Kings Canyon National Park

Kings Canyon National Park is a true hidden gem of the Sierra Nevada, offering dramatic landscapes, deep valleys, and towering mountains that feel almost untouched by time. The park’s centerpiece, Kings Canyon itself, is a breathtaking gorge—one of the deepest in North America—flanked by cliffs that soar thousands of feet above the valley floor. Standing in the canyon, you get a real sense of scale and the raw power of nature. The park is perfect for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. Trails like Mist Falls, Rae Lakes Loop, and Zumwalt Meadow showcase a mix of rugged terrain, lush forests, sparkling rivers, and serene meadows. The towering sequoias in the Cedar Grove area are equally impressive, offering a quieter, less crowded experience than neighboring Sequoia National Park while still showcasing these ancient giants. Wildlife is abundant, from deer and black bears to a variety of birds, making every hike feel alive and dynamic. The scenery changes with the seasons—spring brings wildflowers and rushing waterfalls, summer offers hiking and camping opportunities, and fall adds a splash of color to the forests. Kings Canyon feels vast, peaceful, and largely untouched, offering a sense of solitude that’s increasingly rare in popular parks. It’s a must-visit for anyone looking to experience the grandeur of the Sierra Nevada, whether you’re hiking, photographing, or simply soaking in the majestic landscapes.

Breathtaking start to finish. We loved the ease of driving through the park and seeing everything it had to offer. Visitor centres were closed due to the government shut down but we were still able to find our way to the spots we wanted to see most. I would highly recommend visiting and it’s so easy to get to kings canyon in one day. Dress in layers as it’s such a mixed climate up there. Good walking shoes advised. Pack a picnic and bring plenty water there are so may nice spots to stop. Wear had binoculars to spot wild life and check out cool rock features.

Visiting Kings Canyon National Park is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The towering canyon walls, massive boulders scattered along the roadside, and the serene stillness of nature create an atmosphere that’s both humbling and awe-inspiring. As you wind through the mountains, every turn reveals breathtaking views—rugged cliffs, lush forests, and dramatic drops that showcase the raw beauty of the canyon landscape. It’s a place that leaves you amazed at every moment.

We paired it with Sequoia, Kings Canyon offers deep glacial valleys, massive sequoias, and roaring rivers. Drive the scenic byway into Kings Canyon for cliff-lined views and waterfalls. Hike Zumwalt Meadow (1.5 mi)- it’s the most popular hike to see the beautiful park- the road that takes you there is amazing as well. Less crowded than Yosemite, but just as beautiful. Fall colours were here already early October.

We had the most beautiful drive through Kings Canyon — it absolutely blew my mind! 🌲 Definitely one of California’s most underrated national parks. If you plan to drive all the way to the end of the route, give yourself at least 4 hours — there are so many gorgeous stops along the way. Slow down, soak in the nature, and don’t miss the glowing red sunsets. ❤️

We went to Sequoia National park and Kings Canyon Park since they are very close to each other. Both are very beautiful places to visit. You can see sequoia forest, canyons and lake in there . there are multiple rest areas with restrooms along the roads. however it’s hard to drive on some of the winding mountain roads because they are very narrow.

This place is incredible and will forever hold a special place in my heart. Came end of July and spent 4-days hiking the Rae Lakes Loop with our group of 4 friends. Park Service personnel we encountered were all super knowledgeable and friendly and willing to give helpful information. The views and scenery are incredible. We visited Sequoia ahead of our hike and you can feel the tone change between the two parks. Sequoia was beautiful in its own respect but the visitors in Kings Canyon had a much more "serious" outdoor enthusiast attitude and feel which I will always appreciate.

Such an underrated national park!! I actually think I prefer KC over Sequoia. Not as packed, and fantastic views throughout the park of the mountains and Kings River. This can be a haul to get to the actual national park so be aware if you do not like driving at night. The Muir Rock is also located in the park, which made this a must do for me.

What to do on the Fourth of July? Join the horde of other visitors at a National Park! We started on our way early enough to be at the gate to Kings Canyon National Park by 8:38 AM. I highly suggest arriving as early as possible to avoid slow & stopped traffic on the road and a long wait time at the gate. We entered here and left from Sequoia National Park. As we drove out, we were struck by the sheer volume of cars waiting to enter the park. The last car waiting was about a mile away!! There is an entrance fee to pay for most people. U.S. Military personnel and individuals with the Access Lifetime Pass enter for free. We have a National Park Pass, so we were good to enter. The signs with prices are posted at the gate. TIP: Bring a major Credit Card or Mobile Payment because this is a cashless park. The road is windy, so take care while driving. I'd also like to recommend that slower vehicles use the pullouts so others can pass. We stopped in at the Kings Canyon Visitor Center & Grant Grove Village for a potty break and to check out souvenirs and information there. There's also a restaurant here if you need sustenance for your day. If you need Wi-Fi, you can connect here. Otherwise, reception is spotty at best out in the park! There are so many majestic Sequoia Trees to enjoy! This park is home to a famous tree named General Grant. We came to take in its grandeur! This is the third largest tree in the world by volume! By viewing this tree, I've now seen the world's widest-known Sequoia! Things to see while taking a leisurely stroll around General Grant Trail, which is about a 0.7-mile loop: *General Grant Tree - named after General Ulysses S. Grant & is a Living Shrine *Gamlin Cabin - built in 1872 by the Gamlin brothers, who lived there until 1878. This park was established as General Grant National Park in 1890. The cabin was turned into a store and later became the first Park Ranger's quarters. *Centennial Stump *Fallen Monarch - view the log which is the upper part of the tree is down slope from the Grant Tree. There are many trails and places to explore in this park! Enjoy the great outdoors!

This place is tough in the winter - a lot of the main roads stay closed until May/June for winter and I came in March so I was pretty limited (couldn't do Zumwolt meadow, but the pics look stunning!). Nevertheless, it's a good entrance to sequoia national park if you're coming from Fresno or north of it (which I was). I went to the general grant tree (America's Christmas tree!) and the big stump grove, which isn't a hike but it's a nice little walk. It was decently muddy that day at the end of March bc of snow melting though so bear it in mind! There was also quite a bit of snow in the clearings, about 3/4 of the trail it had already melted. You can see some cool historical signs about the history of the trees along this route. I stopped at the visitor center too - the rangers there know about sequoia too so they advised me on trails (eg telling me lakes trail is only possible with snow shoes, or in the summer - so I couldnt make it). They have clean bathrooms and passport stamps there for kings canyon. Hope to come back in summer sometime to get to the meadow and other trails!

It's a photo op playground with tons of trees, stumps, rocks, and trails to climb, jump and sit on. What a blast! Lush ferns, flowers, and greenery. We came mid-June and the weather was perfect! High 50s, low 60s. Crisp and gorgeous! So much to see and do.

I highly recommend Kings Canyon for camping, hiking and exploring the great outdoors.

Trees, canyons and waterfalls! I have been to KC a couple of times, dropped kids at camp in Hume, and done some exploring but never have I driven to Road's End like I did a few weeks ago. I took a friend who had never been so we explored old & new to me territory. We hiked around Grant Grove, walked around Hume Lake, and drove through Wilsonia. The new experiences to me were white knuckling the car down a harrowing road to Road's End and stopping at Cedar Grove Lodge to get an ice cream. We enjoyed a picnic lunch next to the Kings River while watching people jump off Muir Rock into the river. We took the short walk to Roaring River Falls. We took stunning photos of the scenery. Unfortunately we did not have time to hike to Grizzly Falls or visit Boyden Cavern. I have plans to spend the night at Cedar Grove Lodge to enjoy the inner depths of the park. The park was clean, employees were friendly, roads were maintained and parking was plentiful on a summer Saturday. What a gem!

