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Kings Canyon National Park

National Park · California, 🇺🇸 United States
Area 1,846 km²
Time zone America/Los_Angeles
Official website www.nps.gov/seki/
Kings Canyon National Park

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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

Kings Canyon National Park — Map

Kings Canyon National Park — Map

Climate & when to visit

Best time to visit: June, July, August, September

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Poor
  • 0° (feels like -5°) · extremes -20°–8°
  • -10° at night
  • 9 rainy days
  • 18 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in February

Poor
  • 0° (feels like -5°) · extremes -19°–7°
  • -10° at night
  • 10 rainy days
  • 15 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in March

Poor
  • 2° (feels like -3°) · extremes -17°–11°
  • -8° at night
  • 9 rainy days
  • 17 sunny days
  • 8 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in April

Poor
  • 6° (feels like 1°) · extremes -14°–15°
  • -6° at night
  • 7 rainy days
  • 20 sunny days
  • 10 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in May

Poor
  • 12° (feels like 7°) · extremes -8°–20°
  • -1° at night
  • 5 rainy days
  • 23 sunny days
  • 11 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in June

Great
  • 18° (feels like 14°) · extremes -4°–25°
  • 4° at night
  • 2 rainy days
  • 27 sunny days
  • 13 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in July

Great
  • 23° (feels like 19°) · extremes 3°–27°
  • 8° at night
  • 2 rainy days
  • 26 sunny days
  • 13 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in August

Great
  • 23° (feels like 19°) · extremes 3°–27°
  • 8° at night
  • 2 rainy days
  • 27 sunny days
  • 12 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in September

Great
  • 19° (feels like 15°) · extremes -4°–24°
  • 4° at night
  • 2 rainy days
  • 26 sunny days
  • 11 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in October

Poor
  • 13° (feels like 8°) · extremes -9°–21°
  • -1° at night
  • 4 rainy days
  • 25 sunny days
  • 9 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in November

Poor
  • 6° (feels like 1°) · extremes -14°–15°
  • -6° at night
  • 6 rainy days
  • 20 sunny days
  • 8 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in December

Poor
  • 1° (feels like -4°) · extremes -19°–9°
  • -9° at night
  • 8 rainy days
  • 15 sunny days
  • 6 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 2 · low

Climate data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Practical information

Currency
US Dollar USD $ · Card payments · Widely accepted
Emergency numbers
911 Police · Ambulance · Fire brigade
Electricity
Type A / Type B
120 V · 60 Hz
Languages
English
Tap water
Safe to drink
Driving side
Right
Calling code
+1
Learn more

Tours & Activities

General Grant Tree
Drive
Kings Canyon National Park
Drive
Roaring River Falls

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