Kings Canyon National Park
Overview
Nestled in the southern Sierra Nevadas, Kings Canyon lies next to Sequoia National Park, east of the San Joaquin Valley, and boasts a diverse and dramatic landscape with vast caverns, deep canyons, huge mountains, rugged foothills, and expansive forests. Visitor activities vary by season and elevation, which ranges from 1,370 to 14,494 feet.
Within Kings Canyon, you can experience this striking change in elevation from warm foothills to cold alpine peaks. Kings Canyon is a wide glacial valley featuring a lovely meandering river, beautiful waterfalls, spectacular tall cliffs, and green vibrant meadows. A few miles outside the park, Kings Canyon deepens and steepens becoming arguably the deepest canyon in North America for a short distance.
Also plunging far below the surface are stunning marble caverns, many with endemic cave fauna. This huge variation in the landscape contributes to the vast diversity of plants and animals in the park.
Visiting Tips
Visitor Center
- Kings Canyon Visitor Center - Open daily (all year): 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
- Cedar Grove Visitor Center - Closed in winter. Open late May to late September: 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
- Roads End Wilderness Permit Station - Closed in winter. Open late May to late September: 7:00 a.m.- 3:45 p.m.
For more information on fees and passes, click here.
Because of the extreme elevation range in the parks, weather conditions vary greatly from area to area and day to day. Head to the Kings Canyon National Park page to double check weather conditions before heading out. Opening and closing dates for facilities and services may change due to weather or other circumstances.
Camping & Lodging
For those looking for a slightly less rustic option, lodging can be reserved at the John Muir Lodge, Cedar Grove Lodge, or the Grant Grove Cabins. More information can be found here.
Outfitters, Tours, & Shuttles
- Grant Grove Loop - free
- Fresno/Sanger Route - $15 round trip
Be sure to visit the Kings Canyon website for a list of the places you don't want to miss.
Other Activities
Gems in Kings Canyon National Park - 6
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Recommended Routes in Kings Canyon National Park - 6
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Kings Canyon National Park Hiking
- 416 Miles 669 Kilometers of Trail
- 6 Recommended Routes
- 6 Gems
- 15
Easy Trails
- 40
Intermediate Trails
- 26
Difficult Trails
Areas Within Kings Canyon National Park
Weather Averages
High
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Low
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Precip
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Days w/
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J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
Trails in Kings Canyon National Park - 75
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1.1
mi
1.7
km
#1Charlotte Lake Trail
Lone Pine, CA
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Lone Pine, CA |
3
|
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11.4
mi
18.3
km
#2Blue Canyon Trail
Squaw Valley, CA
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Squaw Valley, CA |
1
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1.2
mi
1.9
km
#3Seville Lake Trail
Three Rivers, CA
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Three Rivers, CA |
0
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2.1
mi
3.4
km
#4Bench Lake Trail
Big Pine, CA
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Big Pine, CA |
0
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2.3
mi
3.7
km
#5Bullfrog Lake Trail
Lone Pine, CA
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Lone Pine, CA |
1
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1.9
mi
3.1
km
#6East Lake
Lone Pine, CA
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Lone Pine, CA |
0
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0.5
mi
0.8
km
#7Kearsarge Lakes Trail
Lone Pine, CA
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Lone Pine, CA |
0
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24.2
mi
38.9
km
#8Middle Fork Trail
Big Pine, CA
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Big Pine, CA |
1
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11.6
mi
18.7
km
#9Sawmill Pass Trail
Big Pine, CA
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Big Pine, CA |
4
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4.9
mi
7.9
km
#10Silliman Pass Trail
Three Rivers, CA
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Three Rivers, CA |
4
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Photos of Kings Canyon National Park - 298
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