Where tall trees meets the deep canyons! Beautiful park overall! I came during winter season 2024, I'll admit the main road that goes into the canyon lands was closed so I'll have to come back another time. Other than that, we visited Hume Lake, General Grant Tree Trailhead, and of course the visitor center. It wasn't peak season so we got to do some hikes and find easy parking. There's also park rangers roaming around the area so I'd love to come back again to see the rest of the park.

Really pretty Park to come to and do a hike. This place is huge and when I say huge, I mean its big and so many things to see. Came here in July of last year 2023 for my birthday week. It is extremely hot so make sure to hydrate and have a few drinks with you. Do not leave any food in vehicle or in sight because there are hungry bears in the area, and they will try to get it. The views are amazing! They also have camping available.

While Sequoia National Park remains the more popular of the conjoining national parks and has more groves of the giant trees that bear its name, Kings Canyon National Park showcases multiple canyons and valleys, and numerous waterfalls. If you visit Kings Canyon, you must see the General Grant tree, named after General Ulysses S. Grant. It is the world's second-largest tree and is named the nation's Christmas tree. The General Grant tree is the centerpiece of Grant Grove Village, which is located close to the west entrance to the park. Not far from the west entrance to Kings Canyon National Park and just 50 miles away from Fresno you will find Hume Lake. It is a beautiful lake with clear, pristine waters and sandy coves and beaches aligning its shores. It is an ideal place to hike, camp, mountain bike, swim, and fish. You can also rent kayaks and canoes there. Like all the national parks, there is just too much to see and so many things to do when you visit one. Kings Canyon National Park is certainly no exception. A drive up to Panoramic Point, a hike to Roaring Rivers Falls, a 50-minute walk inside the Boyden Cavern, and another short hike to Zumwalt Meadow are some of the activities that I have bookmarked to do next Spring.

Sometimes you have to make do with what life gives you, which is exactly what my husband and I did over MDW. Our original plan was to go to Sequoia National Park, but there was still no access to the giant sequoias due to all the winter storms CA has had. Luckily on the NPS website it recommended adjacent Kings Canyon National Park. Though, half of Kings Canyon park is also inaccessible currently due to road closures (i.e. Zumwalt Meadow and Roaring River Falls). Overall, we were very satisfied with the hikes and trails we got in. There were plenty of park rangers over MDW, perhaps since it was a holiday and we were able to find a few trails to enjoy. 1. General Grant Trail (0.7 miles), easy. Parking lot is located directly by it, and restrooms are also available by the parking entrance. There's also the Fallen Monarch on this easy trail. Parking lot filled up fast & early over MDW. 2. North Grove Loop Trail (~2 miles), easy-medium. Trail starts at the additional parking lot spaces for General Grant. Some of the trail has washed away due to the winter storms, so I wouldn't say it was the easiest trail climbing over some fallen trees/washed out areas. As long as you can find the reflective red dots on the trail, you're going in the right direction. 3. Panorama Point (~5 miles), medium. Trail starts near the John Muir Lodge in the Grant Grove Village with the visitor center. Lots of incline since the road that you're climbing is what the cars usually are able to drive up to the trail. Medium difficulty climbing with the incline and parts of the asphalt road is like rivers with all the melting snow. The part where the trail to Panorama Point actually normally starts is still covered in snow. The "Accessible Trail" is completely not accessible due to all the fallen trees. You'll have to climb over some fallen trees and find your way to the top, but I felt the views were great and worthwhile. In summary, I think Kings Canyon was a great substitute park to visit since we couldn't get to Sequoia. At the Visitor Center, we were told a road from Kings Canyon going down to Sequoia National Park should be open in about a week or so (Mid-June). I think it's a longer route, but at least access to the Sequoias in Grant Grove Forest will finally be available this year (hopefully)!

I LOVE National Parks. We came here to celebrate my birthday, which happens to fall along National Park Week. As a NPS fanatic, I love knowing that my birthday shares this with the parks. We came April 26-28. We stayed at the John Muir Lodge in the park near Grant Grove Village. There was a really bad snow storm this year which had about 80% of the park closed. We weren't able to do as much as we would've liked on this visit (the east part of the park was completely closed), however we made the most of it! We did the General Grant Tree loop and attended a Ranger Talk. It was really fun to learn about the Sequoias and the history of the park. I loved craning our necks to try to see the top of the trees. My favorite part of this walk was being able to walk inside a tree. A majority of the roads were closed due to snow or damage. The normal drive to Panoramic Point Overlook was covered in snow. The visitor center told us we were able to snowshoe up to the view. So on my birthday, I tried snowshoeing for the first time and had a blast. Thankfully the hike wasn't too strenuous, but it wasn't that simple with the snowshoes. We rented the snowshoes from the park store next to the post office. When we finally got to the overlook it was absolutely stunning! I'm so happy I got to visit this park! I'm hoping to come back when there is less snow/damages so I can visit more and do more hikes on the east side. After visiting and attending the ranger talks, it was a bit of a wake-up call. This is just a friendly reminder to take care of our earth.

This review is for the General Grant Trail was a ~0.7 mile round trip that took ~30 mins to complete. Great views of the giant sequoias! There were still remnants of trail damage from the 2023 winter storms. Plenty of parking spots with a restroom. Short video of the hike for those interested: https://youtu.be/_HMR6aFWvas

Great park to visit! Even though the road leading to the waterfalls and nice hikes is closed and will be closed until next summer, there are still many things you can see: General grant tree, several lakes, just stopping by different vista points. It is amazing to see the trees so tall and to know that some are over 1,000 years old and have lived through countless droughts and forest fires.

Located north of Sequoia, with way less people. No shuttle system needed (unlike Sequoia). While I still recommend checking out Sequoia at least once in your lifetime (Gen. Sherman and Moro Rock are worth seeing, for sure), I'd probably prefer to spend my time in Kings Canyon. It's much more serene. Gen. Grant (second largest tree in the world) is located here. Still a popular spot but nothing close to the crowds at Gen. Sherman. You can actually get a photo without waiting in line. Driving through the park is also a lovely experience. The scenic byway has stunning views. But my absolute favorite experience here? ZUMWALT MEADOW. It's extremely inconvenient in its location, right before the road ends. You can't exit the park on that side and have to drive all the way back, the way you came. It was about a 3-hour drive total (there and back) for us. It significantly lengthened our drive home that day but you know what? It was totally worth it! It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. It was like stepping into an alternate universe. All my senses were engaged. The sweet scent of the flowers. The buzzing of the insects and the songs of the birds. The warm sunlight on my skin. There was even a little creek nearby that we drank cool/fresh water from. It felt like a totally insular and magical world. When I stepped outside its bounds, I felt an intense urge to cry. I wanted to stay there forever. Needless to say, I highly recommend it. We stayed in Miramonte in order to visit both Kings Canyon and Sequoia. Miramonte is actually closer to Kings Canyon (Three Rivers is better for Sequoia). Either option requires a bit of driving. Camping inside one of the parks is probably a better option to cut down on driving.

