Top Things To Do in Kings Canyon National Park

Kings Canyon National Park was created to protect endangered Giant Sequoia Trees. Located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, it borders Sequoia National Park. Together they protect over 30 of the world’s 75 Sequoia Groves.

The park features King’s Canyon, which is the deepest canyon in the world. (Even deeper than the Grand Canyon!)

And it is home to the General Grant Tree, which is the second largest tree on earth by volume. (The largest is the General Sherman Tree in nearby Sequoia National Park)

Kings Canyon National Park is located 68 miles from Fresno.

Kings Canyon is a U.S. National Park

Kings Canyon is 1 of the 63 U.S. National Parks. (A National Park is a scenic or historically important area protected by the federal government. Its purpose is the enjoyment of the general public or the preservation of land and wildlife).

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks were both established to protect Giant Sequoia Trees from logging. (Yellowstone became the first U.S. national park in 1872. Sequoia and Kings Canyon became the second and third in 1890). Originally called General Grant National Park, the park’s name was changed to Kings Canyon in 1940.

Kings Canyon is 1 of the 9 U.S. National Parks in California. The others are Channel Islands, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Lassen Volcanic, Pinnacles, Redwood, Sequoia, and Yosemite.

How to Visit Kings Canyon National Park

Kings Canyon National Park is open 24 hours a day 365 days a year. No reservation is required for park entry. Passes can be purchased online or at the park entrance.

Admission is $35 for private vehicles, $30 for motorcycles, and $20 for individuals with no car. It is valid for 7 days. Or you can purchase the Sequoia/Kings Canyon/Hume Lake Annual Pass for $70. For more information, call the Sequoia & Kings Canyon Visitor Information Line at 559 565-3341.

If you plan to visit several national parks or sites, the best value is to purchase a U.S. Park Pass. It costs $80 and is valid for 12 months at over 2,000 federal recreation sites.

Closest Airport

The closest commercial airport to Kings Canyon National Parks is Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT). It is 1 ¼ hours from the Kings Canyon National Park entrance on Highway 180. And it is 1¾ hours from the Sequoia National Park entrance on Highway 198. From the airport, you can rent a car to reach the parks.

The next closest commercial airport is Visalia Municipal Airport. It is 1½ hours from the Kings Canyon National Park entrance. And 1 hour from the Sequoia National Park entrance on Highway 198. Note that in the summer you can take a bus to the Visalia Transit Center, where you can take the Sequoia Shuttle to Sequoia National Park. However, there is no shuttle between the two parks.

The Sierra Nevada – Home of 3 National Parks

Kings Canyon National Park is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. The 250-mile range acts as a border with Nevada. (Only the Carson Ridge extends into Nevada). It runs from Lake Tahoe to the Mojave Desert.

The Sierra Nevada is home to 3 national parks – Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite. And it is home to 26 Wilderness Areas, 10 National Forests, and 2 national monuments.

Sierra Nevada Highlights

Giant Sequoia Trees

Giant Sequoias are the world’s largest trees based on the volume of wood in their trunks. They grow to be 250 feet. (Redwood trees are larger).

They are only found on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park protect over 30 of the world’s 75 Sequoia Groves.

Sadly, with only 80,000 trees left Sequoias are now considered an endangered species. (I didn’t know that trees can be considered endangered!)

Lodging in Kings Canyon

Kings Canyon National Park is located 99 miles from Fresno and 42 miles from Three Rivers.

However, it is not as easy as it sounds. If you stay in Fresno, you have to drive up and down a scary steep mountain on Hwy 180 to get to the park entrance. And if you stay in Three Rivers, you will have to drive through Sequoia National Park to get to Kings Canyon National Park.

Therefore, you are better off staying inside the park. There are several options in both the Grant Grove and Cedar Grove sections of the park.

Big Stump Entrance

There is only one entrance to Kings Canyon National Park. From Fresno, you take Highway 180 east. You have to drive up a kind of scary road on the cliff side. The drive is through the Giant Sequoia National Monument and has several pullout spots.

However, you would not want to drive it every day. So I definitely do not recommend that you stay in Fresno.

Having said that, this is the preferred route for long vehicles (such as RVs) that are going to either Kings Canyon or Sequoia National Parks. That’s because it is a wider road than the road from Three Rivers to the entrance to Sequoia National Park.

Grant Grove Village

Kings Canyon National Park is divided into two parts – Grants Grove and Cedar Grove. Sequoia National Forest is located in between them.

