Located in Kings Canyon National Park, Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is one of the best scenic drives in California. This scenic drive is 50 miles long, traversing through gorgeous canyons with beautiful waterfalls and many interesting stops along the way. It also connects to the Cedar Grove area, home to some of the most beautiful day hikes and backpacking hikes. We highly recommend spending at least 1 full day driving through this awesome Kings Canyon Scenic Drive.
From the entrance of the park on Highway 180, there are two roads to follow. The right road goes to Sequoia National Park, while the left goes into Kings Canyon. This road on the left is Highway 180, also known as Kings Canyon Scenic Byway. Most of Highway 180 is actually in the Giant Sequoia National Monument, but people usually confuse it with Kings Canyon. Kings Canyon National Park doesn’t start until you get near the waterfalls. That being said, in this blog, we will include all the things to see along the Kings Canyon Scenic Drive from when you enter the park, regardless of whether it’s inside the Giant Sequoia or Kings Canyon.
Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is closed partially during the winter. It closes right after the turn for Hume Lake. The road is usually open between late April and mid-November. You can check the park’s website for more up-to-date info on road conditions and closures before going.
Since it is a full-day adventure, we recommend bringing enough water and food. Although the Cedar Grove area has a cafe, its hours might be unpredictable. So it is best to come prepared. We also recommend having a full tank of gas before making your drive. The only gas station in Kings Canyon is near the Christian Camp in Hume Lake.
The Big Stump Trail and picnic area are located just after the entrance to the park. It is the first stop along the Kings Canyon Scenic Drive. This trail has a lot to offer, from lush vegetation and towering sequoias to interesting giant tree stumps. Big Stump Trail is short and easy, making it a perfect stop for beginner hikers and families.
This area is home to a small village, campgrounds, and one of the most popular hikes in Kings Canyon National Park, the General Grant Tree Trail. The Grant Grove Village has a small market, restaurant, post office, and visitor center.
Another stop here is the General Grant Tree Trail. There is a reason this trail is so popular. It is a short, paved trail that takes you to the General Grant Tree, the 2nd largest tree by volume in the world. However, our favorite here is the Fallen Monarch, a fallen sequoia that you can walk through inside.
This viewpoint is exceptional during the sunset. The way the sun sets over the misty mountain is spectacular. It is located at the top of the hill, on the left-hand side, after leaving General Grant Grove.
Hume Lake is about 15-minute detour off the Kings Canyon Scenic Drive and is completely worth making that drive. It is a beautiful lake and a great place to cool off in the summer. If you’re up for it, you can kayak or go fishing here. The lake also has a nice sandy beach area with calm water, a perfect place to go for a swim. One of our favorite things to do here is to hike the Hume Lake Trail. This trail goes around the whole lake with many breathtaking stops, including the Hume Lake Dam.
After Hume Lake, the drive along the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway gets more beautiful. This is our favorite section of the whole drive. The road traverses along the deep canyon and the Kings River with towering walls and a big drop-off. This section of the road is narrow and windy, so make sure to be careful when you drive. Along the way, there are multiple pull-outs where you can stop and take in the view of the steep canyon and river below.
Boyden Cavern is located at the bottom of the canyon. It is another must-stop along Kings Canyon Scenic Drive. This beautiful limestone cave is home to massive stalagmites and stalactites as well as many other beautiful cave features.
Grizzly Falls is an 80-foot waterfall, only about 100 yards off the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway. This waterfall is beautiful with its thunderous water, cascading over the rock into the creek below. In the Spring, this waterfall is especially spectacular. You’ll easily feel the powerful spray. There is a picnic area, picnic tables, and a vault toilet at the parking lot.
Another stop along the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is Knapp’s Cabin. There should be a turnout for it on the left-hand side. The walk to the cabin takes about 5 minutes. This historic cabin was built in 1925 by George Owen Knapp, who used it for storage while camping in the area. If you don’t have time, you could skip this one.
This is another one of our favorite stops along the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway. Roaring River Falls is a small but powerful waterfall, tumbling about 20 feet into a spectacular swirling turquoise pool. There is a short 0.3 round-trip paved trail to get here, and it’s worth it!
Zumwalt Meadow is a stunning meadow, tucked between two imposing, vertical granite cliffs. This meadow is home to many wildlife such as marmots, deer, bears, and more. The trail is short but very scenic. It also crosses over a really cool suspension bridge.
Road’s End is the end of the Kings Canyon Scenic Drive. It is the start of some of the best backcountry trails and is also home to Muir Rock, where John Muir gave speeches about the importance of protecting the beautiful natural places. Muir Rock is also a wonderful swimming hole and a popular cliff jumping spot. The water here is very cold and very clear, perfect for a quick dip in the hot summer sun. If you like cliff jumping, you can jump off Muir Rock. It is about a 15-foot jump. Make sure to check the water level before jumping.
Mist Falls Trail also starts from Road’s End. It is arguably the best day hike in Kings Canyon. This trail is straightforward and rated moderate. The payoff is worth it. Not only is Mist Falls Trail beautiful the whole way, but you’ll also get to see the spectacular Mist Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in Kings Canyon National Park. Mist Falls Trail is our favorite hike in Kings Canyon National Park.
The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is a wonderful drive. Not only that it is beautiful, it also takes you through many awesome views and things to do. We highly recommend it. If you’re in the area, we recommend checking out Sequoia National Park right next door. Some of our favorite things to do is the Congress Trail, Moro Rock, and if you visit in the winter, you NEED to snowshoes to Tunnel Log!
Happy Adventuring. Don’t forget to check out the related posts below for more inspiration on your upcoming adventures. While at it, follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel! We’ll love you forever!
These are the gear that we personally use and find helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.
Our favorite biodegradable, eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen!
This is Vy's favorite hiking bag! It has tons of room for snacks and water!
It's always good to bring a GPS tracker with you. We use the Garmin inReach.
This jacket is packable into a super small and light little ball. Perfect for when you just need a little…
This jacket is packable into a super small and light little ball. Perfect for when you just need a little…
Our favorite hiking/travel jacket. It's warm and packable, perfect to bring on a hike or a road trip.
Our favorite hiking/travel jacket. It's warm and packable, perfect to bring on a hike or a road trip.
If you tend to have foot blisters on hikes, get this! We use this all the time.
These hiking poles are sturdy, and great to help keep your balance on short or longer hikes
Compact GoPro pole that extends to 25", perfect to bring on your adventure.
This is our go-to camera for all of our adventures. It comes with us everywhere!
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Hi! We are Dustin & Vy, the proud creators of Live That Adventure. We created this website because we wanted to inspire others to live their lives to the fullest. On here, you’ll find everything from hiking, canyoneering, kayaking, and snorkeling to adventure and travel tips, gear reviews, and bucket list items such as bungee jumping or wing walking. We’ll show you the ropes so you can do them too!
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