levels, most of which are adjacent to the Kings River Channel.
Main hiking trails and visitor spots in Cedar Grove:
- Boyden Cavern – A stunning karst cave located a forty-minute drive from Grant Grove Village and twenty minutes east of Cedar Grove Village up the canyon. The cave is privately managed and you can join a guided tour for a fee into the cave.
- Grizzly Falls – About seven kilometers west of Cedar Grove, a short walking trail to 30-meter-high falls and a popular picnic area nearby.
- Hotel Creek Trail – A climb from Cedar Grove Village to the slopes on the northern side of the canyon. There are several hiking trails of various levels and lengths branching off from the main trail. The main trail is about eight kilometers long.
- Don Cecil Trail – A trail heading west from Cedar Grove Village, climbing the forested slopes on the southern side of the canyon. Along the way, you’ll also find the Sheep Creek Cascade, offering scenic views of the canyon.
- Knapp's Cabin – A cabin built by a businessman from Santa Barbara in the 1920s. Located about two kilometers west of the village.
- Roaring River Falls – Waterfalls located three kilometers from the village. A short walking path leads from the road to the falls.
- Muir Rock – A rock on the Kings River near the loop of Highway 180 (the eastern end of the road at the canyon's end). Accessible via a 100-meter walk from parking areas in the loop.
Zumwalt Meadow
Zumwalt Meadow is one of the most popular and beautiful places in the Kings Canyon National Park. The trailhead is located at the top of Cedar Grove, about a ten-minute drive from Cedar Grove Village. The circular trail includes walking through the meadow itself along the Kings River, climbing cliffs above the meadow, and continuing the hike on the mountainous trail. The trail is about one and a half kilometers long and includes a slightly more challenging ascent on granite rocks.
Mist Falls
The Mist Falls are located in the upper part of Kings Canyon Park, above Cedar Grove. The hiking trail to the falls is about 13 and a half kilometers long and is considered not easy but worth every moment (once you reach the falls themselves). The hike includes walking on a trail next to the falls with mist and slippery rocks, so suitable shoes are a must.
Redwood Canyon
Redwood Canyon (the American name for the species of sequoia trees) is located at the northern end of The Generals Highway, on the border between Sequoia National Park to the south and Kings Canyon National Park to the north. The trailhead of the Redwood Canyon Trail is a twenty-minute drive south from Grant Grove Village (including a drive of a few kilometers on a rather bumpy dirt road). The trail is one of the most beautiful and least crowded in both national parks, stretching about 15 kilometers and is considered relatively moderate and easy (though quite long).