Just inside the park entrance is Grant Grove Village. It consists of a Visitor Center, Market, Restaurant, Gift Shop, and Post Office. (I’m assuming the latter is needed by park employees since the park is so isolated).

Lodging in Grant Grove

There are 3 lodging options in the Grant Grove area – John Muir Lodge, Grant Grove Cabins, and Grant Grove Campgrounds.

In addition, there are also several campgrounds available in the adjacent Sequoia National Forest. (Which is located in between both parts of Kings Canyon National Park). Reservations can be made online or by calling 877-444-6777. I recommend Princess Campgrounds which is located in the Seqouia National Forest.

John Muir Lodge

John Muir Lodge is located in Grant Grove Village, right next to the entrance to Kings Canyon National Park. It is a short, easy drive to Sequoia National Park. (You don’t have to drive a windy, scary road).

The 36 room hotel is clean and comfortable. Guests congregate in the lobby to eat, play board games, and use the Wi-fi. (Only Verizon customers get reception inside the park. I have AT&T and could only get reception inside the lodge).

John Muir Lodge is located a half mile from a sequoia grove, visitor center, market, restaurant, gift shop, and post office. Hiking trails in the area lead to the General Grant Tree, Panoramic Point, Big Stump, Sunset Loop, and more.

To make a reservation at John Muir Lodge, go to visitsequoia.com or call 866- 807-3598.

Restaurants near John Muir Lodge

• Grant Grove Restaurant – 6 min walk
• Pinehurst Lodge – 19 min drive
• Hume Lake Shake Shack – 20 min drive
• Ponderosa Dining Hall – 20 min drive

Grant Grove Cabins

The Grant Grove Cabins are an excellent base to explore both Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. Located in Grant Grove, they are a half mile from a sequoia grove, visitor center, market, restaurant, gift shop, and post office.

Guests can choose from 6 types of cabins, including timber and tent cabin. Some of the cabins are available year-round. At an elevation of 6,500, this area is snowy in winter and tire chains may be needed during winter storms.

History lovers might be interested in Cabin #9, which is known as the “Honeymoon Cabin”. Built in 1910, it is the oldest structure still standing in Grant Grove Village.

To make a reservation at Grant Grove Cabins, go to visitsequoia.com or call 866- 807-3598.

Grant Grove Campgrounds

There are 14 campgrounds in Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. Two are open during all four seasons. The Grant Grove area has 3 Campgrounds – Azalea, Crystal Springs, and Sunset.

Campsites hold up to six people. Each has a picnic table, fire ring with grill, and a metal food-storage box. Nearly all campgrounds require advance reservations; sites fill quickly. Make reservations using the links below or at Recreation.gov.

Grant Grove Restaurant

Grant Grove Restaurant is open seasonally for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Guests order at a kiosk and pick up at a window. You can sit inside or outside in the courtyard.

Options include sandwiches, salads, chili, hamburgers, and pizza.

Kings Canyon Visitor Center

The Visitor Center in Grant Grove Village is located across from Grant Grove Restaurant. It features exhibits on the 3 Kings Canyon National Park: regions – Giant Sequoia Groves, Kings Canyon, and the High Sierra. There are rangers onsite to answer questions and free park maps.

An amazing 15-minute movie called Kings Canyon: Gem of the Sierra plays on loop. It is available for purchase in person and online.

Visitor Center Park Store

The Visitor Center houses a Park Store that sells apparel, books, maps, and educational materials.

Check out the online store! My favorites are the Animal Tracks Matching Game, Magnets, Sequoia & Kings Canyon Trail Maps, and Sequoia Scented Candle. I’ve never seen such a wide variety of Wildlife Stuffed Animals.

Grant Grove

Grant Grove is 1 of the world’s 73 sequoia groves. It is located 1.5 miles from the Kings Canyon Visitor Center.

The 90-acre grove is known for its exceptionally large sequoias. In fact, a higher percentage of Grant Grove’s mature sequoias reach sizes of 10, 15, and 20 feet in diameter than in any other grove. Most of the Giant Sequoias in the General Grant Grove are named after Civil War Generals.

There is a 1/3-mile paved loop trail from the Grant Grove Parking Lot  to the General Grant Tree. It includes other named trees and features, including the Gamlin Cabin, the Fallen Monarch, and the Centennial Stump.

Grant Grove History

Native Americans lived in the western Sierra Nevada for thousands of years. Sadly, in the 1860s settlers began to log and farm the area.

