Kings Canyon National Park is a 462,000-acre park established in 1940, located north of its sister park, Sequoia National Park, and about an hour and 15 minutes' drive east of Fresno. The park is a popular family destination, known for its scenic drives and views; it offers travelers many attractions and activities, including horseback riding, cave exploration, hiking, and kayaking for experts.
Winter Activities
The park receives an average of 200 inches of snow annually, making winter sports very popular. The winter sport season runs from December to mid-April. The Grant Grove area is the easiest to access in heavy snow conditions and features clearly marked trails. The park rangers offer free snowshoes for a free one-mile, two-hour walk. Cross-country skiing equipment is available for rent at the Grant Grove Market and the Wuksachi Lodge within the park.
Cave Exploration
Within Kings Canyon National Park is the Boyden Cavern, located on Highway 180, which is open for walking tours from mid-April through mid-November. At the park's visitor center travelers can purchase walking tours of the cave and/or opt for full or half-day rappelling and canyoneering trips. The Boyden Cavern walking tour is a 45-minute excursion available for all ages. Tours leave every hour on the hour. Natural formations viewed on the walk include stalactites, stalagmites, and subterranean streams.
Rock Climbing
Kings Canyon is home to hundreds of domes, including Tehipite Dome, the Sierra Nevada's largest dome. Experienced rock climbers can obtain information and permits from the Cedar Grove Ranger Station, located in the Cedar Grove Village. Some of the more popular domes include North Dome, Grand Sentinel, and Zumwalt Meadows.
Grant Grove Hikes
The Grant Grove area features a range of hikes from easy, short hikes to more challenging longer ones. Hikes include the easy two-mile Big Stump hike, which features multiple very large sequoia stumps, the 6.5-mile Hart Tree Loop in the Redwood Canyon, featuring the largest sequoia grove in the whole park, and the Big Baldy Trail of 4.5 miles, which offers beautiful views, including of Chimney Rock.
Cedar Grove Hikes
The Cedar Grove area boasts a scenic 1.5-mile trail through Zumwalt Meadows, featuring meadows of wildflowers, surrounded by views of striking granite mountain walls. Another popular spot for walking is the Roaring River Falls, located off of Highway 180, which can be reached by a short, narrow path featuring a 40-foot drop. Also featured in the Cedar Grove Wilderness is the Mist Falls Trail, a 4-mile trek to views of magnificent waterfalls.
Horseback Riding
Kings Canyon offers several different horseback riding activities. Tours and information are available from the Cedar Grove Pack Station or the Grant Grove Stables. Rides or trips are available, ranging from one-hour rides to week-long pack trips. Horseback riding trips are closed from late fall through spring. Summer trips are very popular, and reservations are encouraged.
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