15 Top Things To Do In Kings Canyon National Park

From towering waterfalls to glacier-carved canyons, enormous sequoia trees, and lush meadows, Kings Canyon National Park is home to so many amazing hiking trails and landscapes.

Compared to the nearby Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, Kings Canyon is quite underrated, receiving only a portion of the visitors that other California National Parks do. If you enjoy gorgeous landscapes and fewer crowds, you’ll love this park!

In this post, I cover all of the top things to do in Kings Canyon National Park, especially for first-time visitors.

Pssst! Be sure to check out my custom Google Map with attraction locations at the end of this post.

Don’t have the time to plan a trip to Kings Canyon yourself? Then book this Day Tour to Kings Canyon National Park from Fresno. This tour comes with a guide who will take you to all of the top Kings Canyon attractions and do all the trip planning for you!

Note: Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks charge one entrance fee to visit both parks. In this guide, I focus only on Kings Canyon National Park because there is just so much to see and do in this area alone.

1. Drive Kings Canyon National Park Scenic Byway

Highway 180 traveling from Grant Grove to Cedar Grove.

Highway 180 (also known as Kings Canyon Scenic Byway) is one of the most gorgeous drives in California. Along this mountain road, you can visit many of the park’s top attractions, viewpoints, hiking trails, waterfalls, and campgrounds.

You can start the route at the Kings Canyon Visitor Center and follow it all the way to where it ends by Bubbs Creek and Rae Lakes Loop Trailhead. Here you can turn around and head back the same way that you came.

Highway 180 is a windy mountain road with narrow, twisty turns. It starts high up in elevation and descends 3000 feet along a glacier-carved canyon. Be sure to fill up on gas before heading into this route, as there are no gas stations or cell reception along the way.

Highway 180 is open seasonally, typically from April to November. It closes in winter, so it’s best to plan your Kings Canyon National Park trip from late spring to early fall.

Prior to heading out to Kings Canyon, I recommend getting this Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour that includes full itineraries, travel tips, and hidden gems!

2. Kings Canyon Visitor Center

If it’s your first time visiting Kings Canyon, I recommend starting your visit at the Kings Canyon Visitor Center. Here you can chat with the park rangers, get more park information, and see various interactive exhibits about this region’s landscapes and geology.

There is also a restaurant and a little market next to the Grant Grove Village visitor center if you want to stock up on food and water before entering the park.

Visitor Tip: This area has very limited cell reception. If you plan to do any hiking, I recommend downloading the trail routes on the AllTrails hiking app ahead of time. This will help you find trailhead locations and stay on track as you head into the wilderness.

3. General Grant Tree Trail

General Grant Tree at Kings Canyon National Park.

The General Grant Tree is a must-see stop at Kings Canyon National Park. This is one of the shortest and easiest-to-access trails near the Visitor Center.

This 0.7-mile-long trail travels next to some of the largest sequoia trees in the world. The most notable tree here is the General Grant Tree, which is the second-largest tree in the world by volume. This tree is estimated to be over 1650 years old and 267 feet tall!

A few other notable attractions along this trail include the Centennial Stump, Gamlin Cabin, Michigan Tree, and the Fallen Monarch.

The Fallen Monarch is a massive, hollow fallen sequoia tree that fell over 300 years ago. It was once used as a stable and shelter, but now visitors can walk through the center of it and marvel at its giant size.

4. Mist Falls

Mist Falls earns its name for its misty appearance.

Mist Falls is one of the longest but most popular day hikes at Kings Canyon National Park. This 7.8-mile-long trail travels to a powerful waterfall that shoots mist high up in the air. The waterfall mist was so strong that I struggled to get any photos of it because my camera was getting soaked within seconds!

The trail starts at the end of Highway 180 and follows a straight path out and back. You can follow the route on the AllTrails hiking app if you’re worried about getting lost.

Mist Falls Trail at Kings Canyon National Park.

Despite its length, the trail goes by very quickly and only has 875 feet of elevation gain. It starts in a shaded forest and follows the South Fork Kings River the entire time.

After visiting the waterfall, you can continue the climb up to Paradise Valley. This part of the trail offers incredible views of the surrounding granite cliffs and the valley below it.

