Kings Canyon National Park: 1 Day Itinerary

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Kings Canyon National Park has an unforgettable landscape filled with towering sequoias, cascading waterfalls, rugged canyon walls, and wildlife around nearly every corner. Although it borders the more famous Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon offers its own spectacular scenery while also feeling quieter and less crowded.

This one-day itinerary follows the breathtaking Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, combining easy, family-friendly hikes with panoramic overlooks and must-see landmarks. Along the way, you’ll visit the General Grant Tree, Grizzly Falls, Roaring River Falls, Zumwalt Meadows, and Road’s End. Before setting out, use this guide to plan where to stay, where to eat, what to pack, and how to make the most of your day in Kings Canyon National Park.

Entrance Fee:

$35 for a 7-day vehicle pass

*This park does not accept cash.

Another option, especially if you plan on visiting California’s other national parks, is an America the Beautiful Pass. It covers the entrance fees for over 2,000 federal recreation sites, including all national parks.

If you have a 4^th grader in your crew, check out Every Kid Outdoors for a free National Park Pass instead!

Lodging:

Inside the park, three lodges are available: John Muir Lodge, Grant Grove Cabins, and Cedar Grove Lodge. The John Muir and Cedar Grove Lodges are typically open spring through fall. You can reserve a room at any of the three here: Lodging at Kings Canyon.

The park also has 6 campgrounds. You can make reservations here: Kings Canyon Camping.

Azalea – year-round, reservations required May- October

Sunset – typically open May through August, reservations required

Crystal Springs – typically open May through September, reservations required

Sentinel – typically open May through October, reservations required

Moraine – typically open May through October, reservations required

Sheep Creek- typically open May through September, reservations required

There are also two group sites.

Sequoia National Park, which borders Kings Canyon, also has 6 campgrounds and 1 lodge.

For lodging options outside the park, check out Three Rivers, C. It is about an hour outside the park and has both hotels and plenty of VRBO options.

Dining:

Kings Canyon National Park has several on-site dining options. The first is the Grant Grove Restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner year-round. Reservations aren’t required, but you can make one here: Grant Grove Restaurant. The second option is the Cedar Grove Grill, which also serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner but is typically only open spring through fall.

Sequoia National Park, just to the south of Kings Canyon National Park, also has dining options within the park near the Lodgepole Visitor Center and the Wuksachi Lodge.

If you are staying in Three Rivers, our personal recommendations include Sierra Subs and Salads, The Gateway, and our personal favorite, Tony’s Taverna.

Know Before You Go:

Roads are steep, narrow, and winding. Please check vehicle length limits if you are traveling with an RV or oversized vehicle.
There is no gas within the park, and Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is almost 40 miles one way. Please plan accordingly.
Please review wildlife safety before heading out. We saw SO much wildlife on the trails- bears, bobcats, and rattlesnakes joined us on many of our hikes. In the meadows, keep your eyes peeled for bears in the long grass. They are easy to miss!
Elevation at this park ranges from 1,000 to 14,000 feet. Bring layers, expect changing weather conditions, and stay hydrated.
If you have an extra day, I HIGHLY recommend the Mist Falls Trail. It is a great long hike for kids because, while it is 8 miles, it has only about 900 ft of elevation gain.
Pair this itinerary with our Sequoia National Park Itinerary for 2 national parks in just 4 days!
I recommend downloading an AllTrails map for trails on this itinerary. (Want to check out AllTrails+? Use this link for a discount- AllTrails+.)
Please remember to follow Leave No Trace principles.

1-DAY ITINERARY

Kings Canyon Scenic Byway

The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is a beautiful 38-mile drive that starts at the Big Stump Entrance and ends at Roads End. It’s one of the most breathtaking routes in a National Park, with stunning views around every corner. As you travel, you’ll see tall mountains, winding rivers, and waterfalls that crash over rocky ledges. The road can be quite narrow and curvy, with steep drops- so please drive carefully. Plan to spend some extra time stopping at the MANY scenic pull-offs to fully enjoy the majestic landscape of Kings Canyon National Park.

You have two ways to start your adventure. One option is to begin at the closest point and follow the suggested route in order. The other is to drive the entire Kings Canyon Scenic Byway first, then turn around at Road’s End and complete the below itinerary in reverse. When we visited last time, the weather wasn’t ideal, so we chose the second option. We drove all the way to the farthest point, then turned around and ended day with the hike at the impressive General Grant Tree, which was closer to where we were staying.

