Kings Canyon National Park

National Park · California, 🇺🇸 United States

Area 1,846 km²

Time zone America/Los_Angeles

Official website www.nps.gov/seki/

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Featured Lists

Miguel.v / Public domain

Kings Canyon National Park: Absolute Essentials

Kings Canyon National Park features some of the world’s largest giant sequoias and one of North America’s deepest canyons. This selection includes the General Grant Tree, designated as the Nation's Christmas Tree, and the historic Mark Twain Stump. Visitors can explore the glacier-carved landscape through sites like the granite Muir Rock on the Kings River and high-altitude vistas at Panoramic Point and Kings Canyon Overlook. The Grant Grove Visitor Center provides historical context for the park’s massive groves and rugged Sierra Nevada terrain.

12 places

Lucas·G / CC BY-SA 4.0

Kings Canyon Peaks and Passes

Kings Canyon National Park is home to some of the most dramatic topographic relief in the Sierra Nevada. This collection highlights the park's formidable geology, ranging from the 11,955-foot Muir Pass to the sheer granite walls of Muro Blanco and the Great Cliffs. The list includes prominent summits like the 13,660-foot Midway Mountain on the Great Western Divide and Charlotte Dome, a renowned backcountry climbing site. These landmarks define the rugged wilderness of the High Sierra and the deep glacial canyons of the Kings River.

20 places

Kings Canyon Lakes and Waterfalls

Kings Canyon National Park features a diverse collection of high-altitude water features, from the southernmost glaciers in North America to dramatic granite-carved waterfalls. This selection includes the Palisade Glacier, the largest in the Sierra Nevada, and Mist Falls, one of the park’s most powerful cascades. These sites range from accessible day-hike destinations to remote alpine basins like Charlotte Lake and the Barrett Lakes, many of which sit above 10,000 feet along the John Muir Trail.

20 places

Crd637 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Kings Canyon Camping Guide

Kings Canyon National Park offers a range of camping experiences, from the developed sites at Eshom Creek to remote backcountry locations along the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails. High-altitude sites like those near Forester Pass and Rae Lakes provide access to rugged alpine scenery, while Upper Paradise Valley sits along the Kings River. Many locations, including Woods Creek and Arrowhead Lake, feature bear-resistant food storage boxes essential for multi-day treks through the wilderness.

20 places

Vit Zdarsky / CC BY-SA 4.0

Kings Canyon Viewpoints

This collection highlights the most accessible and scenic vistas throughout Kings Canyon National Park. From the high-altitude perspectives at Panoramic Point and Redwood Mountain Overlook to the deep glacial valley views at Canyon View and Cedar Grove Overlook, these spots showcase the park's dramatic granite cliffs and the Kings River. Visitors can observe the world's largest sequoia grove from above or witness the force of Roaring River Falls as it carves through the canyon's ancient rock formations.

7 places