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Kings Canyon National Park often gets overlooked by its impressive neighbor — Sequoia National Park — but it definitely deserves its own recognition, as well.
Imposing canyons, cascading waterfalls, wildflower-filled meadows, sweeping viewpoints, and some of the tallest trees in the world.
Don’t miss Kings Canyon National Park! It has all this and more.
Here’s how to spend two days at Kings Canyon, one of the oldest national parks in the United States.
How to Split Your Time in Kings Canyon
Kings Canyon National Park has two main areas: Cedar Grove and Grant Grove.
In Cedar Grove, you’ll find the magnificent canyons that give Kings Canyon its name.
In Grant Grove, you’ll find impressive sequoias, including the second largest tree in the world (by volume) — General Grant.
Both areas are worth visiting, and I’d recommend spending one day in each area.
How far apart are these areas? It can take over an hour to drive from Grant Grove to Cedar Grove as they are about 30 miles apart on a winding, mountain road.
That’s why it’s best to visit each area on its own day.
Highlights You Can’t Miss
In Cedar Grove, the highlights include three waterfalls — Roaring River Falls, Grizzly Falls, and Mist Falls — as well as beautiful streams and meadows such as Zumalt Meadow.
In Grant Grove, the highlights include the second largest tree in the world (by volume) as well as panoramic overlooks, big tree stumps (from historic logging days), and a hollow tree you can walk through.
How Long to Spend in Kings Canyon?
I learned my lesson after visiting Sequoia National Park for only one night (it’s not enough time). So, when visiting Kings Canyon, I made sure to stay at least two nights, and two nights ended up being perfect.
On the first day, I’d recommend heading to Cedar Grove first. It’s farther into the park, about an hour drive (30 miles) from Grant Grove.
On the second day, drive back over to the popular Grant Grove area and see all the main highlights.
You can either head out right after or stay another night and leave refreshed in the morning.
Overview of 2 Day Itinerary in Kings Canyon
Day 1: Explore the remote Cedar Grove area
Day 2: Explore the popular Grant Grove area
Day 1: Cedar Grove
Note: There are plenty of other more advanced hikes in the Cedar Grove area, which you can do instead of these three easy ones below!
Keep in mind, though, that you may need to get acclimated to the elevation. The parks sit at about 7,000 feet (Cedar Grove is slightly lower at 4,600 feet) so take it easy the first day.
See Roaring River Falls
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 0.25 miles
Elevation gain: 26 feet
Trail condition: Paved trail with lots of flying bugs (seasonally)
It’s a quarter-mile walk to reach Roaring River Falls from the parking lot, so not a long walk.
It is a really nice, peaceful walk, and a beautiful waterfall. Not many other people were here when we visited (early morning).
Beware the bugs: There were a lot of flying bugs here, surrounding us, which perhaps had to do with the time of year (early September, summer). This was the only place we found these flying bugs (gnats? I’m not sure what they were) as they weren’t in Grant Grove.
Take a can of woodsy bug repellent with you because you may need it! (You can purchase bug repellent in the Cedar Grove Lodge store.)
Hike the Zumwalt Meadow Loop Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 1.5 miles
Elevation gain: 157 feet
There is a 1.5-mile trail at Zumwalt Meadow that is supposed to be very lovely with wildflowers and greenery.
It was once a loop but flooding has washed away part of the trail, making it an out-and-back trail now.
You’ll also pass by the river on this trail and see the imposing canyons.
See Grizzly Falls
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 0.10 miles
Elevation gain: 32 feet
Grizzly Falls is right off the road, so not really any hiking involved. It’s a quick photo stop.
There are picnic benches here in case you’d like to sit and have a snack or something.
There weren’t any flying bugs, thankfully, and it was a pretty waterfall.
Day 2: Grant Grove
Drive to Grant Grove
Before reaching Grant Grove, consider stopping for gas at Hume Lake (more information about that at the bottom of this post) or even eating lunch at Hume Lake while enjoying the lake views.
It’s a good mid-point stop between Cedar Grove and Grant Grove.
