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Activities in Kings Canyon National Park
7. Zumwalt Meadow
This picture-perfect meadow is tucked peacefully between the soaring cliffs of Kings Canyon. Take a walk near the flowing river and soak in the beauty of the surrounding peaks!
What You Need to Know
This hike is 1.5 miles roundtrip and travels around the perimeter of the meadow. Be on the lookout for wildlife here!
Part of the loop goes up and over some large boulders which can make for slightly more difficult hiking. If you’re looking for more of an easy walk rather than a hike, take a left as you approach the meadow and walk along the boardwalks as they follow the river. This is the easiest and flattest part of the trail (and my favorite place to relax and take photos)!
Pets are not permitted on this trail.
Getting Here
This trail is located in the Cedar Grove Area of Kings Canyon. From the Cedar Grove Visitor Center, drive 4.5 miles east along Highway 180. The parking area is on the right.
8. Roaring River Falls
Stand at the base of this thundering waterfall as you admire the soaring granite peaks above your head!
What You Need to Know
Depending on the time of year you visit, this waterfall can definitely live up to its name. Visit in the late spring/early summer months to experience a ROARING waterfall!
A short 0.2-mile roundtrip walk is all it takes to get to the base of this stunning waterfall. Pets are not permitted on this trail.
If you love chasing waterfalls, be sure to check out the Grizzly Falls Picnic Area in the national forest land that borders Kings Canyon (you’ll pass right by it as you drive along the road to Cedar Grove). This waterfall is enormous and is basically right beside the road — no hiking is required.
Getting Here
From the Cedar Grove Visitor Center, drive approximately 2.9 miles east along Highway 180. The parking area for the falls will be on your right.
9. General Grant Tree
Kings Canyon has huge sequoia trees, too! Visit this gorgeous area of the park and stroll to the second-largest tree in the world, the General Grant Tree.
What You Need to Know
A 0.3-mile trail leads to the tree, but you’ll also find a few other fun stops along the way. Look for the hollowed-out giant sequoia you can walk through, and stop by an old cabin with a fascinating history.
Pets are not permitted on this trail.
Getting Here
From the Kings Canyon Visitor Center, drive north along Highway 180 for 0.2 miles. You’ll see a sign for Azalea Campground and the Grant Grove — turn left here. Follow the road down the hill for 0.8 miles until you reach the parking area for Grant Grove. Park here and begin your hike.
10. Panoramic Point
If you are looking for a gorgeous view of Kings Canyon from above, Panoramic Point is the place to be. This stunning overlook provides views of huge mountains, deep canyons, and sparkling lakes — all with very minimal effort!
What You Need to Know
The trail to Panoramic Point can be walked in a loop and is 0.5 miles roundtrip. I suggest traveling up the wheel-chair accessible part of the trail and then looping back down to your vehicle on the steeper portion of the trail. If you hike this way, the elevation gain will be more gradual.
You’ll get to a lower viewpoint that can easily be mistaken for Panoramic Point, but keep hiking up a few more steps to reach the higher viewpoint with a better view.
The road up to the trailhead is quite narrow and winds up the mountain. Pets are not permitted on this trail.
Getting Here
The road to Panoramic Point is narrow and curvy, though there aren’t any steep drop-offs. You won’t be able to drive a vehicle longer than 22 feet (including trailers and RVs) on this road.
Please drive slowly and take your time around the curves to be courteous to drivers coming from the other direction.
From the Kings Canyon Visitor Center, follow the road around the back of the Visitor Center and Gift Shop. It will curve to the left and take you toward the John Muir Lodge. When you reach the lodge, take a right (going straight will take you into the lodge parking) and follow the road for 2.1 miles up to Panoramic Point.
Enjoy your time in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Happy trails!
All 4 lodges are booked inside Sequoia park. Suggestions for lodging near ?!
We purchased your Yosemite itinerary!
If you can’t get anything in the national park or national forest, then you’ll need to go down the mountain to Three Rivers, Pinehurst, or Yokuts Valley. But be sure to check the lodging options in the national forest (like Stony Creek or Montecito) because a lot of people don’t realize those are options right up there!
Hi Ash, my wife and I are doing Yosemite to Canyon Land with stops in Kings Canyon/ Sequoia, drive thru Death Valley, stops in Zion, Bryce, drive tru rte 12, Capital Reef, stops inArches and canyon land in a 2 weeks timeframe (May7 to the 21st). Does that seem reasonable?
Yeah, you can do all of those in 2 weeks if you move quick!
Hi Ash,
Do you have an itinerary yet for Sequioa and Kings Canyon? I saw you were planning on writing one but I wanted to double check! Thanks!
I don’t yet :( I was going to write one in 2020, but Covid shut everything down and things are still getting back to normal in that park. I’m waiting for them to solidify their shuttles, opening/closing dates, and to open up some activities that have been closed before I write it!
Hi, thank you for all this information. If I want to see everything that you recommend in Sequoia Park, how long will it take?