General Grant Tree

Distance: 0.6 miles round-trip

Trail Route: Out-and-back

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Elevation Gain: 20+ ft

Trail Access: Park in the Grant Tree Parking Lot via Grant Tree Road and Kings Canyon Scenic Byway.

Pet Friendly: No

Restroom at Trailhead: Yes

Begin your day with the General Grant Tree Trail, where you’ll gaze up at the world’s second-largest tree. This enormous sequoia stands over 260 feet tall, is more than 1500 years old, and has a ground circumference exceeding 100 feet! I find these trees endlessly awe-inspiring.

The trail forms a loop, with the General Grant Tree at its farthest point, allowing you to hike the path in either direction. Along the route, you’ll also pass the Centennial Stump, Gamlin Cabin, and Fallen Monarch. Walking through the Fallen Monarch particularly emphasized the immense size of the sequoia trunks’ interiors and was probably the highlight of this trail for us! It was also the perfect shelter on a very rainy/snowy day.

Panoramic Point

Distance: 0.5 miles round-trip

Trail Route: Loop

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Elevation Gain: 50+ ft

Trail Access: Park in the Panoramic Point Lot via Kings Canyon Scenic Byway.

Pet Friendly: No

Restroom at Trailhead: Yes

For the next trail, head back to the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, cross it, and go straight on the park road past the John Muir Lodge. The road then winds approximately 2 miles to the Panoramic Point Parking Lot. From there, the trail is simple: follow the short paved path from the parking lot to enjoy the wide views at the Panoramic Point Overlook.

Overlooks not to miss between Panoramic Point and Grizzly Falls: Junction View, Yucca Point, Marble Mountain View, and Horseshoe Bend.

Grizzly Falls

Distance: 0.1 miles round-trip

Trail Route: Out-and-back

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Elevation Gain: 10+ ft

Trail Access: Park in the Grizzly Falls Lot, approximately 4 miles west of the Cedar Grove Visitor Center via CA-180.

Pet Friendly: Yes

Restroom at Trailhead: Yes.

Although this stop is technically within Sequoia National Forest, it lies along the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway and is absolutely worth a stop. Situated between the Grant Grove and Cedar Grove sections of the park, it is just 4 miles from the Cedar Grove Visitor Center. Since it is part of the National Forest rather than the National Park, leashed pets are allowed here. Visitors can park in the small lot at the Grizzly Falls Picnic Area and take a short trail to the base of the 80-foot waterfall, where it cascades down the rocky mountainside.

Overlooks not to miss between Grizzly Falls and Roaring River Falls: Canyon View Overlook, Knapps Cabin.

Roaring River Falls

Distance: 0.3 miles round-trip

Trail Route: Out-and-back

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Elevation Gain: 20+ ft

Trail Access: Park in the Roaring River Falls Lot via Kings Canyon Scenic Byway.

Pet Friendly: No

Restroom at Trailhead: No

The next stop is 7 miles west on the scenic byway. Just off the large parking area, the paved path leads to a stunning waterfall. Large rocks at the end of the trail make perfect chairs for sitting and taking in the booming waterfall as it cascades into the Roaring River below. The pool at the bottom of the falls may look refreshing, but it is often not safe for swimming.

Zumwalt Meadows

Distance: 1.5 miles round-trip

Trail Route: Out-and-back

Trail Difficulty: Easy

Elevation Gain: 150+ ft

Trail Access: Park in the Zumwalt Meadows Lot via Kings Canyon Scenic Byway.

Pet Friendly: No

Restroom at Trailhead: Yes

Zumwalt Meadows is the final hike of the day, with a small parking lot located just another mile west along the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway. Originally a loop trail, it is now an out-and-back hike since the boardwalk is no longer accessible. Walk along the shoreline path, cross the bridge, then follow the rocky mountainside, gazing down at the meadow below. Stay alert, as wildlife sightings are common here. Keep an eye out for movement in the the tall meadow grasses. Upon reaching the second closed junction of the outer loop, retrace your steps to return to the trailhead.

Road’s End

Finally, visit Road’s End and check out Muir Rock on the south side of the main parking lot before concluding your visit to Kings Canyon National Park.

If you have extra time today, consider taking side trips to Boyden Cavern, Converse Basin, Hume Lake, and/or the Big Stump Trail on your way back out of the park.