Paradise Valley at Kings Canyon National Park.

Hiking Tip: Pack sunscreen, a hiking hat, and extra water bottles, as this section is very exposed to the sun.

5. Boyden Cavern

Boyden Cavern at Kings Canyon National Park.

Visiting Boyden Cavern is a fun adventure if you enjoy exploring unique attractions. This cavern is located within Kings Canyon National Park, just off Highway 180.

Boyden Cavern is open seasonally, usually from late April to early November. Opening dates vary depending on weather conditions and when Highway 180 reopens after the winter season. Be sure to check the Boyden Cavern tour calendar online here to see when they are starting back up.

There are several tours that you can take here. The group walking tour is 45-60 minutes long and is the most popular option. During this tour, you’ll be able to walk inside the cave and marvel at stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones, pendants, shields, and various unique rock formations.

The group walking tour prices are $17 (ages 13+) and $8 for youth (ages 4-12). Kids under 3 are free. Tours can be reserved online, but some walk-up tickets may be purchased on-site, depending on how busy it is.

6. Roaring River Falls

Roaring River Falls is a gorgeous waterfall that you can visit at Kings Canyon National Park. This waterfall is located near the end of Highway 180, so it’s a bit of a drive to reach it.

After parking at the Roaring River Trailhead Parking lot, follow the short paved path that leads directly to the waterfall. This path is stroller and wheelchair accessible, making it a great option for the entire family.

Roaring River Falls is a powerful 40-foot-tall waterfall that flows down a narrow granite cliff before it plunges into a turquoise pool below. Just be sure to keep a safe distance from the river as it’s very powerful and dangerous.

This is a great spot for photography, especially around the golden hour when the lighting is much better for capturing photos. I also recommend bringing a sturdy travel tripod to capture the flowy waterfall effect.

I use the Sony a7c camera for my travel photos. This is the smallest and lightest full-frame camera available on the market – perfect for traveling, hiking, and outdoor trips!

7. Grizzly Falls Picnic Area

Take a break from all the driving by making a quick stop at the Grizzly Falls Picnic Area. This location features picnic tables next to a gorgeous 80-foot-tall waterfall.

I like to stop here for a lunch break to stretch my legs and enjoy views of the cascading waterfall flowing over the giant granite rocks. Keep in mind that in late summer or fall, there might not be much water flowing down the cliff.

8. Zumwalt Meadow

Zumwalt Meadow is a lush meadow at the heart of Kings Canyon National Park. This once used to be a 1.5-mile-long loop with wooden boardwalks, but the loop is now closed after a natural flood.

You can still enjoy some of the beauty of Zumwalt Meadow by following an out-and-back trail that crosses the Kings River via an expansion bridge.

This meadow is a great place for wildlife sightings, including black bears, mule deer, marmots, and many bird species.

9. Stay At The Redwood Grove Cabin

If you’re looking for a place to stay during your trip to Kings Canyon, it doesn’t get better than the Redwood Grove Cabin! This cozy cabin is located at Wilsonia, a small private community inside Kings Canyon National Park.

The Redwood Grove Cabin is the perfect home base for exploring the park and the nearby area. Within walking distance, you can reach the Grant Grove Village, the Kings Canyon Visitor Center, the Grant Grove Restaurant, and a small market.

This family-friendly cabin features 3 bedrooms and 1 bath, sleeping up to 7 guests. It comes with a fully equipped kitchen, modern appliances, and an outdoor fireplace where you can cozy up after a fun day of outdoor activities.

Check Redwood Grove Cabin rates & availability here!

10. The Big Stump Grove

The Big Stump Grove is an interesting stop at the beginning of Kings Canyon National Park that features some of the biggest tree stumps in the world.

One of the most notable tree stumps here is the Mark Twain Stump. This enormous sequoia tree was cut down in 1891 to be showcased at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

This tree used to be nearly 300 feet tall and 91 feet wide around the base of the stump. It took 13 days of sawing to finally cut this tree down. The slab from the tree is still on display in New York to this day.

11. Panoramic Point Overlook

Located just a short drive from Grant Grove Village, Panoramic Point Overlook offers incredible views for somewhat little work!