I’d give yourself at least 3 days to get through this list. Enjoy!
What time of year would you say is the best time to visit?
July – September!
I noticed on your Yosemite articles that waterfalls were dried up in sept/October. Is this true for sequoia/kings canyon?
They may not dry up completely, but they will be significantly smaller than they are earlier in the summer!
Would love an itinerary for Sequoia! Hoping to squeeze it all in.
It’s on my list of itineraries to write, but I am going to go back to the park this summer before I write it. I hope you have a great time on your trip, though!
Hi Ash,
I have purchased your itineraries for several parks – Zion, Arches, Grand Tetons, etc. I was looking over your top things to do/see for Sequoia-Kings Canyon. We were thinking about traveling at end of February-2023. Do you think this is a good time to visit? I did notice you mentioned some areas are closed in winter. We want to be able to do and see all ten activities you mentioned – is this possible during the end of February? We were trying to visit before peak season and when it is a little cooler. Suggestions?
You won’t be able to get to everything on this list in February. If you’re wanting to go before it gets too crowded, you can go toward the end of May right before Memorial Day or in September after Labor Day. But last time I was there in May, we got snowed on so you never know :)
Hi Ash,
Question: The last item on this list, #10…I’ll be in an RV, so are there any suggestions on places to park and shuttles to take (or paths to hike) or do I just need to skip this site?
You’ll just need to skip this one. Have fun!
Ash,
We are planning a trip to Yosemite and Sequoia in June 2023. When is the best time to purchase permits and how /where do we purchase these? We will most likely be staying in a hotel or Airbnbs nearby.
Thanks so much
Hey Marne, not sure what permits you’re referring to? You can contact me if you want to provide more details so I can answer your question!
Love this, we are coming from FL on Oct. 3-10 any weather related tips?
That time of year is pretty unpredictable — it could be sunny or snowy! I would pack layers (including a waterproof outer shell) so that you can adjust based on the weather!
You can purchase permits for Yosemite at Recreation.gov. Permits are not needed so far at Sequoia and Kings Canyon. I purchased mine permits 6 months in advance. It costs $2 per permit and permits last for three days for Yosemite.
I visited Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon just three weeks ago.
If I am coming from Yosemite, should I hit Kings first and then Sequoia? IM trying to map it out but it’s not showing me a distance to go all the way inside the park.
Yes, but a huge portion of Kings Canyon is closed this year, so plan on spending more time in Sequoia!
Hi Ash,
We are going in July 2023, do we need to make reservations to visit Sequoia or Yosemite Forest? Are there any covid restrictions? We are not hikers, what is a must have for beginners hikers?
Thank you
No extra reservations are needed for those parks this year. Have fun!
Hi Ash-thank you so much for this article. My husband and I are planning to visit Sequoia and Kings in mid-October to celebrate our anniversary. Do you have an itinerary that can be purchased? We were thinking of staying in Visalia-any thoughts? We have one week to visit (coming from Asheville, NC). Any advise is greatly appreciated.
Sequoia is currently closed due to a large wildfire, so you’ll want to check the most current updates before you go. I don’t offer an itinerary for those parks at this time, but thanks for asking!
Any chance you have an itinerary made up for this yet? I’ve become too dependent on you. :)
We’re planning to visit at the end of August/beginning of September. Do you happen to know if any of the waterfalls will still be flowing by then? I’m thinking three days. Does that sound like enough? There doesn’t seem to be any park lodging available; where would you stay?
I don’t have an itinerary for this one yet, but have a great time!
Hi ash
We bought the Yosemite itinerary and it was great you’re recommendations. Since there are no shuttles running this year we rented some bikes and it was easy and fast being from one place to another. Will leave Tomorrow to the sequioa park. Do you have an itinerary for one day visit ? Thanks
I’m glad you enjoyed Yosemite! I don’t have an itinerary for Sequoia Kings at this time, but I hope you have an amazing time!
Thanks so much for this! Do you remember which trail that first picture (the one that has a couple of people walking down the dirt path next to that massive tree) was taken on?
That was the Congress Trail!
Hi Ash. I love all of your guides! Would I be able to get a PDF copy of this one for Sequoia and Kings Canyon? Thank you!!
Hi Bridget! Please contact me to arrange it.
I’m planning on tent camping in one of the Cedar Grove campgrounds June 3rd through the 10th of 2021. Do you think there will be any first come, first serve opening in any of the three campgrounds then?
No, it’s looking like they are requiring reservations in all of their campgrounds this year. Safe travels!
Hi Ash, I got lucky to find some weekend spots open at the lodgepole campground on the May 15th weekend, your list is amazing and became my main plan already. I have few concerns about whether about that time, we are visiting with 2 kids (4 and 9) and we are staying in the tent. Do night temperatures are on 2nd week of may bearable or it may be severe for the kids, what do you think? We camped before with them but it was mostly in summer or early fall. Thanks in advance
You’ll definitely want to pack for cold nighttime temps that time of year!