Definitely an underrated park, Kings Canyon has way less crowds than the nearby Sequoia NP. Humbled by the towering mountains and giant Sequoias at Grant and Cedar Grove, Kings Canyon is the deepest vertical drops in the Sierra Nevada Mountain range abd most of the park is closed to roads in the winter, meaning summer's the only time you can really visit the canyon at the park in a car. There is a ton of trails though, all day trips don't need a reservation,, but some of the longer overland trails do require a permit which you can get at the ranger station at Road's End. My recommendation for your first trip will probably be the 8 mile, 4-5 hour roundtrip to Mist Falls, which the journey was great to get a gist of Kings Canyon, Zumwalt Meadows for a short 1.5 mile, flat hike, and the General Grant tree in the Grant Grove side of the park. Roaring River Falls is another good one from what I've heard, and you can do all of the above in a single day if you start at dawn. As for camping, it was reservation only and looked pretty full in August. I'd stay in the National Forest near Hume Lake instead of the park or overnight with a permit on those long multiday hikes. Overall, lovely spot and will probably try the Rae Lakes loop for deep backpacking next time.

Top things to see in my opinion ranked in order... -Mist Falls (One of the longer hikes in the park) -Roaring River Falls -General Grant Tree -Zumwalt Meadow Trail If you can get up to Mist Falls I highly recommend it given the views of the canyon and the waterfall at the end.

The attraction IS the park. I got disoriented and went on the wrong path to Grant's Grove. Ha, there were about 10 trees that COULD have been the Grant tree. Amazing how these towering giants are "just a tree", and there are giant sequoias... and large giant sequoias. The Grant tree is the 3rd largest but "only" 1700 years old. Make no mistake, the park is remote. It took 2 hours to get there and then you have to navigate the parks themselves. It's not an easy or relaxing drive, especially with a lot of construction.

I came straight here from the Sequoia National Park. Kings Canyon National Park don't seem to be in good shape currently, with all the charred trees and very smoky air. I would come back again when Cedar Grove is opened again.

Beautiful park with less people. Located adjacent to the famous Sequoia National Park. Most people visiting at the Sequoia stays certain popular area and don't venture out to the Kings Canyon. Drive here is interesting and be predicted to take a lot of pictures of unique mountain ranges There are a lot of parts where wilderness permits are required and it looks fun to come back here to go for backpacking for several days from here. I liked the desert part and woods area. As soon as I entered the woods area, I was overwhelmed with the scent of woods and rain. I stuck my head out of the car window like a dog to enjoy the scent of natures. If you plan to hangout by the water, be extra careful as current is stronger than it looks. Water sure was inviting.

Sequoia National Park and King Canyon National Park are currently open for the public to explore mother nature at her finest (but some areas of the park are currently closed). Please note that these parks are joint together and so admission to one park will allow you access to the other ($35 for up to 7 days but if you plan on visiting other national parks, it may be worth purchasing America the beautiful annual pass like we did since we have plans to visit other parks in the near future). Please note that currently either of these national parks do not require a reservation prior to your visit. Being that these parks are in California, you are required to wear a mask, however you will see several park visitors not wearing the mask (I suppose it is fine if there is no one for miles but you should bring it with you when you do see people and have to pass by them on a narrow trail). People that come to visit Sequoia don't always seem to visit King Canyon and so it isn't nearly as busy with people. If you would like to enjoy mother nature in her bounty of waterfalls, redwoods, deep valleys and canyons, then you should come to this side of the park. You can enjoy the scenic drive from Sequoia to King Canyon, check out all the amazing redwoods in Grant Grove and hike the numerous of trails (a lot of which my husband and I, along with our little girl, found were shaded). If you are feeling really adventurous, you can check out Boyden Cavern (Found on your drive from Sequoia to King Canyon)- Tours are available with reservations made in advance (but you can make them on the day of and may get lucky to get some spots). Tour last 45- 60 minutes and cost between $21-$31, depending if you come on a weekday, weekend or holiday. Walking up to the cavern is the most difficult, as it is very steep but the walk up is very short (maybe 5 minutes). Inside the cavern, is very narrow. You are not allowed to bring in a backpack and can check them into a small locker or should leave them in your car. Please note that this is not dog friendly, in case you are travelling with your pup and it is best to dress warmly since it can get real cold inside the cavern. I would recommend that you wear closed toed shoes to protect your feet. Worth a drive over from Sequoia (you already paid for the entrance fee so why not use it to its full value?).

Kings Canyon isn't as crowded as its neighbor Sequoia. I came in winter so there's a road that is blocked to get to Sequoia. Since it is winter there are also a lot of trails closed so plan accordingly. Visit Grant Grove and General Grant Tree. The hikes are short and the pathway is paved.

Absolutely beautiful. Plenty of parking and information. Roads are well maintained and spacious. Highly recommend.

After a bunch of research I made a guide to follow. Think of the park as a NORTH half and a SOUTH half from the entrance near 180/196. Each half covers about 35 miles of driving. NORTH HALF: * * * From the entrance, 1 mi to BIG STUMP Picnic Area (left). Trail left of bathrooms: 200' grade, shady short hike (1.5 mil), inc. the climbable Mark Twain Stump (photo op) and the Sawed Tree (saw scars), all of which are pretty much unmarked. * * * 2.6 miles to Kings Canyon Visitor Center with gift shop * * * Near Azalea Campground is an intersection, meaning you can go left or right. 1.1 mile to the LEFT takes you to GENERAL GRANT TREE area. Loop trail (1/3 mile) easy. Walk inside a Fallen Monarch (fire hollowed tree used for shelter and as a US Cavalry stable til 1914) and the 100+ yr old Gamlin Cabin, see Centennial Stump (cut/reassembled for 1876 Worlds Fair in Philadelphia and thought to be "California hoax". 1.2 miles to the RIGHT takes you to PANORAMIC POINT for paved 1/2 mile to view at 7250'. * * * Go back to 180 and go 7.2 miles (just past Princess Campground) where you have the option to drive 3 miles to HUME LAKE (I didn't go) * * * Another 4 miles to JUNCTION VIEW (left), a popular turnout for views of Western Sierra and Kings River. * * * 9 miles to Boyden Cavern. Tickets for 45-60 minute walking tour run $21-31 and require online reservations. This is along the gorgeous Scenic Byway following the rushing river with huge granite boulders. * * * 5 miles to GRIZZLY FALLS Picnic Area. Walk a wide 300' dirt path to an 80 foot waterfall visible from road. Bring a blanket in case picnic tables are taken: Great, shady area for lunch. * * * 7 miles to ROARING RIVER FALLS. Hike a wide paved trail for a short, easy, shady hike to a small but roaring waterfall. (Swim in the icy pool below if you dare for a photo op) * * * 3 miles the Highway ends. From there you can do the MIST FALLS. 9 mi round trip (no shade the first 2) and 810' elevation (600 of it near end). Will take 3.5 hrs without breaks. (I skipped this). It's about 38 miles back to the entrance. From there, you can start the SOUTH HALF or come back another day. With zero traffic, the North Half took me 8 hours, which did not include the Mist Falls hike. SOUTH HALF * * * 28 mi from entrance to LODGEPOLE Visitor Ctr. From there take 2nd left from Lodgepole Rd to trailhead pkg area. Follow rd into Campground w/ the river on left. Left at the split and cross the bridge. Turn right for the TOKOPAH FALLS trail. 4.2 mile gradual hike gaining 639' straight to the 1200' falls. (2 hr+) * * * 2.3 miles to CONGRESS TRAIL w/ easy paved 3 mi loop climbing 470' including the General Sherman Tree (world's largest tree by volume: 275' high & 36' diameter base). * * * 1.9 miles to BIG TREES TRAIL w/ super easy, short loop to big trees (duh). * * * 2.1 miles...turn left down Crescent Meadow Rd (not sure if it's marked) to get to trailheads. First left gets you to N) PARKER GROUP (closely-spaced group of sequoias well situated for photos) and further up the SEQUOIA TUNNEL (17' wide, 8' high). [High Sierra Trailhead is beyond that]. Go back down, cross the Road to get to P) HANGING ROCK Trailhead ( 1/2 mile trail with 111' elevation) easy hike to a hanging rock. Follow the road to MORO ROCK Trailhead ( 1/2 mile trail with 187' elevation)- well-favored 15 minute hike for panoramic views of the giant sequoia tops. Though it's closed during COVID, see if CRYSTAL CAVE is open for tours beyond that. After Moro Rock, check your GPS to see if it is quicker to drive the 32 miles back up to your entrance or to continue along 198 and exit through the south. Bring BUG SPRAY. Trust me. The flies and bees (my wife got stung) hover mid-air, buzzing near your ears like helicopters and it feels like Long Beach at night. Highlights: 1) Scenic byway (if you're a fan of rocky rushing rivers), 2) walking through the Fallen Monarch, 3) eating lunch feet from Grizzly Falls, 4) historical tress, 5) climbing the Sawed Tree. No offense, but the park reminds me of a dirtier, dry Glacier National Park.

