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John Muir considered Kings Canyon as a rival to Yosemite Valley. The view of the canyon is breathtaking and a portal to extensive hiking opportunities. Home to granite peaks and wild rivers, Kings Canyon National Parks should be on every hikers "to do" list.
Hiking Trails
Grant Grove
General Giant Tree Trail - easy 0.6-mile paved road to one of the world's largest living trees.
North Grove Loop - easy 3-mile trail past creeks and meadows for a close-up look at the large trees of the North Grove.
Buena Vista Peak - moderate 2-mile round trip hike up with 360-degree views over the canyon below.
Big Baldy Ridge - moderate 4-mile round trip hike to the summit at 8,209ft.
Cedar Grove
Zumwalt Meadow - easy 1.5-mile trail through meadows next to Kings River.
Roaring River Falls - a very short walk to a very powerful waterfall.
Sheep Creek Cascade - a moderate hike with views of the Monarch Divide, allow over an hour.
Lookout Peak - strenuous 13-mile hike with amazing views of the park's backcountry.
Cedar Grove Overlook - strenuous 5-mile hike with a wonderful view of Kings Canyon. 1,200ft elevation gain.
Mist Falls - moderate 8-mile round trip trail past some impressive rapids and cascades to one of the largest waterfalls in the park.
Grant Grove
General Giant Tree Trail - easy 0.6-mile paved road to one of the world's largest living trees.
North Grove Loop - easy 3-mile trail past creeks and meadows for a close-up look at the large trees of the North Grove.
Buena Vista Peak - moderate 2-mile round trip hike up with 360-degree views over the canyon below.
Big Baldy Ridge - moderate 4-mile round trip hike to the summit at 8,209ft.
Cedar Grove
Zumwalt Meadow - easy 1.5-mile trail through meadows next to Kings River.
Roaring River Falls - a very short walk to a very powerful waterfall.
Sheep Creek Cascade - a moderate hike with views of the Monarch Divide, allow over an hour.
Lookout Peak - strenuous 13-mile hike with amazing views of the park's backcountry.
Cedar Grove Overlook - strenuous 5-mile hike with a wonderful view of Kings Canyon. 1,200ft elevation gain.
Mist Falls - moderate 8-mile round trip trail past some impressive rapids and cascades to one of the largest waterfalls in the park.
Trails
Summary
Difficulty
Distance
Big Trees Trail - Sequoia National Park
A paved, accessible trail across from the Giant Forest Museum.
A paved, accessible trail across from the Giant Forest Museum.
Easy
1.2 mi
1.9 km
1.9 km
Congress Trail - Sequoia National Park
A popular loop trail that begins at the General Sherman Tree.
A popular loop trail that begins at the General Sherman Tree.
Easy
2.2 mi
3.5 km
3.5 km
Little Baldy Trail - Sequoia National Park
The summit of this hike offers an amazing view of the Silliman Crest and the Great Western Divide.
The summit of this hike offers an amazing view of the Silliman Crest and the Great Western Divide.
Easy
3.4 mi
5.5 km
5.5 km
Tokopah Falls - Sequoia National Park
An easy stroll out of the Lodgepole Campground.
An easy stroll out of the Lodgepole Campground.
Easy
3.8 mi
6.1 km
6.1 km
Jennie Lake
A moderate dayhike or overnighter to a subalpine lake just outside Sequoia National Park.
A moderate dayhike or overnighter to a subalpine lake just outside Sequoia National Park.
Moderate
5.4 mi
8.7 km
8.7 km
The High Sierra Trail: Segment 1 of 7
Crescent Meadow/Wolverton to 9-Mile Creek
Crescent Meadow/Wolverton to 9-Mile Creek
Moderate
8.4 mi
13.5 km
13.5 km
Bishop Pass Trail - South Lake to LeConte Canyon
Day 1 of 6 on the John Muir Trail (JMT): Bishop Pass to Kearsarge Pass.
Day 1 of 6 on the John Muir Trail (JMT): Bishop Pass to Kearsarge Pass.
Moderate
11.0 mi
17.7 km
17.7 km
Jennie and Weaver Lakes Loop
A backpacking loop to two subalpine lakes just outside of Sequoia National Park.
