9 Extraordinary Things to do in Kings Canyon National Park

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Kings Canyon National Park contains a vast variety of landscapes, each shifting into the next like the facets on a big, beautiful diamond.  With so many prospects to choose from, it can be hard to decide what to do…and that’s without even factoring in a visit to the adjacent Sequoia National Park!

So if you’re headed here and looking for inspiration on some of the best sights to see and the best Kings Canyon hikes, read on for the most extraordinary things to do in Kings Canyon National Park!

What to Do in Kings Canyon National Park

From the best trees to see, to the best waterfalls, to the best hikes in Kings Canyon, here are the things to see at Kings Canyon that you won’t want to miss!

1. See General Grant

When you visit Kings Canyon, the General Grant tree should be at the top of your list of things to see! It is almost the largest tree in the world…second only to General Sherman in the nearby Sequoia National Park.  Yet despite coming in second place in the volume contest, General Grant is an icon in its own right.

Named after Ulysses S. Grant, this tree also goes by several other names.  On April 28, 1926 President Calvin Coolidge designated it the Nation’s Christmas Tree after the first of the annual Christmas programs was held at the tree on December 25, 1925.

Then, thirty years later on March 29, 1956, President Dwight  D. Eisenhower proclaimed it a National Shrine in memorial to those who died in war.  As the only living object declared as this type of memorial, people treat this tree with special care.  They even go so far as to wrap it in tin foil when there is a fire nearby to make sure it survives!

So even though it may not be the largest tree in the world, this tree is still very special to tons of people around the United States. And in its own right as the second largest tree in the world (by volume) it is certainly deserving of a visit!

The giant Mark Twain Tree Stump in King's Canyon National Park with a person standing on top for scale

2. Visit the Mark Twain Tree Stump

While both Sequoia and Kings Canyon contain many living sequoia trees, one of the best things to do in Kings Canyon National Park is take a moment to see the impact from the days when people used to log these spectacular trees instead of leaving them to grow. One of the best places to experience this sober reminder is at Big Stump Trail, where you can find the remains of the Mark Twain Tree.

Along this trail, many of these beautiful trees were cut in the hopes of selling and using the wood. But spoiler alert: Sequoia wood breaks too easily to turn it into anything bigger than toothpicks! So because the wood ended up being useless and unprofitable, the fallen trees lie on the ground abandoned while piles of sawdust from cutting them down still sit in sad piles across the meadows.

At the time, these loggers cut down some of the biggest specimens of sequoia trees to try to sell them…so can you imagine if they had left them alone? They would be bigger than General Grant and bigger than Sequoia’s General Sherman as well!

The Mark Twain Tree, however, tells a slightly different tale from its fellow trees.  Instead of being cut for its wood, it was cut to prove the existence of the sequoias to those who thought these big trees were just a “California Hoax.” People around the world didn’t believe that trees this big actually existed, so the Mark Twain Tree died to prove them wrong.

In 1891, the Mark Twain Tree was felled and slices of its trunk were sent around the world—to the American Museum of Natural History in New York and the Natural History Museum in London.  You can still find the slices of this tree in these museums when you visit.

But here on the trail where the Mark Twain Tree stump stands, you can climb up the ladder and walk across the stump. It is both a sobering reminder of the days of logging, but also a unique opportunity to experience first-hand the size of this enormous giant as you walk across the stump.

View of Grizzly Falls, a small rocky waterfall

3. Drive to Grizzly Falls

Ever wanted to visit a drive-in waterfall?  Well, Grizzly Falls is as close as you’re going to get.  You literally drive up to the parking lot and can see the waterfall without even getting out of your car!

Although its easy to get to, Grizzly Falls is a fun and quick stop for any waterfall-lover.  It might even be a nice place to picnic during your time in Kings Canyon National Park!

Tree stump with large spiky splinters that look like towers on a castle

4. Climb in the Castle Tree Stump

Another gem on the Big Stump Trail, this tree stump (unnamed, but I call it the Castle Tree) is just around the corner from the Mark Twain Tree.  It looks a bit like a nature version of Hogwarts, and it is fun to climb through and pretend to be the queen (or king) of the castle!

With its spiky towers and interesting texture, this is a unique sight in Kings Canyon and a fun place to pause while hiking! If you are already planning to visit the Mark Twain Tree, then continue along the trail to find this unique and strange little tree stump.

View of mountains and a valley below from the King's Canyon Scenic Byway

5. Make a Stop on Kings Canyon Scenic Byway

There are so many gorgeous views on the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway!  And with regular pull-offs, you have to take advantage of them and stop to see the views.

Although many people recommend Junction View as the best place to stop along this road, there is actually an even nicer view from a pull-off just shortly before it (when you’re coming from Sequoia National Park).  With sweeping vistas and the sound of the wind and water carrying up to you from the valley below, you really can’t beat this view!

Roaring River Falls, a short but full waterfall with a large pool below it and rocks surrounding it

6. Visit Roaring River Falls

Roaring River Falls roars more at some times of year than others, but at any time of year this is a peaceful and short hike that is well-worth a meander.

At 0.3 miles round trip, it doesn’t take long to get to the falls from the parking lot.  But the beauty of this hike is that you quickly feel surrounded by nature as you stroll towards the falls! It won’t take long for you to forget that your car and the road traffic is only a little ways behind you.

Zumwalt Meadow mountains towering above a river with reflections of the mountains and trees

7. Explore near Zumwalt Meadow

Zumwalt Meadow is perhaps one of the most popular day hikes in Kings Canyon National Park, and it certainly lives up to its reputation.  Rock formations tower above you and contrast against the meadow and river below, making for a scenic and gorgeous hike.

Reflections in the water are particularly gorgeous near sunset, although any time of day is beautiful here! I think this is one of the best places to see in Kings Canyon National Park if you want a short hike with unbeatable surroundings

Mist Falls in the autumn months when people can get close to the falls because there is not much water

8. Hike the Mist Falls Trail

If you have a full day and are wondering what to do in Kings Canyon National Park, then hiking to Mist Falls could be an excellent choice. This 8.1 mile round trip trail requires a little more dedication than the previously mentioned hikes, but it is a rewarding and worthwhile experience!

If you go out in this part of Kings Canyon overnight then you need to get a permit, but for a day hike you are allowed to explore without permits.  Along the way to the waterfall you will come across varied landscapes to discover from meadows to mountains to rivers, which makes for a delightful day. If you want to make a full day out of it, then bring along a picnic lunch and you can sit and watch the waterfall while you eat!

While Mist Falls is more powerful and full in the spring, during the later summer and fall months the water is diminished enough that you can get up close and personal with the waterfall.  But no matter the season, Mist Falls is a beauty!

Inside the Burnt Monarch in King's Canyon National Park

9. Get a Hug from a Tree

You’ve heard of tree-huggers, but have you heard of trees hugging you back?  If you’ve ever wanted to be hugged by a tree, you have to stop by Burnt Monarch during your time in Kings Canyon.

Burnt Monarch is a giant tree that was—surprise, surprise—burnt at some point in the past.  What makes it exciting is the hole in its side that is big enough to crawl into.

When you reach the inside, there is a narrow pathway that is just the right size to inch your way through.  It certainly feels like you’re being hugged by a tree…and its the perfect way to end your time in Kings Canyon National Park!


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