Top 12 Best Hikes in Kings Canyon National Park

Miles: 0.3
Elevation Gain: 26 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Map & Current Conditions

For a fun waterfall stop, and a super easy option for hikes in Kings Canyon, don’t miss Roaring River Falls! It might not be as tall as other waterfalls in the park, but it’s just as gorgeous, rushing through granite rocks and spilling into a beautiful emerald-colored pool.

This trail is paved which makes it great for handicap and stroller needs! You can also access Zumwalt Meadows from this trail. More on that hike below!

Miles: 0.5
Elevation Gain: 95 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Map & Current Conditions

Catching sunrise at Panoramic Point was hands-down one of our favorite moments in Kings Canyon National Park! It’s a quick, easy hike that rewards you with sweeping views of Hume Lake and a stunning wall of mountains.

It’s beautiful any time of day, but the sunrise felt extra special. Watching the sun slowly rise over the peaks and light up the whole landscape was unforgettable. This trail can also get pretty busy so getting there for sunrise avoids most of the crowds!

Feeling up for a little more adventure? You can keep going past Panoramic Point to the Park Ridge Fire Lookout for a 5.2-mile round-trip hike! It’s another one of the best hikes in Kings Canyon, and we’ve included more info below!

A+K Tip: The road to Panoramic Point is steep and winding, and RVs or trailers aren’t allowed. We managed fine in our 23-foot Sprinter van, but anything bigger would definitely be tricky, especially when it comes to parking.

Miles: 0.7
Elevation Gain: 32 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Map & Current Conditions

Just like its neighbor Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon is home to some seriously giant trees that rival General Sherman. Including the General Grant Tree, which is either the second or third largest tree in the world, depending on your sources. It has a volume of 46,608 cubic feet, which is equivalent to being filled with 159,000 basketballs!

Visiting this tree itself is a super quick walk, but we suggest wandering around the grove as well. One of our favorite spots along this trail was the Fallen Monarch, which is a fallen Sequoia that you can walk through!

Miles: 1.5
Elevation Gain: 157 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Map & Current Conditions

Note: Unfortunately as of 2025, most of the trail is closed due to damage from a winter storm. You can still hike part of the trail, but we recommend reading recent reviews before you venture out to know if the full trail has reopened.

Both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks have some seriously scenic meadows, but Zumwalt Meadow might just take the top spot! (But we still definitely recommend checking out all of the amazing hikes in Sequoia National Park too!) This short, easy trail gives you a little bit of everything, views of the South Fork Kings River, towering mountain backdrops, and the lush, green expanse of Zumwalt Meadow itself. Keep your eyes peeled, too because you might even spot some wildlife like bears if luck’s on your side!

A+K Tip: If you’re looking to see a bit more, you can link up Zumwalt Meadow with Roaring River Falls for a relaxed 4.2-mile hike!

Miles: 1.7
Elevation Gain: 196 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Map & Current Conditions

Note: As of 2025, the second part of this trail is closed, but you can still access the Mark Twain stump!

Beyond seeing General Grant, make sure to visit more Giant Sequoias along the Big Stump Loop! This 1.7-mile trail takes you through Big Stump Grove, one of 40 Giant Sequoia groves spread across both parks.

Along the way, you’ll spot towering sequoias still standing tall, but true to its name, you’ll also come across some massive stumps. The most famous is the Mark Twain tree stump, once part of a 16-foot-wide sequoia that was cut down back in 1891 so pieces could be shipped to New York and London to show off their size. Today, all that’s left is the stump, but here’s the fun part: there’s a little staircase so you can climb up and stand right on top of it!

With such little elevation gain, this is a great hike in Kings Canyon for anyone!

Miles: 2.9
Elevation Gain: 150 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Map & Current Conditions

Even though it’s technically just outside the park, we would still consider visiting Hume Lake one of our favorite things to do in Kings Canyon National Park! It’s only about a 12-minute detour off the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, and totally worth the stop. You’ll find a campground here, along with plenty of picnic spots and waterfront areas perfect for relaxing.

If you’re traveling with a dog, this trail is for you, dogs ARE allowed here! We ended up visiting twice, once to walk Kona on the scenic Hume Lake Loop Trail, and again so Adam could do some fishing. 

And don’t leave without grabbing a bite at the Hume Lake Snack Shop, their burgers, fries, and those handspun milkshakes are a must!

