Highlights of Kings Canyon
- General Grant Tree: See a giant sequoia grove on a short paved trail with some steep sections.
- Cedar Grove: Follow the canyon road toward granite walls, river views, and seasonal visitor facilities.
- Roaring River Falls: Take a short walk to a waterfall flowing through a granite channel.
- Mist Falls: Plan a longer hike from Road's End when conditions and your fitness allow.
Plan around elevation and seasonal roads
Fees, hours, and seasonal access
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Entrance fees | USD 35 per private vehicle for up to seven days covers standard entry to Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Entry on foot or bicycle costs USD 20 per person age 16 or older for the same period. Entrance stations take cashless payments. |
| Non-US residents | Visitors age 16 or older who are not US residents pay an additional USD 100 per person unless admitted under a qualifying Annual or America the Beautiful Pass. Check pass eligibility and coverage for your party before buying. |
| Opening hours | The parks are open 24 hours a day throughout the year. Visitor centers, lodging, campgrounds, and roads have separate operating schedules. |
| Seasonal access and closures | Grant Grove remains accessible year-round, subject to storms. Highway 180 into Cedar Grove usually operates from late April or May to early or mid-November. Redwood Mountain Road has a scheduled closure from October 13 to approximately October 19, 2026, for hazard-tree work. |
Use the official entrance and pass information to calculate the total for your group. Confirm the road status before departure, including winter chain controls and work delays on Generals Highway.
Rivers, mountain roads, and weather
The Kings River and other park waterways can be cold and powerful. Stay back from fast water and slippery edges. Keep children close near rivers and waterfalls.
Expect cooler conditions at Grant Grove, around 6,600 feet, than on the canyon floor at Cedar Grove, around 4,600 feet. Carry layers and check the forecast for your actual destination. Snow can change road requirements quickly. Large vehicles need particular care on the winding approaches; check length advisories before choosing a route.
Store food and respect trail rules
Use the provided metal lockers for food, coolers, and scented items. Bears can break into vehicles, so a closed car is not a substitute for a required storage box. Keep campsites clean and secure supplies before walking away.
Pets are allowed in campgrounds, picnic areas, parking lots, and on paved roads with a leash no longer than six feet. They are prohibited on trails, including the paved Grant Tree Trail. Stay on established paths and leave natural and historic objects in place.
Campgrounds, lodging, and wilderness permits
Ordinary park entry does not require a reservation. Campgrounds and lodges have separate booking arrangements. Most spring-through-fall camping requires advance reservations, and release windows vary. Azalea has a winter first-come section; confirm which sites operate for your dates.
Overnight wilderness travel requires a permit. The wilderness permit instructions distinguish quota and non-quota seasons. From September 27, 2026, through May 20, 2027, permits are free and self-issued at the appropriate station. During the quota season, entry limits apply and the fee is USD 15 per trip plus USD 5 per person. Confirm the applicable season and obtain the actual permit, rather than relying on a reservation confirmation.
Maps and the route into Kings Canyon
For a Kings Canyon-focused trip, approach Big Stump Entrance on Highway 180 from Fresno. Ash Mountain Entrance on Highway 198 enters neighboring Sequoia National Park and adds substantial mountain driving to Grant Grove or Cedar Grove.
Highway 180 connects the Grant Grove and Cedar Grove areas through national forest land. Cedar Grove is about 30 miles east of Grant Grove Village. Use the official maps to keep park boundaries, roads, and trailheads clear. Fuel is not available inside the national parks; fill up before entering.
Nearby parks by road
- Sequoia National Park: The adjoining park connects through Generals Highway when the route is open. Winter weather can interrupt that connection.
- Yosemite National Park: A longer regional continuation via Fresno and Highway 41. Plan it as a separate stop rather than a quick detour from Cedar Grove.
Walk among sequoias or explore the canyon
Visit the General Grant Tree. The 0.3-mile paved trail passes through the grove and near the historic Gamlin Cabin. Paving does not remove the steep grades; the trail is not designated wheelchair-accessible.
Explore Cedar Grove's shorter routes. Roaring River Falls has a short paved approach. Zumwalt Meadow offers views of granite walls and the river, but its old loop was broken by flooding. Follow the current signed route instead of an older loop description.
Hike to Mist Falls. The official route is eight miles round trip from Road's End, with about 600 feet of climbing in the final mile toward the falls. Allow roughly four to five hours, adjusted for your pace and conditions. Carry the supplies needed for a full day rather than treating it as a short waterfall stop.
Services in Grant Grove and Cedar Grove
Grant Grove Village has Kings Canyon Visitor Center, a market, dining, and lodging options at John Muir Lodge and Grant Grove Cabins. Outside the visitor center are restrooms, fountains, and a water-filling station. Accessible parking connects to village facilities by a paved route.
Cedar Grove has seasonal lodging, food services, a visitor center, and campgrounds. Its facilities can close before the access road does. The autumn schedule lists Sheep Creek Campground and Cedar Grove Lodge services through October 25, 2026; confirm the dates before relying on them. Crystal Springs and Sunset campgrounds are closed for the season.
Review the Grant Grove accessibility details for specific slopes, parking, rooms, and restrooms. A manual wheelchair may be available to borrow from Kings Canyon Visitor Center, subject to availability and return rules.
About Kings Canyon National Park
From General Grant to Kings Canyon
General Grant National Park was created in 1890 to protect giant sequoias from logging. In 1940, protection expanded to include the canyon landscape, and the park became Kings Canyon National Park. Grant Grove and Cedar Grove still show these different parts of its history and geography.
Forests, meadows, and high country
The two jointly managed parks protect habitats across a large elevation range. Montane forests and meadows support mule deer, black bears, and many birds. Higher, rockier areas provide habitat for marmots and pikas. Black bears can vary in color; a brown coat does not make one a grizzly. Observe animals without approaching or offering food.
Contact Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Call 559-565-3341 for park information, road conditions, weather, and fire updates. The joint mailing address is 47050 Generals Highway, Three Rivers, CA 93271-9700. Use the official contact page for email inquiries. This mailing address is not the Big Stump entrance.
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