Hiking in Kings Canyon National Park: How to Visit Grant Grove & Hume Lake

If you’re looking for some great hiking in Kings Canyon National Park, you’ve made it to the right place! By spending 1 or 2 days at this magnificent national park, you can hike and see some of the best spots.

As part of our epic 16-day road trip in Central California, we recommend exploring Kings Canyon for 2 days.

On day 2, visit Grant Grove and hike among the giant sequoias. Then, check out Hume Lake and relax on the beach or hike around the lake. Finally, make one last stop at Panoramic Point before you begin your journey toward Yosemite National Park.

Wait, what about Day 1 at Kings Canyon? Check it out here on how to visit Mist Falls and drive to the end of the road!

Need to Know Info

• Visit our Gear page to purchase your America the Beautiful Pass online at REI’s website. In some cases, you can purchase an annual pass at the entrance of some parks.
• Arrive early at Kings Canyon National Park to get a great parking spot. Arriving before or around 8 am is the best way to secure parking.
  • We arrived at the Grant Grove parking area around 8 am, which was already filling up. However, if the first lot is full near the restrooms, keep driving until you reach the second lot.
  • When you arrive at Hume Lake, there are some larger parking lots nearby and parking along the road in some locations. If you’re headed to the beach, the lot will likely be full as the day progresses.
• From the Squaw Valley, CA area, Grant Grove is about a 40-50 minute drive. From Sequoia National Park’s Giant Forest Museum, Grant Grove parking is a 1-hour drive.
• Unlike Sequoia National Park, there is NO shuttle system here.

Safety and Weather in Kings Canyon National Park

• Cell phone coverage at Kings Canyon National Park was spotty in some locations. Don’t rely on service for communication.
• Do mosquitoes love you? They will here! Get our favorite bug spray here!
• Water: It’s recommended to carry at least 1 liter of water for every 5 miles you are hiking. Ditch those water bottles and carry a water bladder!
• Food & Gas: There are food options near Grant Grove Village and the Kings Canyon Visitor Center, including the Grant Grove Restaurant and Grant Grove Market. There are NO gas services at Grant Grove Village. Hume Lake is the closest area to a gas station and you will find a general store and snack shop here open to the public.
• Restrooms: There are restrooms located at the Kings Canyon Visitor Center and Hume Lake. Some have running water and some do not.
• Weather can vary depending on your location in the park. Hiking in the higher elevation area (6,000 and 7,000 feet) of Kings Canyon National Park will be cooler than in the canyon.
  • Temperatures here during the summer months will likely be around 60F-75F. Perfect hiking weather!
• Be aware of forest fires: fire and smoke may be present in the park at any time.
• Poison oak may be present. Here is what it looks like – don’t touch it!

Animal Safety in Sequoia National Park

• Kings Canyon National Park has a diverse range of animals living in the park. Deer, black bears, mountain lions, bobcats, rattlesnakes, and marmots are just a few of the animals you might see.
  • Review the steps to take if you encounter a black bear or mountain lion along the trail. That being said, it’s unlikely that you will encounter an aggressive animal, but always be prepared.
  • Please do not leave food in your car!

🌳 Get the full details here on our post about how to spend more time at Kings Canyon National Park: hiking to Mist Falls & more.

Map

Use the map above to help plan your tour to Grant Grove, Hume Lake, and the Kings Canyon Visitor Center

Grant Grove

Going hiking in Kings Canyon National Park is a great way to get out and see the beauty offered in this amazing park. Firstly, start your day at the Grant Grove parking area and hike to the General Grant Tree. Known also as the Nation’s Christmas Tree, this is a great place to start your day.

Take a nice, easy stroll around the loop and visit the giants in this area. There is even a tree you can walk through all the way to the other end! Additionally, there are many educational signs along this short route where you will learn about the history of the area.

If you visited Sequoia National Park before Kings Canyon, or plan on heading there after, you’ll see plenty more giant sequoias in Sequoia National Park, so you could probably skip this area in Kings Canyon if that is the case.

