If you are lucky enough to be in Kings Canyon when the road is open from April through November, you are in for a dramatic canyon drive that will take your breath away. We were completely thrown off guard by the beauty of this park. The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway opened the day before we left, so we knew we had to drive it. Before this, we had not heard much about this park. We found it to have very few people and some of the most stunning views we have seen. Also, the second biggest tree in the world lives in Grant Village and should not be missed.

Grant Village:

Stop and see the second biggest tree in the world, General Grant and the rest of the Sequoia Grove in Grant Village. My kids loved walking through the inside of a fallen Sequoia trunk to get some hands on perspective of just how giant these beautiful trees are. We spent time here observing how tiny the giant sequoia pine cones are. These little pine cones that the giant trees drop, will only disperse seeds when exposed to extreme heat from wildfires. Thankfully, the trees also have a protective bark that protects the giants from wildfires. Last years fire damage happened after our visit to the park. It would be interesting to see what the groves look like today.

Hume Lake:

This is a beautiful mountain lake for SUP and kayaks. We spent our time here sprawled out on the lawn enjoying a picnic and the warm sun on our skin. You will find limited cell signal, bathrooms, and a small convenience store here. This is a great spot to stop and have lunch before or after driving through Kings Canyon.

Kings Canyon Scenic Byway:

This road is open from April-November depending on weather conditions. The date is never the same due to snow pack, so keep checking the park website to verify if it is open. You can drive the entire 50 mile stretch in 2-3 hours, but we recommend you stop and see the sights and do some hiking along the way. The drive was beautiful with some drop offs that might feel scary for some. We drove it in our dually truck and it wasn’t too narrow for us. Be sure to pull off and take in the views whenever you can.

Our top three favorite things to do along this route were:

🐻 Grizzly Falls: 

A short walk from the parking lot, it would be silly to miss this one with it being so accessible. The creek was perfectly safe for the kids to play in at the base of these beautiful falls. 

💦 Roaring River Falls: 

This was a short hike down a paved trail following the river. The smell of pine and the sound of the water will consume your senses in the best way. 

🌲 Zumwalt Meadow Loop Trail: 

This hike was the family favorite. It felt as if we were “going on a bear hunt” as we crossed creeks, walked through a pine forest, traversed boulders, found a cave, and walked across one of the most beautiful meadows we have ever seen. The granite rock walls reached up towards the blue sky in every direction, giving the most beautiful backdrop to this hike.

If you find yourself in California, take the extra time to see this park, you won’t regret it.