Miles: 4.4
Elevation Gain: 1,620 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Trail Map & Current Conditions

Many of the options on this list of the best hikes in Kings Canyons are easy and totally doable for most, if not all, skill levels. But if you’re looking for more of a challenge, look no further than the Cedar Grove Overlook Trail. At only 2.2 miles to the top (and of course another 2.2 miles back down), you’ll ascend a whopping 1,620 feet of elevation gain. The trail is steep but the views are worth the hard work if you’ve got it in you!

While you’re here at Cedar Grove, you can enjoy the small Visitor Center, multiple campgrounds, and the Cedar Grove Pack Station, where you can go on both one day and multi-day horseback rides.

Miles: 4.6
Elevation Gain: 1,020 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Map & Current Conditions

The Big Baldy Ridge Trail kicks off right along Generals Highway, right at the edge of Kings Canyon National Park. Parking is just along the roadside. And just a heads-up, there aren’t any restrooms here! Once you park, you’ll hop right onto the trail.

The hike is about 4.6 miles roundtrip and leads you up to Big Baldy, a granite dome with awesome views of the mountains to the south. When we did this hike in May 2024, there were quite a few downed trees from past wildfires. It made the forest feel a little more rugged, and meant we had to climb over and around some obstacles along the way. So just be ready for that before you head out.

While the AllTrails map stops at Big Baldy, we definitely recommend continuing about half a mile farther for an even wider, more open view. We timed this one for sunset and absolutely loved it, but it’d be a great hike any time of day!

Miles: 5.2
Elevation Gain: 1,010 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Map & Current Conditions

For another moderate trail option, consider the Park Ridge Trail to the Park Ridge Fire Lookout which starts off going to Panoramic Point (mentioned above). If you continue on this 5.2 mile hike, you’ll walk along a ridge, offering awesome views to both the east and west as you hike. You’ll find a decent amount of shade along the way, which is always a plus. Even in winter, when there’s snow on the ground, the path is pretty easy to follow.

At the end of the trail, there’s a lookout tower waiting for you. If you’re lucky, there may be a volunteer working that can show you the tower. However, sometimes access to the tower itself is closed. But the views from the trail make it worth the trek either way!

Miles: 7.8
Elevation Gain: 875 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Map & Current Conditions

If you’re up for a longer, more challenging waterfall hike, make your way to Mist Falls! Unlike some of the shorter trails we’ve mentioned, this one takes a bit more effort. Most of the trail is fairly flat as you wander through forest and along the river, with sneak peeks of the surrounding mountains.

The real climb happens in the final mile, where you’ll gain about 600 feet of elevation to reach the falls as they tumble down a granite slope. If you go in late spring, the waterfall is especially impressive thanks to all the snowmelt. But even if the water isn’t flowing as hard, the mountain views along the way make this hike totally worth it!

Miles: 12.4
Elevation Gain: 3,490 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Trail Map & Current Conditions

One of the more bucket list-worthy hikes in Kings Canyon National Park is the Kearsarge Pass Trail to Kearsarge Lakes! This 12.4-mile trek can be tackled as a big day hike or split into an overnight backpacking trip. What makes it unique is that, unlike most hikes in Kings Canyon that start inside the park, this one begins on the other side of the mountains near the Alabama Hills.

The first 4.7 miles up to Kearsarge Pass are technically in Inyo National Forest. Once you reach the pass, you’ll officially step into Kings Canyon National Park for the remainder of the hike. Expect jaw-dropping views of the jagged Sierra Nevada peaks stretching for miles, plus several stunning alpine lakes along the way. This one is definitely high on our list for next time!

A+K Tip: Dogs are allowed on the portion in Inyo National Forest, but aren’t permitted past Kearsarge Pass. If you’re hiking with your pup, you can stick to that first section for some solid views without breaking the rules!

Miles: 39.1
Elevation Gain: 7,670 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Trail Map & Current Conditions

Did you know that about 90% of Kings Canyon National Park is designated wilderness? That makes it an absolute dream for experienced hikers looking to head out on a backpacking trip!

If you’re up for the challenge, the Rae Lakes Loop is hands-down the most iconic backpacking route in the park. This 39-mile loop takes you through some of Kings Canyon’s most stunning landscapes. You’ll see crystal-clear alpine lakes and wide-open mountain views. Most people take 4–5 days to complete it, depending on how much ground you want to cover each day. When we visited, the trail was unfortunately closed due to fire damage, so we didn’t get the chance to experience it, but it’s definitely high on our list for next time!

Wilderness Permit Required: You’ll need a wilderness permit to camp in the backcountry here. These permits can be competitive, so be sure to plan ahead and book early for the best chance at securing your ideal route!