Adjacent to sequoia national park so if you visit one, be sure to allow an extra day or two to see both! Kings canyon national park has a huge fallen tree that you can walk through. It's awe inspiring to be in the presence of such huge trees that have been alive longer than we. The national Christmas tree is on display and is huge! It is a giant sequoia and was dedicated in a ceremony as the national tree for its size and beauty. Make sure if you get motion sickness to take medicine for the drive to/from Kings Canyon because many of the roads are winding. Totally worth the drive for the sheer beauty.

***My 1,200th Review*** Kings Canyon kind of stole my heart a little bit. Okay, maybe A LOT-bit. I know that it often gets overshadowed by its' big brother Sequoia National, but it was my favorite park to visit out of the two. This has got to be one of the best national parks that I've visited thus far. For one thing, it isn't super crowded like Yosemite or Sequoia which allows you to really soak in the entire experience. The King's Canyon visitor center is one of the most informative that I've ever been to, and it doubles as a small museum that's filled with tons of history about both parks. There are a plethora of hiking trails, campsites, stunning groves, and beautiful scenic byways throughout the park. The drive to the canyon from the visitor center is truly mystical! You'll gain thousands of feet of elevation gain throughout the journey and you'll be exposed to the most breathtaking views of the canyon! The geological makeup of the Kings River Canyon is unlike anything that I've ever seen before. Make it a point to stop at as many viewpoints as possible on your way to and from the canyon and take advantage of the informational maps on the side of the road. You'll be exposed to the most incredible views of both the Middle Fork and South Fork Rivers, the 7 sisters (Grand Dike), monumental peaks and ridges, Mount Harrington, Spanish Mountain, Crown Rock, and so much more! You'll see glimpses of rock erosion in the mist as you ascend deeper into the canyon. There is NO shortage of wildlife! The canyon is filled with a numerous amount of species! I was able to spot butterflies, marmots, deer, lizards, and several different species of birds all within a one day's visit. I would also encourage a stop at Grant Grove and the Kings River. Grant Grove is just a short distance from the visitor center and can be visited before or after your trip to the canyon. The grove features a small paved walking path that will take you alongside some of the oldest and tallest Sequoias in the park, including General Grant himself. You'll even be able to walk inside of a giant tree! This area is excellent for kids to explore too. The Kings River is located closer to the canyon entrance. You can easily pull off on the side of the road to get to the river. Many people fish for trout here and the water from the river is so refreshing to witness. My favorite part of exploring Kings Canyon was embarking on a moderately strenuous hike up to the Cedar Grove Overlook! There are tons of hiking trails in the canyon. I hiked the Hotel Creek Trail to Cedar Grove Overlook which is a moderately strenuous 5.2 mile out and back trek with a steep 1,200 foot elevation gain. The park measures the elevation gain at 1,200 feet but my Alltrails record measured the gain as just short of 1,500 feet. Either way, it's an incredible hike that will expose you to the most stunning views of the canyon! If you are planning on hiking this trail, I would wear a head net and/or bring bug spray to avoid the bugs during the first mile through the meadows because they are really intense on the way up. Once you get higher into the canyon, they'll start to thin out. The trail begins with a gradual incline that soon becomes several steep switch backs until you reach the highest point. It's mostly unshaded with a mix of rocky and sandy pathways and there are many fallen trees that you'll have to traverse over along the path. Make sure you wear sturdy hiking shoes as the path can be very slippery where the sand is. Bring lots of water, sunscreen, and your lunch so that you can enjoy it at the top of the Cedar Grove Overlook! The entire hike will take between 3-4 hours to complete. It's an out an back, but you can add more mileage by connecting to the Lewis and Clark trail (this will add another hour or two to your hike and approximately 2.5 more miles). The trail is filled with an abundance of wildflowers and beautiful Cedar trees as well as the most scenic views of the canyon. You won't run into too many people on this trail. I think I ran into maybe 3 or 4 people/groups during my entire journey. If coming in the summer time, start your hike early because it can get incredibly hot! Also, be mindful of marmot season (usually late spring to summer) because they can chew through your car's engine. Look over instructions of how to tarp wrap your car, or come when it's not marmot season so you don't have to worry about it. This was definitely one of the most memorable hikes that I've ever done! Kings Canyon is so fascinating! You could spend months at this park and still not even feel like you've scratched the surface. This is a park visit that you must scratch off of your bucket list!

We love visiting national parks. I've been to quite a few and this was my second visit to this one. The last time I was here was 15 years ago so I didn't remember it all that well. I was really surprised by the lack of hiking here. That's usually the main thing we do at national parks. We went to the Grant Grove, Panoramic Point, Zumwalt Meadows, and drove the scenic byway. Everything was really pretty. We spent a day here and I felt like that was enough time. It's a nice national park, but doesn't quite live up to some of the more well known national parks.

Unfortunately, Sequoia National Park is closed off due to the fires. We decided to go to Kings Canyon for the weekend and it was the perfect getaway. The only campground open this weekend was Azalea and it is 3.5 miles from Kings Canyon entrance. A smaller number of sites are open from November to mid April and it's first come first serve. Fire pits, potable water, flushable toilets, food storage lockers, and some cell service. (Verizon works, not sprint/T-Mobile) After entering Kings Canyon, you can take the 180 to go down to the bottom of the canyon. It's about 33 miles, took about an hour. Gorgeous drive and many fun spots to stop. There are some great overlooks, Boyden cave (closed for 2021 season, opens April 30), roaring river falls, Zumwalt meadows! Be prepared, the road is a loop and you can not drive through, but great for a day trip to explore. And of course, check out general grant tree near the entrance.

