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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 1 to 3 days at Kings Canyon, one of the oldest national parks in the United States.
About Kings Canyon National Park
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 included on the below itinerary.
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 windy mountain road.
Highlights of Kings Canyon National Park
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.
1 Day Itinerary vs. 3 Day Itinerary in Kings Canyon National Park
1 Day Itinerary: Explore the popular Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park
3 Day Itinerary: Explore both Grant Grove and Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon National Park
1-Day Itinerary in Grant Grove (Kings Canyon National Park)
This one-day itinerary for Kings Canyon National Park skips Cedar Grove, which is an hour drive past Grant Grove. For those limited on time, spend your one day in Kings Canyon in Grant Grove, which offers a lot of highlights.
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.
It’s the most popular part of the park, so try to visit during non-peak hours — early morning or late afternoon. We visited in late afternoon and there were plenty of parking spaces.
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?
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 about 1.8 miles long and 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.
Have Lunch at Grant Grove Restaurant
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.
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.
Stay the Night or Drive On?
I recommend staying at John Muir Lodge. It’s a nice lodge with a fireplace in the lobby area and a porch with rocking chairs at the other end of the building. John Muir Lodge is in the heart of Grant Grove, perfect for exploring this area of Kings Canyon National Park.
After a good night’s rest, you’ll be ready to head out in the morning.
3-Day Itinerary in Cedar Grove and Grant Grove (Kings Canyon National Park)
Day 1: Cedar Grove
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 from Grant Grove.
You can have dinner at Cedar Grove Grill and enjoy the scenery. You’ll also be staying the night in Cedar Grove so you can explore first thing in the morning.
If you arrive earlier and have the energy to explore, feel free to get a head start on tomorrow’s activities.
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.
Where to Stay on the First Night in Cedar Grove
For your first night’s stay in Cedar Grove, I recommend staying at Cedar Grove Lodge. Not because it’s nice (it’s actually very bare bones in terms of accommodations) — but because it’s the only lodging in this part of the park. The toilets don’t work too well, the bedding and carpet are outdated. You’ll stay for only one night, so it should be okay.
Day 2: Cedar Grove to Grant Grove
In the morning, after breakfast (there’s a store and restaurant at Cedar Grove Lodge), you’ll head out to explore Cedar Grove. You can either check out of the hotel now or after the three stops in Cedar Grove, depending on the time.
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!
See Roaring River Falls (Cedar Grove)
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.
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.)
It was still a really nice, peaceful walk, and a beautiful waterfall. Not many other people here at this time of day (early morning), either, which was nice.
Hike the Zumwalt Meadow Loop Trail (Cedar Grove)
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 (Cedar Grove)
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.
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.
Hume Lake is a man-made lake on national forest lands. Its gas station, general store, picnic areas, and cafe are open to the public. Other parts of the camp are exclusive to guests.
Visit General Grant Tree and Walk the Grant Grove Loop Trail (Grant Grove)
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 0.70 miles
Elevation gain: 32 feet
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.
It’s the most popular part of the park, so try to visit during non-peak hours — early morning or late afternoon. We visited in late afternoon and there were plenty of parking spaces.
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?
Take a Short Sunset Hike to Panoramic Point Overlook (Grant Grove)
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 on the Second Night in Grant Grove
For your second night’s stay 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 fireplace in the lobby area and a 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.
Day 3: Grant Grove
Hike Big Stump Grove (Grant Grove)
After breakfast (I’d recommend the breakfast burritos at Grant Grove Restaurant!), head out to the Big Stump Picnic Area for one last hike.
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 about 1.8 miles long and 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.
Drive Home
I hope you enjoyed your weekend at Kings Canyon National Park! I know I loved it. Safe travels on your drive home.
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 windy, 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.
Before You Go: Check Current Conditions
Check for any road closures on the official NPS 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.
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.
Where to Stay in Kings Canyon
In Cedar Grove: I recommend staying at Cedar Grove Lodge. Not because it’s nice (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 don’t work too well, 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 was 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.
Map of Kings Canyon Itinerary Activities
Frequently Asked Questions about Visiting Kings Canyon National Park
How crowded is 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).
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 an extra 1-2 days to visit both.
Trying to see both in one weekend means you’ll miss out on a lot or else really rush through the experience.
Which is better — Sequoia or Kings Canyon?
I personally liked Sequoia better, but it is the more crowded park.
What should you not miss in Kings Canyon National Park?
Don’t miss the General Grant Tree and sunset hike to Panoramic Point Overlook.
Do you need reservations for Kings Canyon National Park?
You do not need a reservation to enter Kings Canyon National Park.
Is Kings Canyon National Park worth visiting?
Yes, absolutely. Kings Canyon has beautiful, large trees, just like Sequoia National Park does, but with a fraction of the crowds.
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.
When was Kings Canyon National Park established?
Kings Canyon is one of the oldest national parks in the U.S. It was deemed a national park in 1890, then named General Grant National Park. It was renamed and expanded in 1940.
How did Kings Canyon National Park get its name?
Kings Canyon is named after the canyon that resides inside the park. The canyon is deeper than the grand canyon!
How big is Kings Canyon National Park?
Kings Canyon is 722 square miles.
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