In 1873 naturalist John Muir famously hiked from Yosemite to the Giant Forest in what is now Sequoia National Park. Muir journaled his trip, and the public began advocating for federal protection of the area. In 1890 General Grant National Park was created to protect the General Grant Grove.

Then in 1940 Kings Canyon National Park was established. It consisted of Grant Grove, which was previously General Grant National Park. And it added nearby Kings Canyon. Which explains why the two areas of the park are not connected.

General Grant Tree

General Grant Tree in Kings Canyon National Park is the second largest tree in the world by VOLUME. (Meaning mass). The largest tree in the world by volume is the General Sherman Tree, which is located in adjacent Sequoia National Park.

As the name suggests, the General Grant Tree is named after U.S. Civil War General Ulysses S Grant. The tree was named in 1867, which explains why it was not named President Grant Tree. (Grant later became president from 1869 – 1877).

The 1,700 year old tree is 264 feet tall and 40 feet wide. It towers above the other trees in the grove. Only excellent Sequoia habitat would allow a tree to reach such tremendous size. There is a sign in front of the tree that says “General Grant” that visitors can take pictures in front of.

Fun Fact – In 1926 the General Grant Tree was dubbed “the Nation’s Christmas Tree” by President Calvin Coolidge. In memorandum of this, there are several really cute Giant Sequoia Tree Christmas ornaments for sale in the Park Store and online.

The Fallen Monarch

A popular feature in Grant Grove is the Fallen Monarch, a Giant Sequoia tree that has fallen over. The hollowed out tree is so wide, visitors can walk through it without having to bend over.

Giant Sequoia Trees seem immortal! After they fall, they resist decay for hundreds or even thousands of years on the forest floor.

As you can see from the picture in the below slideshow, the Fallen Monarch looks just like it did in the year 1900!!

Panoramic Point Overlook

Directly across from the General Grant Tree (on the other side of Highway 180) is the Panoramic Point Overlook.

From the overlook you can see hundreds of miles of Kings Canyon National Park and neighboring national forest lands. You can also look across at the Sierra Nevada mountains and look down at both Hume Lake and Kings Canyon.

Grant Grove to Kings Canyon and Cedar Grove

As a reminder, the two sections of Kings Canyon National Park (Grant Grove and Cedar Grove) are completely separate. Sequoia National Forest is located in between them.

It takes about an hour to drive from the Grant Grove to Cedar Grove. The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is a scary, cliffside road down to the canyon. The spectacular drive takes you from sequoia groves to the deepest canyon in the U.S.

There are several places to pull over along the way.

Vista Point McGee

As you are driving through Sequoia National Forest from Grant Grove to Cedar Grove, one of the first major pullouts you will see is Vista Point McGee.

You can walk down a small dirt embankment to a small dirt peninsula that juts out over the canyon. I was too afraid to walk down the embankment, but will force myself next time. 🙁

Cedar Grove/Hume Lake Intersection

As you keep driving on Hwy 180, you will soon come to a fork in the road.

You can turn left to Cedar Grove, which is the main part of Kings Canyon National Park. Or you can turn right to go to Hume Lake, a man made lake which is located in Sequoia National Forest. There is a very popular meadow located next to the intersection.

Junction View

The next stop on the scenic drive is Junction View Overlook, which is located in Sequoia National Forest. It offers excellent views of both the Middle and South Fork of Kings Canyon. And there is an exhibit on the geology of the canyon in view.

Yucca Point

From Yucca Point, you can look almost straight down into the foaming junction of the Middle and South Fork of the Kings River.

Drive carefully between Yucca Point and the next stop – Boyden Cave. This section of Hwy 180 was blasted out of the nearly sheer walls of Kings Canyon. Make sure to stop frequently to appreciate the grandeur of the water carved Kings Canyon!

Boyden Cavern

As you continue on Highway 180 towards Cedar Grove, you will still be in Sequoia National Forest. One of the first things you will see is Boyden Cavern, a marble cave that is operated by a private company. It is located beneath the 2,000 foot marble walls of the famous Kings Gate.

There is a short but really steep trail from the parking lot to the cave that goes under and around various rock formations. The gift shop sells souvenirs, snacks, and drinks.

Boyden Cavern offers 50-minute guided tours Daily in spring and summer from 10:00am-5:00pm. Tickets can be purchased in person or online.

