Kings Canyon National Park
California
Fast Facts
▪️ What the Park Protects: Kings Canyon | Giant sequoias | Mountains | Waterfalls | Rivers
▪️ Year Established: 1940
▪️ Visitors in 2021: 562,918
▪️ Size: 722 sq. miles
▪️ Fun Fact: Kings Canyon National Park was originally established as General Grant National Park in 1890, but was re-established under a new name in 1940
Tips & Recommendations
Due to heavy smoke and ash raining from the sky at Kings Canyon National Park when Joe and I visited, we were unable to execute the itinerary we’d planned. However, we managed to complete a couple of short hikes, and my other recommendations are based on the itinerary we would have followed if things had gone to plan…
Notice: Click on an activity’s name for more information. All hikes, campgrounds, roads, and activities are accessible with RVs, campers, and large vehicles unless otherwise noted.
Must-Do Hikes
🥾 General Grant Loop (0.7 miles, 32 feet elev. gain): This trail near the park’s entrance brings visitors to the second largest tree in the world: the General Grant tree.
🥾 Roaring River Falls (0.3 miles, 26 feet elev. gain): This short trail leads to a small but powerful waterfall near the park’s main road.
🥾 Mist Falls (7.8 miles, 875 feet elev. gain): The park’s most popular “big hike” guides hikers along some impressive river rapids while offering views of the canyon walls rising on either side of the trail. This hike ends at its namesake waterfall.
🥾 Rae Lakes Loop (39.1 miles, 7,670 feet elev. gain): This is NOT a day hike, for obvious reasons. The National Park Service describes this multi-day backpacking adventure as one of the most popular trails in the entire Sierra Nevada. The trail passes gorgeous mountain scenery, including peaks, valleys, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls. Visit the NPS website to learn more about what it takes to complete this backpacking loop.
🥾 Grizzly Falls (0.1 miles, 19 feet elev. gain): This quick stop on the side of the park’s main road provides visitors the opportunity to see an impressive waterfall up close.
🥾 Lookout Peak (10.6 miles, 3,815 feet elev. gain): The Don Cecil Trail near the Cedar Grove Visitor Center leads to this panoramic overlook of Kings Canyon National Park.
Must-Do Activities
🎒 Backpacking: Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Parks together offer a wealth of backpacking opportunities. It’s possible to spend weeks in Kings Canyon alone. If you had to pick a single backpacking trail in the park, look no further than the Rae Lakes Loop, described above in the “Must-Do Hikes” section.
🧗 Rock Climbing: There are some solid rock climbing opportunities in Kings Canyon, most notably some multipitch trad routes along the Bubbs Creek Trail. Check out Mountain Project’s website to learn more.
⛺ Camping: Kings Canyon National Park features many developed campgrounds within its borders, offering plentiful opportunity for overnight stays in the park.
Nearby Activities
🏞️ Sequoia National Park: Kings Canyon shares its southern border with Sequoia, so the parks – while technically separate – are managed jointly by the National Park Service. Sequoia offers even more activities than its northern neighbor and contains the single largest tree in the world. So, in many ways, Sequoia is a step up from Kings Canyon.
🦇 Boyden Cavern: This show cave sits just outside the border of Kings Canyon, residing in Giant Sequoia National Monument. If you have the time, consider checking it out.
🏞️ Pinnacles National Park: Pinnacles is often overlooked by visitors to California, but its unique hiking and wildlife viewing opportunities make it an interesting stop for those exploring the state.
🏙️ San Francisco: This famous city sits about 4 hours from the park and is a good candidate to use as a “jumping-off” point to visit the park. While there, be sure to check out the Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods, Fisherman’s Wharf, Lombard Street, and Alcatraz.
🏙️ Los Angeles: Los Angeles sits just over 4 hours from Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, making it another good candidate to use as a “jumping-off” point to visit the park. First-time visitors to the city will find enjoyment in its many tourist attractions, food opportunities, outdoor recreation, and entertainment.
General Tips
📅 When to Visit: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks see their best weather from June through August. During this time of year, the sun is out, temperatures are up, and wildfire season (usually) hasn’t started. Just be prepared to deal with significant crowds.
⌚ How Long to Visit: 2-3 days is enough time to hit the highlights of Kings Canyon if you’re visiting as a day hiker. If you prefer to spend more time in the neighboring Sequoia and are efficient with your time, you can explore Kings Canyon in only 1 day. Those embarking on a backpacking trip should plan to be in Kings Canyon for 3-7 days.
🚗 How to Visit: Kings Canyon can be easily reached by car. The nearest major airports are LAX to the south and SJC to the north.
🛏️ Where to Stay: Both Sequoia and Kings Canyon offer a large number of campgrounds with reservable campsites. At Kings Canyon, this includes Azalea, Crystal Springs, Sunset, Sentinel, Moraine, and Sheep Creek. Lodging in Kings Canyon includes John Muir Lodge, Cedar Grove Lodge, and Grant Grove Cabins. If staying in the parks for multiple days, try to secure accommodations inside the park (and do so well in advance) since there aren’t many lodging opportunities outside the park.
🧳 What to Bring: Bring your usual hiking gear – including a pair of sturdy hiking boots or shoes – and pack backpacking, camping, and/or climbing gear if necessary.
Do’s & Don’ts
✅ DO check on wildfire conditions if visiting the park during the constantly-lengthening wildfire season.
❌ DON’T drive recklessly on the curvy Highway 180 leading into the canyon. This is a rather niche “don’t,” but I mention it since Joe and I witnessed a major car accident occur on the road during our visit.
❌ DON’T bring bear spray. It’s not allowed in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks.
Kings Canyon Review
Natural Beauty
Kings Canyon National Park’s towering mountains, deep valleys, pristine rivers, and impressive giant sequoia forests all contribute to an aesthetic that showcases the best of the Sierra Nevada. The views here rival that of Yosemite.
Things to Do
With hundreds of miles of hiking & backpacking trails, plenty of sightseeing, and even some climbing opportunities, there is plenty to do here. It lacks the variety and volume of other nearby national parks, but is still a solid recreational getaway.
Accessibility
Kings Canyon is relatively easy to reach by car and its roads makes intra-park navigation simple. There are even a few activities in the park accessible to those with physical impairments.
Wildlife
Kings Canyon has a large amount and variety of wildlife within its borders. This wildlife can be hard to find near the park’s roads, but people who venture deep into the park are sure to spot plenty of animals.
Escapism
At Kings Canyon National Park, it’s easy to escape the crowds on the park’s myriad hiking trails. Even in the more crowded spots – like Grants Grove – the park feels like an escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life.
Personal Experience
My visit to Kings Canyon was memorable, but it was shortened and hindered by the 2020 California wildfire season. I’ll be back eventually.
Gallery
I visited Kings Canyon at the height of California’s 2020 wildfire season. So, this unfortunately meant that every photo I took of the national park was inflicted with a deep yellow tint. Despite this, it was easy to tell how beautiful the park normally is…