What a beautiful tranquil place to visit. I was in the area for business and found this under things to do in the area. I had no idea that something like this existed. Due to you are in farm town the drive may be a bit long, but there is no traffic. You have choices when it comes to eating, you can pack your own lunch or eat in the restaurant or deli. I had a lot of time so I choose the restaurant. It was delicious and a great place to unwind. The bathroom is inside for those in the restaurant. Gift shops. They have 2 with so much to offer. I found a high quality water bottle. It keeps ice frozen all day. And if you don't want a screw top, you can get a sipper on Amazon. I"m so glad i got it. A little pricy, but worth it for the quality. You can take the all day hike or the easy walk about trail. I took the easy walk about trail and had a really good time. I look forward to going back and I recommend this stop for you. I went by myself and had a fabulous time and took tons of pictures.

King's Canyon is adjacent to Sequoia but is less popular and hence less busy than its neighbor to the south. We stayed in Three Rivers and made the trip out to Kings Canyon on the first day of our trip. It was about 1.5 hours each way on a windy road. While in Kings, we hiked Big Baldy, saw the General Grant tree, had lunch at the Hume Lake Snack Shop and walked the perimeter of Hume Lake. We saw only one other couple on our hike of Big Baldy, which was amazing - we essentially had the whole thing to ourselves. I'm not sure if it's because it was a weekday or because King's is just less popular than Sequoia, but it was a definite plus. Note that, like Sequoia, the air quality here is not great for a National Park.

I've been coming here since 1989. It's beautiful so many great hikes hidden gems you can truly get lost in it's beauty! Sometimes when Yosemite and Sequoias get packed I'll go to Kings Canyon!! The mountains brings balance.

We were in the neighboring town of Three Rivers for my best friend's wedding so a group of us trekked our to see the beautiful redwoods! The park entrance is about 30 minutes away from Three Rivers. The cost is $35 per car for the National Park. Otherwise you can get the Nation Park Pass for $80 (which we ended up doing.) If you plan on going to other parks like Joshua Tree or Yosemite, this is a great option. It's valid for 1 year. From the park entrance it's about another 1.5 hours to the redwood trees. We went to see the Sherman tree which has the widest girth in the world. There are a lot of parking lots and shuttles to get your around the park which is a great option to have. I definitely recommend coming to see this beautiful park and all the giant trees!

Want to get away from the huge crowds you normally have to contend with in a National Park and still be surrounded by awe inspiring views? Kings Canyon may be the place for you. The highlight of this NP for me was the Fallen Monarch, a wooden tunnel made from...well, a fallen Monarch tree (kind of self explanatory). This is on the Grant Grove loop trail on the way to seeing the General Grant tree. This park is a little different. It's pretty much split in two and divided by the National Forest. The first part is the Grant Grove area, and the second is about an hour windy drive down the canyon to Cedar Grove. On the way, King's river was in full force and there were some really nice waterfalls. A little past Cedar Grove, you hit Road's End (also self explanatory). The road literally ends and you hit back country. You'll have to U-turn it and go back up the way you came. King's Canyon is a great park if you really want to be one with nature, but it doesn't have a lot of "main attractions" that most people flock to.

King's Canyon is connected to Sequoia National Park via General's Highway. I recently visited both in a day, and it was nowhere near the time required to explore this glorious forest, but still so worthwhile. After spending the day hiking Sequoia National Park, we finished with Grant's Grove. It was less congested than other areas, with plenty of parking available, but still clearly a destination. The trailhead has restrooms and trash bins, and cabins as well as a campground are available for reservation. The trail itself is an easy one, and features highlights including The Fallen Monarch, a large tree you can walk through, and The Gamlin Cabin, originally built in the 1800s and open for exploration. In this same area of the park you will find a gift shop, a restaurant open seasonally, and a conveniently located post office so you can send out postcards (do other people still do that or is it just me?). I only checked out the gift shop, but they carried a decent variety of products, and the employee working was friendly and helpful. I really was not here long enough to give any particularly useful tips, but I can say this is a park you must visit at least once. The sequoias truly took my breath away, and I hope someday to return and stay for a much greater length of time.

Kings Canyon seems to be the less popular companion to Sequoia National Park and admittedly it's got a confusing layout and can be a bit difficult to get to. However, don't underestimate this gem of a park and if you're in the area, plan at least one full day in the park. I was staying in Three Rivers so getting to Kings Canyon was at least a 90 minute journey, even to get to the General Grant Tree. Unfortunately I started later in the day than intended and had planned a long hike, so I skipped stopping at the grove thinking I'd have time later in the day (didn't happen.) Once you leave the area of Grants Grove, head down the Kings Canyon Scenic byway. You'll be rewarded with amazing canyon views and eventually be traveling along the Kings River. My stops included Roaring River Falls, Zumwalt Meadow and Roads End with a 9 mile hike to Mist Falls. If I had a full week I'd love to go back and do another day hike from Roads End and do a hike from Grants Grove. It's about an hour to drive the full length of the canyon one way, and by the time we made it back up, it was getting late and still another 90 minutes back to Three Rivers. Definitely head out leave early, plan your routes and pack a cooler (this year during Covid, the Cedar Grove area is closed/they normally have camping, lodging and a market.) Even though I missed Grants Grove on the first day, this was still a wonderful and adventurous road trip. I did end up coming back out just for Grants Grove after a day in neighboring Sequoia National Park-I'm so glad I did-it was truly impressive-definitely try to add that to your itinerary as well.

I was unable to check in due to lack of internet here. I still posted photos and am writing my review. Over the past summer I did an intense 10 mile hike here, no tourist action for me! This past visit over Thanksgiving break I wanted to do the tourist visit. Gorgeous!! Giant sequioas ALWAYS impress me! They are the dinosaurs of the tree world in my opinion. Kings Canyon is similar (if not the same?) to Sequoia National Park. The $35 entrance fee is well worth it. The fires had me worried that this natural wonder would be destroyed, but no! We parked in the General Grant Parking lot and headed in the opposite direction for a "stroll" in the forest. There are two loops that are easy walks. Be careful you might just get lost, almost, as we did while chatting and walking amongst the giants. We accidentally headed down a trail that was obviously the wrong way and had to back track. The park itself is not particularly large, but the trees are! The Kings Canyon entrance we drove was from the town of Reedley nearby. It was quick hour up highway 180. Fortunately we were early enough to have the whole trail to ourselves. Highly highly recommended to visit! Loads of bathrooms along the way as well. Happy hiking.