A backpacking loop to two subalpine lakes just outside of Sequoia National Park.
Moderate
16.0 mi
25.8 km
25.8 km
Mt. Whitney from Whitney Portal
Hike California's Amazing State Highpoint, also the highest point in the lower 48 States
Hike California's Amazing State Highpoint, also the highest point in the lower 48 States
Moderate
22.0 mi
35.4 km
35.4 km
The High Sierra Trail: Segment 7 of 7
Guitar Lake to Mount Whitney Summit and the descent to Whitney Portal
Guitar Lake to Mount Whitney Summit and the descent to Whitney Portal
Difficult
14.3 mi
23.0 km
23.0 km
Guides
Crescent Meadow/Wolverton to 9-Mile Creek
9-Mile Creek to Precipice Lake
Guitar Lake to Mount Whitney Summit and the descent to Whitney Portal
Day 1 of 6 on the John Muir Trail (JMT): Bishop Pass to Kearsarge Pass.
A backpacking loop to two subalpine lakes just outside of Sequoia National Park.
Upper Kern Canyon to Guitar Lake
Hike California's Amazing State Highpoint, also the highest point in the lower 48 States
An easy stroll out of the Lodgepole Campground.
The summit of this hike offers an amazing view of the Silliman Crest and the Great Western Divide.
A paved, accessible trail across from the Giant Forest Museum.
A popular loop trail that begins at the General Sherman Tree.
A moderate dayhike or overnighter to a subalpine lake just outside Sequoia National Park.
Community Trips
On trail by 5:30 AM. Headlamps until the ledges, and then made easy time up to Iceburg Lake. Drinking 2 liters at each lake. Started up toward notch from Iceburg and followed the narrow gully on the left, instead of the larger scree gully on the right. Probably more class 3 climbing than expected at this stage, still fun. Two gullies join halfway up at large boulder and ascent becomes easier. At...
Two day ascent of the highest peak in contiguous US.
Day hike to Mt Whitney on Whitney trail, with Renaud and Geoff. Great weather... very long day.
Palisades: U-Notch to North Palisade and Swiss Arete to Mount Sill
Big Pine, California, United States
21.0 miles
21.0 miles
Our ambitious plan was to head into the Palisades, climb four 14ers, and Temple Crag on our 5 day trip. Although our odyssey did not succeed in completing our crazy plan, we did tackle two classic sierra routes to the top of two 14ers.
A three-day trip to the High Sierra Trail in Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park. We camped both nights at Bearpaw "Meadow" -- a nice pine forest campground. The second day was spent making a day-trip to Hamilton Lakes; we made it as far as Lower Hamilton Lake before stopping for lunch and turning back.Supposedly the High Sierra Trail has the easiest profile of all of the trails in SeKi; while I don't doubt...
This is probably the best 5 days of hiking I've ever done, followingthe south end of the John Muir Trail from Onion Valley all the way tothe top of Mount Whitney. It's such a good hike, I've done it twice.We started the hike by dropping our car at Whitney Portal and taking ashuttle to Onion Valley campground, where we had a campgroundreservation for the night. On Monday morning we started up theKearsarge...
Simple loop in the Sequoya & Kings Canyon national parks.The original plan was to summit Mt Whitney also, but it has to be skipped due to the overall difficulty.
On the longest day of the year - five letshikers took off to scale Alta Peak. Bright clear crisp day - perfect for climbing. Peak is at 11,200 ft - Net vertical climb is 4,200 ft - but with ups and downs we clocked 5221 feet up.Exhausting and Exhilarating - the vistas and views are to die for!
Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain in the lower 48 states, at 14450 feet high, is a big challenge for most people. I got the chance to take this challenge, and finished this total trail in 12 hours. This is also my first high mountain hike in my life. The view from the top of Mt. Whitney and on the trail is amazing, plus the fact that you are on top of everything...
drove up to Sequoia National Park. To find the trail head, look for Wolverton Skie and Recreation Area. The trail starts right there from the parking lot.There many trails that branch off, but there are signs at every fork, so don't worry about finding your way. The first 4 miles are mid-difficulty, very nice views, mostly between trees.The last 2 miles are the most difficult part, 29% grade, you go up 2000...
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