Grizzly Falls

Grizzly Falls is a beautiful 80 foot waterfall that swells in early spring. It is located in Sequoia National Forest, 4.6 miles from the Cedar Grove Visitor Center.

It is an easy 5 minute walk from the parking lot/picnic area to the falls. It is a cool, shady place to pull over on a hot sunny day.

Lookout Peak

The next stop on the scenic drive is Lookout Peak, which offers stunning views of the glacially carved Kings Canyon to the north and east.

Lookout Peak is located on the border of Sequoia National Forest and Kings Canyon National Park. Its Elevation is 8531 ft

Cedar Grove

You are now leaving Sequoia National Forest and entering Kings Canyon National Park. (As a reminder, Kings Canyon National Park consists of two completely separate sections. Grant Grove Village (located near the park entrance) and Cedar Grove, which is located at the bottom of Kings Canyon.

The Cedar Grove area features most of the park’s main attractions. It is open from late April to October. (It is closed in the winter due to the harsh weather). As a sidenote, due to the severe winter of 2022, the entire Cedar Grove area was closed for all of 2023.

The Kings Canyon

The Cedar Grove section of the park is home to Kings Canyon, which is the deepest canyon in the world. (A canyon is a deep, narrow valley with steep sides). Kings Canyon is even deeper than the Grand Canyon! At Zumwalt Meadow on the canyon floor, it is 35,00 feet to Grand Sentinel’s peak.

The glacier carved U-shaped canyon is one of the most spectacular glacier canyons in North America. In contrast, Sequoia’s rough foothills lie in river carved canyons.

In the 1930s there was a push to create a dam and flood Kings Canyon. Fortunately, in 1965 Congress voted to add the floor of Kings Canyon to the park. As a result, Kings Canyon is now one of the few of the few canyons with a wild river running through it.

Cedar Grove Lodge

The only place to stay in the Cedar Grove section of the park is the Cedar Grove Lodge, It is located deep in Kings Canyon at an elevation of 4,600 feet. The lodge offers 21 hotel rooms, a snack bar, market, and gift shop. The lodge is also within walking distance of Cedar Grove’s visitor center.

Features in the area include Roaring River Falls, Zumwalt Meadow, and Muir Rock. Hiking trails range from easy to strenuous.

The Cedar Grove Grill in the lodge serves light meals and snacks, and offers both indoor and outdoor seating with counter service. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, diners can opt for booth or outdoor al fresco dining on a balcony that overlooks the Kings River.

To make a reservation at Cedar Grove Lodge, go to visitsequoia.com or call 866- 807-3598.

Cedar Grove Visitor Center

Cedar Grove Visitor Center is located on Highway 180 in a mixed conifer forest on the floor of Kings Canyon. More specifically, it is next to the South Fork of the Kings River next to Sentinel Campground. (30 miles east of Grant Grove).

It features guidebooks, maps, and exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the Cedar Grove area. Services include restrooms, first-aid treatment, and a pay phone.

The Cedar Grove Visitor Center is Open Daily in the Summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day) from 9:00am-5:00pm. It is closed in the winter.

Canyon View

This pullout offers an excellent view of the U-shaped Kings Canyon, showing its glacial past.

Roaring River Falls

Roaring River Falls is a short but mighty waterwall through a narrow granite chute into a pool. It is a short walk on a paved trail from the road.

Roaring River flows from Deadman and Cloud canyons deep in the parks’ wilderness, then crashes down a narrow chute into a pool.

The trailhead for the River Trail to Zumwalt Meadow is located near the Roaring River Falls parking lot. The 3.9 mile round trip lollipop shaped trail in a is an easy, paved incline. The trail starts at the waterfall, then travels over creeks and through meadows and shady forests.

Zumwalt Meadow

A meadow is a open area usually covered in grass that has a nearby water source. It’s where bears go to fill up on berries. Anyone who has been to a national park has marveled out these lush oasis that usually seem out of place.

Zumwalt Meadow is no exception. It  provides visitors with a scenic contrast to the powerful rock formations deep in the heart of the canyon.

There is an easy, flat 1.5-mile loop trail around the meadow. It offers views of high granite walls, lush meadows, and the Kings River. It is one of the most popular day hikes in the Cedar Grove area. The parking lot for Zumwalt Meadows is 4 miles east of the Cedar Grove Village turn off.

Road End Permit Station

The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway goes from the park entrance to “Road End.” As the name suggests, it is the end of the paved road in the Cedar Grove . Visitors have to hike if they want to see more of the park from this point.