Damn! I had planned the perfect wilderness vacation for my husband and I. By wilderness I mean trees outside my lodge room window. This place is magnificent. Giant trees everywhere. Plenty of easy trails to hike. Lots of romantic walks. Birds and other wildlife not seen in the San Diego landscape. The cool moist air biting your lungs it is so clean. The smell of pine and other odiferous stimulation hitting the back of your nostrils. Patches of snow hanging on marking the transition from winter to spring. Senses bombarded with the sheer vastness of your surroundings. Magnificent. The drive was breath taking. From the jitters as you drive the long winding road that hugs the edge of the forest cliff, to the macabre scene of acres, no, miles of burned-out forest; scars left by the recent fires. Fallen trees littering the landscape as well as the obvious efforts of park officials to clear and make the area safe for tourists. THIS was nature. You could tell from all of man's efforts to tame it, nature still rules here. Thus my rating. My plan was to spend our first day taking the General's Highway down into King's Canyon to view the lakes and waterfalls. This was the sole purpose of booking the trip. The trees were a bonus but not the main reason for my trip. The view of so many large as a whole was way more exciting to me than the sight of the two generals; Grant and Sherman. When I booked this trip back in February, nature was on my side. Little did I know that nature and it's winter fury were not done. Not by a long shot. Her long stretching sleeve still had tricks left. A week before my arrival. a snowstorm lay on the fire barren cliff walls causing a major landslide that blocked the exciting second half of the road down into King's Canyon. This was a huge disappointment and no fault of anybody but nature, However, the number of huge dump trucks and other construction vehicles speeding past you because they are very familiar with the scary cliff hugging road was disconcerting to say the least. We had to pull over a number of times to let tailgating construction workers pass. We did enjoy a hike to the Topakah Falls. They were breathtaking..... and so was the hike. The thin mountain air made my body fight for every breath. Every sweet mountain air breath. Taking this into account, I slowed my pace and just enjoyed the view. It was a four mile round trip and not very hard at all. Because it was so early in the season and perhaps due to covid or the recent fire, a lot of stuff was closed. After driving halfway down into the canyon to discover it was closed due to the landslide, we tried many other options on our map only to find they were closed. We spent the rest of the day exploring CLOSED signs. The next day, after experiencing another closed sign, we went to the visitor's center and asked what was open. That's how we found the Topakah falls hike. Being on vacation from a stressful career, dining was very important to us. However, here, though the food was pretty good, it was all take out. Instead of a hostess to seat you and a waiter to take your order, in the hostess's place was an order pad that took your credit card and a window outside in the brisk air where you retrieved your food from an open window in Styrofoam containers. Thankfully the dining room was open for us to take our takeout and eat at a table. So, we were able to find a good time while we were there; but it was not the carless vacation we were hoping for. Will I visit again, probably not. Do I regret going? Not at all. I mean, this was a bucket list trip and sometimes the bucket is half empty.

Less hyped than its sibling to the north, Yosemite, but Kings Canyon is just as majestic. I didn't know what to expect but I am sincerely in love. It's easy to do in one day or spend several days exploring its wilds. The first must do is the Canyon scenic drive. Kings Canyon is the deepest canyon in the US at over a mile and a half deep, and you can drive all the way from the top to the bottom along the aforementioned scenic drive. It's amazing. I guarantee you'll be slack jawed, murmuring, "wow wow wow" to yourself during the whole drive down into the bottom of the canyon. The vistas are incredible and change minute to minute as the sun moves from east to west. Once at the bottom, explore the trails throughout and enjoy camping, admiring the King River (FYI--the current is strong and fast so I would not advise swimming but it's a bit more chill at the "road's end" and you can easily go wading into the shallower part of the water), and visiting TONS of waterfalls. FYI--This is bear country, so don't leave any food in your car in your car if you're exploring. Otherwise, they will treat it like a tin can and rip your vehicle open! If you have more time, spend some time hiking amongst the sequoias in the General Grant Grove of sequoias, and be at peace with some of the largest and oldest living trees in the world (including the second largest tree in the world--the General Grant) then take the General's Highway south to Sequoia National Park/Forest and see the largest tree on earth--the General Sherman. There are two visitors centers, one near the General Grant Grove and another at the bottom of the Canyon that can answer questions for you. They also have pay phones (remember those?) if you need to make a call or check in somewhere. We were in the park for about 12 hours and had zero cell service the entire time so don't bet on being able to reach the outside world. But there's something to be said for detaching from the rest of the world and enjoying the incredible beauty around you. Don't squander it!

Deep Canyons, High Peaks and Giant trees! [When I originally composed this review during our visit last year to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks both parks were together as one check-in. Yelp has now separated the check-ins for the two parks as they should've been in the first place since they are its own separate NP and has its own beauty and features]. This was my review for our visit on 06/12/16: This was our first time in this beautiful park located in the southern Sierra Nevada. Our National Park annual pass once again comes in handy as entrance fee to the park is $30 per car (but it is good for 7 days like all of our national park fees -- great if you're camping or hiking). It's always helpful to start your adventure stopping by the Visitor Center to get ideas on great stopping points (if you're only here for a day trip) or get campgrounds, hiking information if you plan to do any of these activities. For this visit we were here for only a day of sightseeing. Highlights at Kings Canyon NP: Junction View - stopped here to feast our eyes on excellent views of both the Middle Fork and the South Fork of Kings Canyon. It was cool to watch the rain falling on the canyons. Occasionally we would see a lightning bolt strike then followed by thunder. I was a bit scared to be out in the open. Roaring River Falls - In awe! Located just off Generals Highway in the Cedar Grove Area... felt the power of this short but mighty waterfall, like an angry and violent waterfall, as it rushed through a narrow granite chute. The walk is only a short .3-mile round trip on a paved trail. Definitely worth the stop. Canyon View - picturesque views from the pullout! It rained here briefly so we were looking at a wet view of the glacial past. The views of the U-shaped Kings Canyon vista certainly didn't disappoint. Plenty of campsites and hiking trails in Canyon View Campgrounds. Grizzly Falls - first time I've witnessed erosion in action as dirt mixed with the water making the waterfall brown in color. The walk to the falls is only half a mile. Please watch the short video i took of this waterfall. Roads End - as we circled this area we saw amazing views of Muir Rock along with plenty of hiking trails and an impressive views of high granite walls. This was a whole day affair of adventure for us and we still missed many spots... definitely have to come back again for a second round. Review #0747