See the General Grant Tree and Walk the Grant Grove Loop Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 0.70 miles
Elevation gain: 32 feet
Try to drive into Grant Grove early in the morning to get a head start and make the most of time. The earlier the better. I’d start with the most popular trail in the park, the Grant Grove Loop Trail.
The Grant Grove Loop Trail is about half a mile long, and it contains the second-largest tree in the world (by volume) — General Grant Tree.
There are also a lot of other cool sights here, such as the Fallen Monarch and some benches to sit and enjoy the trees.
While walking on the Grant Grove Loop Trail, don’t miss the Fallen Monarch, a fallen redwood tree that was hollowed out by fire over 300 years ago. It resides near the Robert E. Lee tree on the Grant Grove Loop Trail. The Fallen Monarch is an impressive sight, definitely worthy of a photo. We walked through it a few times! I mean, how many times in your life will you get to walk INSIDE a tree?
It’s the most popular part of the park, so try to visit during non-peak hours — early morning or late afternoon.
We first visited late morning and it was too crowded, so we returned later in the afternoon and it had cleared out considerably.
Hike Big Stump Grove
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 1.8 miles
Elevation gain: 193 feet
The Big Stump Picnic Area is right by the entrance to Kings Canyon National Park. Here you’ll find the trailhead to the Big Stump Grove.
The Big Stump Grove Loop Trail is exactly what it sounds like — a trail that goes by very big stumps.
This area was used for logging many years ago (back in the late 1800s), so several huge sequoias were chopped down, leaving their stumps. It’s a beautiful and fascinating trail.
You don’t need to walk the whole trail if you’re just looking to see the big stumps — they are littered all along, so you can turn around any time. Feel free to make the trail as long or as short as you’d like.
If you’re brave, like my friend, you can even try climbing atop the stumps.
Take a Short Sunset Hike to Panoramic Point Overlook
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 0.50 miles
Elevation gain: 98 feet
The hike to Panoramic Point Overlook in Kings Canyon National Park is best done at sunset. The sunlight against the trees, the colors in the sky — so, so beautiful. This hike was the highlight of our trip to Kings Canyon, so be sure to time it right.
It’s about a half-mile, easy climb to Panoramic Point Overlook from the parking lot. The parking lot is about a 5-minute drive from John Muir Lodge (and the road is right behind the lodge).
On the way, we saw a deer peacefully eating moss. The whole experience was magical. Definitely come at sunset, the views are magnificent.
Where to Stay in Kings Canyon
In Cedar Grove: I recommend staying at Cedar Grove Lodge. Not because it’s fancy (it’s actually very bare bones in terms of accommodations) — but because it’s the only lodging in the Cedar Grove part of the park. The toilets run, and the bedding and carpet are outdated. You’ll stay for only one night, so it should be okay.
In Grant Grove: I recommend staying at John Muir Lodge. It’s a much nicer accommodation than Cedar Grove Lodge — the toilets work and it’s much more up to date. There’s also a nice fireplace in the lobby area and a nice porch with rocking chairs at the other end of the building. John Muir Lodge is in Grant Grove, perfect for exploring this area of Kings Canyon National Park.
Where to Eat in Kings Canyon
When in Cedar Grove, your only option (aside from any food you brought with you) is the Cedar Grove Grill. The food is actually pretty good, and all the tables have great views of the outside scenery, including the nearby river. There is also a small convenient store at Cedar Grove Lodge (for microwave foods and snacks).
When in Grant Grove, eat at Grant Grove Restaurant! It’s a quick walk from John Muir Lodge, and they have a large, beautiful dining room and great food options. I loved the breakfast burritos.
How to Get to Kings Canyon National Park
For California or local visitors: It can take a few hours to reach Kings Canyon National Park, which is up in the Sierra Nevada mountains, depending on where you’re coming from. California is a huge state.
I live in the LA area, so it took about 7 hours for me, not including all the stops for gas and lunch. (I also had to stop in Fresno first to meet up with friends who were coming along from NorCal.) So the first day of my trip was just getting there.
For out-of-state or international visitors: The closest international airport to Kings Canyon National Park is Fresno Yosemite International Airport. It’s about a one-hour drive from there to reach Grant Grove.