Hey Ash! Thanks for all the info! I really do appreciate it. My girlfriend and I will be staying down there for 3 nights and 4 days in Three Rivers. But we are really close the the beginning of the park entrance (from that side of course!). Do you think we’ll be able to hit all the things on this list? And are there any hidden gems to find along the way? Don’t get me wrong, this is an awesome list, just trying to pick your brain since you seem to know a LOT about these places. Thanks again for posting all this and have great day!
P.S. Great name! Definitely a perfect fit for an adventurer like you
4 days is a good amount of time for working through this list, even if you’re staying in Three Rivers! Have a great time!
Hi Ash! Thank you for the information, we’re roadtrippin’ to Sequoia soon and we’ll make sure hit these top ten! We also heard about Crystal Cave Tours! Are those worthwhile? We love hiking and trees, but we’re trying to switch some things up as well! If so, where would you recommend checking for camp sites?
Thank you so much!
Crystal Cave is cool, but it does take a good chunk of your day to drive there and go on the tour. If you have a lot of time in the park, then it’s a fun diversion. But if you only have a day or two, I think the time is better spent with the hikes and viewpoints listed. Have fun!
Hi,
We are planning to visit next weekend but we can’t find any places to stay. can anyone suggest some inn/lodge or hotels? we also looked for some camping places but most of them are booked and remaining are first come first serve. so we take the risk or not?
We will be visiting both Kings canyon and sequoia NP.
Any suggestion would help.
Thanks
I was able to find a very secluded camp spot near the parks using hipcamp.com.
Could you please tell me which hipcamp spot this is? I am looking for a place to stay in October, and would love to find some place secluded
Hi there. I have purchased your Utah trip Itineraries in the past. I don’t see a trip itinerary for Kings Canyon and Sequoia, but I do see the “Things You Can’t Miss.” How can I get a copy of the “Things You Can’t Miss” list? Thank you.
I don’t currently have an itinerary for Sequoia Kings, though it is in the works for next summer. If you’d like a nice PDF of this article to print out and take with you, I do offer those for a very small fee. You can email me at ash(at)dirtinmyshoes(dot)com to request one. Have a great trip!
Deanna, did you get the PDF of this article?
Was it worhtwhile?
We are headed out to the park next week and I am looking for a good resource to guide us through it.
This is a spectacular list! I just wanted to send a few updates for visitors in 2020 – due to COVID-19 the parks’ will not be offering first-come, first-served campsites at all, instead reservations must be made using Recreation.gov. Secondly, the park shuttle buses will unfortunately not be running at all during 2020. For the most up to date information check out the Sequoia and Kings NPS website [www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/currentconditions.htm]. Best of luck to you Ash, your mission to share the wonders of the natural is worth admiration! Keep up the great work!
-Krista, Sequoia Guides
Thanks for pointing that out. Things change so fast, it’s always best to check the official NPS site for the most up-to-date info. Happy trails!
Hi Ash!! How much time would we need to cover this list? I’m sorry if you’ve already covered this 😬 We will be following your Yosemite plan and wondered how many days to tack on, to cover this list as well…they’re so close!!
Thanks!!
Jackie Hollander
I would aim for three extra days to get through this list…four if you can :)
Hi Ash, we are planning our trip to Sequoia and kings canyon and will hit your top 10 list.
We have a week and is it better to stay at one lodge for the entire time or split our lodging up at two locations to make the travel easier in the park?
We ordered maps and maybe it will be easier to plan out once we see them but your thoughts on this will be helpful so we can get our lodging booked.
thank you
I personally prefer to stay in two different spots when I visit Sequoia Kings. I split it up by staying a few nights near General Sherman/Big Trees and a few nights near Grant Grove or down in Kings Canyon by the Cedar Grove Visitor Center if I plan to complete some longer trails. That helps break up the driving and makes it more enjoyable in my opinion. Have fun!
Great article. My family and I are visiting Sequoia for the first time next week for three days. I am going to use your article as an itinerary for our trip. I have heard that there are places that you can slide down natural rock slides. I heard Hume Lake might have some slides but not sure. Do you recommend anywhere to cool off?
Thank you!
Maybe the one at Buckeye Flat?
I am heading out there in two weeks as a last minute trip. We are flying in from Fresno airport. Can you suggest a neutral area to book a hotel in?
If there are any rooms available inside Sequoia-Kings, I’d go there first. Otherwise, the small towns along Highways 180 or 198 will have some lodging options. If you stay out there, you’ll have a decent amount of driving to get to the various sections of the parks. Have fun!
This is great! We are planning our third trip to the park, and we still haven’t seen everything on your list. I’ll be using this as a guide :)
Awesome! Have a great time!
We have purchased several of your itineraries and are planning a trip to Yosemite next year with one of your itineraries also. I realize there is no itinerary for sequoia, but how many days would you suggest to see you “must see” places in the park?
I would aim for 3 if you can!