Kings Canyon National Park, wow what to say. Combined and situated right next door to Sequoia National Park, these 2 NP's make for a fantastic 3 - 4 day getaway! I actually spent 1 full day in Sequoia, 1 full day in Kings Canyon, and my 3rd and final day was used to finish up any sights I had missed on the prior days. For those with plenty of time on their hands, I'd even spend a 4th day leisurely hiking and appreciating the scenery. I started this journey coming from the Three Rivers area, which is a nice little town and segue coming into Sequoia NP. From Sequioa, exploring the sights and wondrous trees, I spent 2 evenings in Grant Grove, where I had a "tent cabin", sort of sleeping out in the heart of nature and the wonderful forestry landscape. Grant Grove is in the heart of Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Besides accommodations, it has a Visitor's Center, restaurant, food and supplies. So....beginning my 2nd day in the parks, this was the time I used to explore Kings Canyon. And sleeping at Grant Grove, it was a great location point for getting started. One of the most popular attractions at Kings Canyon is GRANT TREE. It was located just 2 miles down from Grant Grove, a simple drive to where I parked, got outta the car and strolled a 1/3 mile loop trail. Grant Tree is a massive sequoia known as the "Nation's Christmas Tree". Also along this loop trail, there's FALLEN MONARCH TREE and CENTENNIAL STUMP, worthy of photos. I saw Grant Tree first thing in the morning as it afforded me the opportunity to find parking and view the tree unimpeded. The reason I'm saying this is because the prior day when I visited majestic General Sherman (biggest tree in the world), there was a HUGE LINE to take photos of it. BIG STUMP TRAIL is also nearby Grant Grove, a very unique spot to get out of the car, hike and explore. It's 2 miles round trip and I spent 2 hours in this area. Basically, the name says it all. It's massive stumps from former trees. This section is great. It's playful, you can climb on the stumps and take joyful photos realizing how mighty the stumps are, and how tiny you are comparatively. On this trail, definitely visit MARK TWAIN TREE and the SAWED TREE, 2 highly interesting stops in this section. PANORAMIC POINT ROAD is a cool stop, located back in the middle of Grant Grove. It's sort of tricky to find, but if you follow the signs, it's located just east of the Kings Canyon VC. You drive up a road roughly a few miles or so. When you reach the pinnacle, get out of the car and casually walk the Park Ridge Trail 350 yards to Panoramic Point. Although I visited in the morning and the sun was rising against my camera, the views here were nice, but....the views will get better... From here, I drove KINGS CANYON SCENIC BYWAY, also known as GENERALS HIGHWAY, HIGHWAY 180 and "ROAD'S END." Simply, it's driving east for 30 miles (going away from the Sequoia area) along a BEAUTIFUL roadway with plenty of stops and pullouts to observe the scenery. Now...Kings Canyon gets it's name! This road and drive traverses all the way down until you arrive at Zumwalt Meadows. It's truly majestic, and you'll have loads of chances to see the mammoth and picturesque sights of Kings Canyon. This drive was certainly the highlight of my day here!! When exploring Kings Canyon, it can't be missed!!! Some good stops on this 30 mile road are - Yucca Point, Hotel Creek Overlook and Canyon View. Also, two good areas to view waterfalls are: GRIZZLY FALLS - easy, 1/10 mile - beautiful falls and ROARING RIVER FALLS - short, 3/10 mile walk. Both these falls are located right off this 30 mile Generals Highway. You will also pass by a sign that says Kings Canyon National Park...certainly worthy of a picture to mark that you made it here, lol. Finally, ZUMWALT MEADOW, the end of the road...it's picturesque impressive, sort of reminding me of Yosemite a little. Here, there's a Visitors Center and some nice hikes. The water flowing into the meadow is highly pleasing and relaxing. It's an ideal spot to soak up nature. I then hiked ZUMWALT MEADOWS TRAIL. A quaint 1.5 mile loop that circles a creek while being surrounded by giant rocks and charming mountain landscape! It's a real pretty hike especially when the sun is out. It gave me a chance for colorful photo taking all in the heart of a terrific setting. From Zumwalt Meadow, I leisurely headed back the 30 miles to spend my 2nd evening at Grant Grove and my final 3rd day at Sequoia NP finishing anything I had missed on the prior days. Overall, I loved Kings Canyon. This full day of exploring gave me a chance to see a little of everything. And the 30 mile highway was as striking as it gets! Being right next door to Sequoia NP, the 2 parks are a perfect paring together. Sequoia - mostly immersing yourself around massive trees, and Kings Canyon - witnessing fantastic scenery and more. I'm surprised Sequoia gets all the recognition. Kings Canyon is just as worthy 5 stars!

In my opinion, Kings Canyon National Park is probably one of the most underrated national parks in the United States (probably because it is sandwiched between Yosemite and Sequoia). My brother and I spent a couple of nights backpacking around the park and were amazed by the diverse landscape of sequoia groves, raging rivers, lakes, and mountains. You can divide Kings Canyon into two sections: Grant Grove and Cedar Grove. Grant Grove encapsulates sequoia groves including General Grant one of the world's largest living trees. There are a lot of short and easy hikes that we did including the General Grant Tree trail (0.33 miles), North Grove loop (1.5 miles), and Buena Vista Peak (2 miles roundtrip). My favorite trail to hike at Grant grove was the hike through Redwood Canyon. Redwood Canyon is one of the world's largest sequoia groves and was such a great hike. The trails are relatively easy to walk and navigate. Redwood Canyon offers several options to hike the perimeter of the loop or cut through the center totaling to as much as 16 miles but you can make an out and back loop if you want. The drive from Grant Grove to Cedar Grove is very scenic. There are a lot of opportunities to take pictures and gaze at the roaring Kings River rushing through the canyons with great views of mountains in the distance. The Cedar grove area has a good mix of trails that are relatively easy to more strenuous. I hiked the Zumwalt Meadow, which is about 1.5 miles where you walk on mainly a boardwalk circling around the meadow with great views of the mountains. My favorite trail was the 8 mile out and back hike to Mist falls. A lot of the trail follows the Kings River and is relatively an easy hike, however it can get steep as you get towards Mist falls. Mist falls offered the best views in the park compared to all the trails I did during my trip. Keep in mind that the Cedar Grove area is only open late spring to fall so in the off months, cars cannot explore the park past Grant Grove. Kings Canyon seems to get a lot less traffic compared to Yosemite or Sequoia national parks. I found this to be a huge bonus after experiencing the madness at Yosemite. If you are around the Sierra Nevada it is worth the trip!

Stunning! Spectacular! The Kings River is ferocious with epic waterfalls - not mention drop-jawing cliff faces of the canyon. Go soon, stay forever!

We finished the mist trail in around 3 hours 15 minutes with breaks. The falls were spectacular. We saw a bear(cub) near the falls. The trail was shaded and very peaceful.

By far my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE National Park that I have visited. Not just this year, this vacation. My FAVORITE Park EVER. IN my whole life. Not many people visiting here. Lots of accessible hiking. Lots of accessible Sequoia trees. Lots of accessible waterfalls. Incredible scenery. Dare I say better scenery than Yosemite? Cell service is practically non/existent. There is limited WiFi at the Visitor Center and at John Muir Lodge. That is probably why many of the individual attractions do not have their own Yelp pages. A summary of what we did: Drove Kings Canyon Scenic Highway out to Roads End, stopping at almost every overlook. Favorite stops were Grizzly Falls and ______ Cabin. From Roads End we hiked the River Walk, combined with Zumwalt Meadows Trail and Roaring River Falls. I think it ended up being 6/7 miles, the majority literally on rivers edge. On the way back, we took the dirt 4x4 Road back up to Cedar Creek. Then detoured down to Hume Lake and out to Generals Highway. Walked the complete General Grant Trail to see the Giant Sequoia Trees. Then drove down to Redwood Canyon to hike among even more Sequoias. (Apparently there are over 2,000 Sequoias over 10' in diameter here. I didn't count them). Didn't do the whole trail (it's close to 10 miles). But then when you go to Redwood Canyon Overlook you really understand the immensity of what you are looking at. Sunset was absolutely amazing from the lookout on Kings Canyon Scenic Highway. Though you can't watch sunset from the Redwood Canyon Overlook, as the sun goes down, watching the changing colors on the rocks is pretty amazing. This park isn't as desolate as Great Basin National Park. But the scenery was better!

Okay people, you neeeeeed to go on this drive! I rented a mustang for my trip in San Diego, stayed with a friend in Venice beach, and drove through the mountains with the top down, I had a blast! Once I got into sequoia I was sort of wishing I had my SUV but the views with the top down were fantastic! This is a huge national park and Yelp is about to experience a data shortage as I upload about a bazillion and two photos. To let loose and explore these woods, rivers, roads, and mountains was nothing short of breath taking. I'm going to let the photos do the rest of the talking:

After trying Dry Creek and 245, we think we will go through the park. Dry Creek does not have center road marking. 245 is winding for a long, long way. The way through Sequoia has a shorter winding area. All ways have no cell phone. Crowds were smaller in Kings Canyon. Things seem open with no masks in both parks.