Dead Giant Loop and Sunset Trail – 2 miles – moderate, loop, 300+ ft. gain

Secondly, if you are looking for more hiking in Kings Canyon National Park near Grant Grove, follow the Dead Giant Loop and Sunset Trail. This trail begins at the end of the parking lot down the hill following the North Grove Trail.

This is a somewhat moderate hike on the way out as you will climb 300+ feet back up the trail. Eventually, you will reach the Dead Giant Loop a little over half a mile in. This lollipop loop leads to a nice view and overlook of Sequoia Lake in the distance.

Feel free to follow the loop in any direction. Once complete, head back the way you came to the parking lot.

➡️ Read next: 4 Day Yosemite Itinerary: How To Spend Your First Day

Hume Lake

Technically, Hume Lake is located outside the national park, but it’s still on national forest land. This location is definitely worth a visit and a great hiking stop if you are looking for more hiking options.

From the Grant Grove area, head north on Highway 180 until you reach the turn-off for Hume Lake. It’s about a 25-30 minute drive down a curvy, steep, and narrow road. Once you arrive, Hume Lake is a bustling area with a gas station, general store, and Christian camps.

There are nearby parking areas open to the public here and parking along the perimeter of the lake in some areas.

Hume Lake Trail – 3.1 miles – easy, loop

The Hume Lake Trail starts wherever you want it to! This is nice and easy because you can start the loop at any location where you can find parking. We found parking just past the Ponderosa Dining Hall on the street and hopped right on the trail.

Heading east along the trail will lead you to the best spot and views of Hume Lake with Kings Canyon in the background. This is located near the south fishing dock and is right before the lake juts out to the south.

Continue hiking along the loop, and you’ll see the beach across the lake. Finally, cross the bridge and head toward the beach. Known as the Sandy Cove Day Use Area, there is a parking lot and pit toilets here. This is a great place to have a picnic or go for a quick swim in the lake.

Continue on the trail and head toward the dam. Cross the dam on the backside and continue along the trail. Pass the Day Use Parking area until you reach the village.

Here at Hume Lake Village, there is a General Store and Snack Shop. Fill up on some ice cream before you hit the road back to Grant Grove Village for one last quick hike before making your way closer to Yosemite National Park.

🌲 Looking for tours and other fun things to do near Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks? Check out the options from Viator!

Panoramic Point – 0.4 miles – moderate, loop

Complete your day hiking in Kings Canyon National Park with a quick trip to Panoramic Point. First, head to the Kings Canyon Visitor Center if you haven’t yet been there. Here, you will find Grant Grove Restaurant and Grant Grove Market as well as an awesome souvenir shop. Who wouldn’t want to pick up some giant sequoia seeds of their own to plant and grow?!

Next, drive to Panoramic Point using Panoramic Point Road. Be advised that this is a very narrow one-lane road with limited sight distance in some places – be careful and drive safe! When you reach the parking lot at the top, Panoramic Point is just a short walk up the mountain.

Spend some time here enjoying the view, and finally, make your way to Midpines, CA. It’s time for an epic 4 days at Yosemite National Park!

Where to Stay

Let’s be honest, unless you are camping, there are not a lot of options near Kings Canyon National Park. For our trip, we stayed at Clingans Junction Cabins, and that is what we recommend you do too! Behind the coffee shop are cute and comfortable cabins you can rent at this great location.

We loved the coffee and treats at the cafe. Other things to note are the lack of restaurants and food options nearby, so you will need to plan accordingly! Additionally, there is a convenient gas station here right across the street.

Final Thoughts

Our second day at Kings Canyon National Park was great! We enjoyed our morning hike amongst the giants and spent some time relaxing and hiking around Hume Lake. Hume Lake was a very laid-back spot with plenty of great views. Go for a swim, bring your boat, or go on a hike.

You can even explore this area by car, but note that the road doesn’t loop all the way around the lake. Panoramic Point was an excellent way to end our trip hiking in Kings Canyon National Park with a stunning view before continuing our road trip to Yosemite.