This area offers excellent views of high granite walls, access to river trails, and Muir Rock.

Hume Lake

When you drive on Hwy 180 from Grant Grove Village, you will come to a fork in the road. You can turn left to Cedar Grove, which is a main part of Kings Canyon National Park. Or turn right to Hume Lake, an 87-acre man-made lake that is located in Sequoia National Forest.

Hume Lake Dam was built in 1909 to transport timber to a nearby logging mill. The lake water fed a flume that floated timber down to the valley. Tragically, Hume Bennett Lumber cut down several thousand big trees before they closed in 1917. (They never made a profit so I don’t know why they didn’t close sooner!) Fortunately, ancient Giant Sequoias will never be cut again.

If you have the time, the drive to Hume Lake is beautiful. There are several pullouts to view the Sierra Nevada and the lake. You can swim, fish, rent a non-motorized boat, or take a 2.5 mile hike around the lake. There is a gas station, market, and two restaurants.

Restaurants at Hume Lake

There are 2 dining options at Hume Lake. Both are run by Hume Christian Camp. The Hume Lake Snack Shop sells hot dogs, hamburgers, French fries, and milkshakes.

The Hume Lake Ponderosa Dining Hall is where the campers eat. It is cafeteria style. Non-campers do not have to wait in line with the campers. There is a special entryway in the back right.

The phone # for both is 559-305-7770.

Sandy Cove

Sandy Cove is a beautiful cove on the south side of Hume Lake. It is a great place to swim and lay on the beach. The only beach in Sequoia National Forest, it is surrounded by giant trees. There are vault toilets next to the parking lot. Fishing, dogs and BBQing are not allowed.

You can park in the Sandy Cove parking lot and walk down to the beach. Or you can park in a parking lot next to Generals Highway (which is hard to find) and take a zillion stairs down to the beach.

Sandy Cove features 10 Mile Creek, a roaring “river” that feeds into the lake. The water is flowing so rapidly it looks like a waterfall. You can walk across the river on a foot bridge. It is a great place to take a selfie.

Driving from Hume Lake to Grant Grove Village

There are two ways to get back to Grant Grove Village from Hume Lake. They both take around the same amount of time.

Option #1 – Right before Sandy’s Cove you can catch the Generals Highway. Keep following the signs for Kings Canyon National Park. You will start and end at Grant Grove Village, so the entire drive is a “loop” or circle.

Option #2 – Turn around and drive back the way you came. I suggest this way because then you get to once again view the gorgeous scenic drive and overlooks.

Driving between Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

The Generals Highway connects Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park It takes 45-60 minutes to get from Lodgepole in Sequoia to Grant Grove Village in Kings Canyon. It is a pleasant drive with several sequoia groves and popular hiking trailheads at turnouts along the way. There is no elevation gain.

As a reminder, there is only one entrance to Sequoia National Park and one entrance to Kings Canyon National Park. It takes around 3 hours to drive between both entrances.

Halstead Meadow

A bridge along the highway goes over the top of this large meadow. On the north side, a small picnic area and pit toilet offer a good place to stop. Black Bears can sometimes be seen in the meadow in spring. At any time of year, wildflowers are common here.

Redwood Mountain Overlook

This pullout offers a view of Redwood Mountain Grove, which is the world’s largest intact sequoia grove. It is located west of Redwood Mountain Road, along Generals Highway.

You can see both mature sequoias with rounded tops, and younger “spire-top” sequoias.

Kings Canyon Overlook

From Kings Canyon Overlook you can look eastward deep into the wilderness of both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park.

Lodging/Dining between Sequoia and Kings Canyon (in Sequoia National Forest)

There are 2 lodges on Generals Highway between Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. They are both located in Sequoia National Forest between Wuksachi and Grant Grove.

The Montecito-Sequoia Lodge is an all inclusive year round lodge and summer family camp.. It is located on 40 acres of Sequoia National Forest land. The family-style buffet is open to the public for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in spring, fall, and winter.

The 11 room Stony Creek Lodge is located 15 miles north of Sequoia National Park’s Giant Forest. It is open from May through early October. It features a market/gift shop, ATM machine, and a gas station. The small restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner.

Black Bears

Where can you see a bear at Kings Canyon National Park?

During spring time you can see bears in Meadows. In the summer, you can see them near Manzanita and bitter cherry bushes. And during the fall, you can see them high in oak trees.

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