It’s a winding, mountain road, so be careful. I’d suggest downloading directions to your phone so you can use it without service. YES, you will need a rental car. Public transportation is nearly non-existent here, unfortunately.
Where to Get Gas in Kings Canyon
If you need to refill your gas tank, there’s only one gas station near the park without having to drive all the way down the mountain. It’s at Hume Lake, which is a man-made lake and camp on national forest grounds, about 11 miles from Grant Grove.
Its gas station, general store, picnic areas, and cafe are open to the public. Other parts of the camp are exclusive to guests. There’s only one gas pump, so it’s a small station that kinda blends into the camp. It’s right at the front of the camp, near the store.
After filling up the gas tank, you can get coffee from the general store and even have lunch at their pizza restaurant.
We stopped here after leaving Cedar Grove, before arriving at Grant Grove, as it’s a good mid-stop if you don’t want to back-track later.
The lake is very beautiful, so feel free to walk around and enjoy it before heading out on the road again.
Before You Go: Check Current Conditions
Check for any road closures on the official national park website. Roads are often closed during winter due to snow, and sometimes, in summer, roads can be closed due to fire. Always check current conditions before setting out.
Entry Fees
It costs $35 per vehicle to enter Kings Canyon National Park, and your entry is valid for one week.
If you plan to visit more than three national parks in a year, definitely get an America the Beautiful pass to save money.
Do you need reservations for Kings Canyon National Park? You do not need a reservation to enter Kings Canyon National Park.
Map of Kings Canyon Itinerary Activities
Crowds in Kings Canyon National Park
The only part of Kings Canyon National Park that feels a little crowded is the area where General Grant Tree resides. Otherwise, I would say, it didn’t seem to get half the visitors as its neighbor, Sequoia National Park.
We visited Kings Canyon National Park on Labor Day Weekend, expecting crowds, but it didn’t feel crowded at all.
It helps to spend the night in the park so that you can do all the most popular attractions first thing in the morning or else wait until late afternoon to do them (once the day-trippers are gone).
Kings Canyon vs. Sequoia
What’s the difference between Sequoia and Kings Canyon?
Both have tall Sequoia trees. Both are in the Sierra Nevada mountains. They share a border and are even administered jointly, like some kind of conjoined twins.
Despite their similarities, Sequoia and Kings Canyon are separate national parks.
Here are some differences between Sequoia and Kings Canyon:
Sequoia is more popular. You’ll find more crowds in Sequoia National Park.
Sequoia has a shuttle system. All of the crowds have led Sequoia to start utilizing a shuttle system in the summer. There is no shuttle system in Kings Canyon.
Kings Canyon has one of the deepest canyons in the United States. It’s even deeper than the Grand Canyon.
Kings Canyon is slightly bigger. Sequoia is roughly 631 square miles while Kings Canyon is 722 square miles.
Should you visit both Kings Canyon and Sequoia in one trip?
Kings Canyon and Sequoia are administered jointly as one park (you pay for one, you pay for both) since they share a border — but I’d recommend visiting them on separate weekends if you’re local or spending a few extra days to visit both.
Trying to see both in one 2-day weekend means you’ll miss out on a lot or else really rush through the experience.
See my 3-day joint Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks itinerary for how to combine the two parks into one trip.
Which is better — Sequoia or Kings Canyon?
I personally liked Sequoia better, but it is the more crowded park.
However, Kings Canyon is still worth visiting. It has beautiful, large trees, just like Sequoia National Park does, but with a fraction of the crowds.
Other Posts to Help You Plan Your Trip to California
- Best National Parks in California (From Someone Who’s Visited All 9)
- 3 Day Itinerary for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
- One Day in Sequoia National Park Itinerary
- Visiting Redwood National Park: 3 Day Itinerary
- One Day in Lassen Volcanic National Park
- One Day in Death Valley National Park (Itinerary Using Paved Roads ONLY)
- One Day in Joshua Tree National Park
- Day Trip to Channel Islands National Park
- Bear Gulch Cave and Reservoir: Best Hike in Pinnacles National Park