To get there, turn onto narrow and windy Panoramic Point Road and take it for 2 miles to where it ends. There is a small parking area by the Panoramic Point trailhead.

The hike to the viewpoint is only 0.5 miles long and fairly flat, so it’s a great option for families with kids. If you’re looking for a bit of a challenge, you can extend the hike by following the Park Ridge Trail Panoramic Point to Park Ridge Fire Lookout for a total of 5.2 miles out and back.

The Panoramic Point viewpoint overlooks the surrounding landscapes and forests that span hundreds of miles all around you. From here, you’ll also be able to see Hume Lake in the distance.

12. Hume Lake

Just 10 miles north of Grant Grove Village, you’ll find Hume Lake, a small lake with picnic tables, hiking trails, and campsites. This is a great little stop to spend a few hours relaxing by the lakeside.

This lake was created in 1908 to serve as a reservoir for log transport. Now it offers a serene place for camping and other outdoor recreational activities just on the border of Kings Canyon National Park.

Here you can go on a 3-mile-long hike around the entire lake or rent kayaks, row boats, and paddleboards in the summer season. This is also a great place to do a bit of fishing as the lake is stocked with trout and other fish.

Hume Lake is located within the Giant Sequoia National Monument just outside of Kings Canyon National Park. Because of this, it’s also one of the few places that allows dogs in the area.

13. Rae Lakes Loop Trail

Beautiful alpine lakes along the Rae Lakes Loop Trail.

If you’re looking for a longer hike, Rae Lakes Loop Trail is one of the most gorgeous multi-day backpacking trails in California. This 40-mile-long loop tackles over 7,600 feet of elevation gain, passing multiple alpine lakes, waterfalls, and rugged mountain peaks.

The hike starts at Bubbs Creek and Rae Lakes Loop Trailhead at the end of Highway 180. Most people hike this loop clockwise, passing my Mist Falls and Paradise Valley first. It takes about 3-5 days to complete the entire loop, camping along the way.

You will need a backcountry permit to backpack this trail, which does get booked up pretty quickly during the busy summer season. Wilderness permits can be reserved on Recreation.gov here and are issued 6 months in advance.

There are also some walk-up permits that you can get at the on-site trailhead desk starting from 1:00 pm the day before your planned backpacking trip.

14. Camping

Kings Canyon is a wonderful place to camp in Central California!

If you plan to camp at Kings Canyon during your visit, there are several incredible campsites to choose from within the park boundaries.

Many of the campgrounds are located near the Visitor Center by the Grant Grove Village. This area is easier to reach and has more park amenities.

Here are the campgrounds by Grant Grove Village:

Azalea Campground – open year-round
Sunset Campground – open in the summer
Crystal Springs Campground – open in the summer

There are a few more campgrounds in the Cedar Grove Area, deeper into the park towards the end of Highway 180. You can also book a stay at the Cedar Grove Lodge if you prefer hotel stays over camping.

Here are the campgrounds by Cedar Grove:

Sheep Creek Campground – open late spring to early fall
Sentinel Campground – open late spring to early fall
Canyon View Campground – open late spring to early fall
Moraine Campground – open late spring to early fall

These campgrounds can get booked up very quickly so it’s important to make reservations well in advance.

15. Viola Falls

Viola Falls within Kings Canyon National Park.

Viola Falls is a hidden little waterfall within Kings Canyon National Park. The hike to the waterfall is a moderately challenging 3.8-mile round-trip trek with 680 feet of elevation gain.

Be sure to download a Viola Falls Trail map from the AllTrails hiking app, as the trail is not always clearly marked. This area is rarely crowded, so you might even be the only person on the trail!

The hike ends at a small waterfall that cascades down a cliff into a pool below it. Here you can take a rest break and relax before turning around and heading back.

If you’re up for a longer hike, you can also continue on to Ella Falls nearby.

Map Of Kings Canyon National Park Attractions:

Map Tip: Click on each location to see more details!

I hope this guide has helped you discover a few new things to do at Kings Canyon National Park on your visit.

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This post is written by Laura. Hi, I’m a California local and the founder of the California Wanderland travel blog. I currently live in Ventura County and help 50,000 readers a month discover things to do in Central California! Read more about me here.

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