Of all the National Parks in California, I like Kings Canyon the most. It is pristine beauty unaffected by touristy folks. Scenic Byway, Grant Grove, Hume Lake, Cedar Grove & Roads End are few of the highlights at this national park. The first time we were going to Kings Canyon, it was a little bit nerve wracking making the drive. By the 2nd and 3rd time you kind of get used to it. The drive has to be navigated with extreme caution. Make no mistake and do not under estimate corners! Grant Grove has General Grant's Tree, officially our Nation's Christmas Tree. Just walking in a Grove with this behemoth's is mind boggling. It makes you aware of how insignificant we are compared to nature. Hume Lake is a man made lake that is off a little from Highway 198. You could spend an afternoon here just chilling and watching wild life. Cedar Grove & Roads End. These are couple of the least traversed spots in all of Kings Canyon. You can hike to discover nature at its best.

Wonderful National Park! Roads require attention though. Kings Canyon is among one of my favorites in terms of National Parks. One of the things that I don't like as much is the drive. Traveler Tip: In order to get to the main site, you must drive on a road that I would recommend doing during the daytime. The edges are steep and would hate to see what would happen if a car drove went over the edge. Please drive carefully. Driving/Passenger Tip: If you get motion/car sick, you may want to take a pill before getting in the car. Once you arrive, the grounds are well kept and clean. The camping community is a friendly group as long as you respect others, the land, and the animals. Overall, I would go back again and again. I would and have recommended Kings Canyon to many friends. I'm a fellow traveler so I appreciate when other people have given me tips/recommendations while in a new city. If this information is helpful, please let me know by hitting the like button. Even if this review helps only one traveler then it's worth it to know I'm contributing towards making someone's experience better, giving to the global community, and paying it forward. Safe Travels!

Favorite Spots: Scenic bypass and Lake Hume Notable: Grizzly falls Honestly I enjoyed Sequoia National Park a bit more but Kong's Canyon is worth checking out. When I plan my next trip, I'd like to check out Boyden cavern Little Baldy at sunset Precipice Lake

"Sequoia" often means the combination of Sequoia National Park in the southern area and Kings Canyon National Park in northern part with one shared entry fee. Sometimes the parks share one Yelp listing but currently they are split. See https://www.yelp.com/biz/sequoia-national-park-three-rivers-3?hrid=OJFXdcQ7HrbDlYsZ3hSl-g&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct) for my ranked list of Sequoia National Park activities. Kings Canyon is NOT next to Three Rivers. The main entry is the Big Stump Entrance near Grant Grove Village. My review is divided into two geographic sections. Ranked activities around Grant Grove Village and Redwood Mountain Grove: - General Grant Tree Trail (4 out of 5 stars): Obviously has the fat Grant Tree, but also a fallen tree that was used as shelter and many nearby enormous sequoias. Paved trail took 30 minutes. - Buena Vista Peak (4): Across from Kings Canyon Overlook. 2-mile roundtrip hike with 400' gain to a peak of fractured granite boulders has unobstructed views. Similar to Little Baldy in Sequoia National Park but less interesting. - Dead Giant Loop (4)/North Grove Loop (3): Both hikes start at the Grant Tree additional parking lot. Two under 2-mile hikes can be combined into one 3-mile hike with 400' gain. Each loop features one fire-killed still-standing tree. Dead Giant was the better hike due to a spur trail to Lake Sequoia Lookout. The better maintained North Loop is cleared of fallen trees and marked with round red reflectors for snow treks. Sequoia trees are sparsely populated on both loops. - Kings Canyon Visitor Center (3): In Grant Grove Village, larger and more comfortable than most visitor centers (when not partially closed due to Covid). Big informational displays are mildly interesting. - Kings Canyon Overlook (3): 6 miles south of Grant Grove Village on Generals Hwy. Typical view of a forest in a valley. - Grant Grove Market (3): In the Grant Grove Village post office, surprisingly well stocked (by which I mean they sell bottles of hard alcohol). - Redwood Mountain Overlook (2): View of tree tops 4.5 miles south of Grant Grove Village. - Grant Grove Gift Shop (2): Across from Grant Grove Restaurant with inventory geared less towards kids unlike the Visitor Center gift shop across the street. Ranked activities around Cedar Grove Village and Kanawyers: - Zumwalt Meadow Loop (5 out of 5 stars): Located near the end of Hwy 180, a river runs around the meadow that I salivated over for 1.5 hours. Meadow is spectacularly bracketed by 4000' shear walls of 8700' North Dome and 8500' Grand Sentinel granite rock mountains. The easy trail covers varied terrain with footbridges, spongy forest floor, and shattered rock piles. - Mist Falls Trail (5): Starts at Roads End in Kanawyers. 8-mile roundtrip hike with 700' elevation gain has a little of everything - a roaring river cascading over multiple falls, cliffs like the Sphinx with streaming water, tall forest trees, river-fed meadow, bulging granite domes, and snowy peaks like Palmer Mountain. - Bubbs Creek (5): Hike starts at 5000' in Kanawyers and amazingly continues to the Owens Valley (which I'll try in another lifetime). 5 miles in is a junction to Sphinx Creek at 6220' but the best spot is at 5820' with a view of 3 canyons and multiple huge rock faces. - Kings Canyon Scenic Byway (5): Driving into Kings Canyon along Highway 180 to Cedar Grove is an event in itself. Long and deep canyon has many vistas starting with Junction View showing a unique intersection of valleys and Spanish Mountain rising 7600' above the Kings River. Drive finishes along the rapids of the Kings River. Highway is curvy but easy to drive (unlike Highway 245 just outside of the park). - Copper Creek (5): In Kanawyers, the first 2 miles of this hike are steep switchbacks with many grand views of the Sentinel. Views diminish when the path cuts above the creek. - Roaring River Falls (3): Small 40' waterfall is a pleasant 10-minute diversion near the end of Hwy 180 on a super-short, almost level, paved walkway. - Grizzly Falls (3): Spring snowmelt charged the 75' falls with so much water it was hard to see anything except spray. - Cedar Grove Outlook (3): Trailhead is immediately west of Cedar Grove Village. 5-mile roundtrip hike with 1200' elevation change along the Hotel Creek Trail is not the grandest view considering the time it took to reach the overlook. - Cedar Grove Village (2): More of an outpost than a village with basic supplies and breakfast burritos at the snack bar. Gas is sparse with pumps at Stony Creek and Hume Lake that can have limited hours. Always check the park's website for general closures and visitor center for daily closures.

Ave yourself the headache, heartache, and pain that comes with braving the crowds at Sequoia NP and enjoy yourself at Kings Canyon NP instead. Aside from being far less crowded, Kings Canyon offers giant sequoias including the General Grant tree and the Big Stump trail along with the trip into the canyon to Cedar Grove and Zumwalt Meadow. Taking the time to head into the canyon takes you away from the giant trees and into more of a Yosemite/Zion type feel with huge rock walls, waterfalls, and gorgeous views. If you like to walk around outside, but aren't a huge hiker don't fret. Many of the scenic spots at Kings Canyon are a short walk from the road or on paved trails. Just be aware that the road into the canyon is closed in the winter. And note that the river water is frigid from the snow runoff even during the hottest days of summer. If you want to stay a while you can camp, stay at the Grant Grove Cabins, or - for those of you who want the comforts of home and your own bathroom - the John Muir Lodge.