When one gazes across the expansive Kings Canyon in California, it’s easy to imagine that the granite peaks stretching into the sky were carved by the hands of giants.
The granite mountain peaks form expansive canyon networks throughout the twin parks of Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Peaks of 12,000 feet contrast pointedly against the lower elevations of the canyon floors and offer a variety of topography, from windswept and rocky high country to forested cliffs and fern-laden gullies.
According to the National Park Service, most of the mountains and canyons in the Sierra Nevada were primarily formed during ancient glacial periods that wrapped the mountains with thick ice, carving out rivers, valleys, and unique peaks. The park service said several small glaciers are still present in the parks.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are surrounded by the Sequoia, Inyo, and Sierra national forests. Visitors will wind in and out of these areas as they drive through the two parks, passing through forest areas such as Stony Creek, Stump Meadow, and Indian Basin.
The two national parks are directly adjacent to each other and can be accessed with a single entrance fee. But for visitors seeking to experience the geologic wonder that is Kings Canyon, the best place to start is by taking the Generals Highway (Highway 180) east from the Central Valley near Fresno.
From there, the highway winds into the canyon, leaving the giant sequoias behind as the road twists tightly downward, offering a breathtaking overlook of the canyon and the mighty Kings River that flows through its center.
When visitors reach the canyon floor, the dramatic mountain peaks seem to change color at a lower vantage point—yellow, green, gray, red, and sedimentary streaks of orange. After a 40-minute drive past General Grant, cars will finally arrive at the first significant stop on the canyon floor: Boyden Cavern.
The cavern is part of the Sequoia National Forest. It was discovered in the late 1800s by a logger named Putnam Boyden, according to tour information, and features a deep network of tunnels, stalactites, and stalagmites carved by thousands of years of running water.
Visitors can book a 45-minute tour through the cool cavern and learn about the geology and history of the cave, and tour guides are more than happy to answer questions. The cave is made of slick marble and features calcite deposits—also known as flowstone—that have formed stunning formations that tour guides describe with names such as “Soda Straws,” “Pancakes,” and “Curtains.”
The highlight of the tour for children may be the opportunity to exit the cave using the “adventure” route, which allows guests to trek through a winding lower passageway flowing with just a few inches of cold cave water.
Cedar Grove Village offers travelers a variety of hospitality options roughly five miles east into the canyon on Generals Highway. The village has a small hotel, market, and restaurant. It’s a good place for families to grab a bite to eat or buy a souvenir from the gift shop before continuing the long drive deeper into the canyon.
The grove recently reopened this spring following a closure that began during the wet 2023 storm season in California that caused road damage.
“Cedar Grove is an entirely different experience that’s also quite magical,” Sequoia and Kings Canyon public affairs officer Holly Brown told The Epoch Times.
She recommended that visitors to the canyon and national parks or forests ask themselves what they want to get out of their trip and arrange their itinerary accordingly.
In the canyon, Mist Falls and Roaring River Falls, just a few miles past Cedar Grove, offer an adventurous experience for avid mountaineers and families alike. Brown also recommended Zumwalt Meadow, perhaps one of the most scenic locations in the park.
The Zumwalt trailhead is less than a mile from Roads End, where Generals Highway ends.
The Zumwalt Meadow Loop is 1 1/2 miles of easy walking. The trail is framed by towering granite domes. Huge boulders dot the trail, and the large meadow in the center of the loop is golden with grass and perfumed with the scent of wild peppermint. The south fork of the Kings River also skirts the north edge of the loop, and while some of the trail has been washed away because of past seasons of heavy snow, the lush scenery is the perfect spot to take photos or do some bird-watching.
This year, the canyon floor has been a popular place for California brown bear activity.
“The bears have been a little more active down in the Cedar Grove area,” Brown said. She advised campers to keep their food properly stored in bear boxes and away from wildlife.
