Kings Canyon National Park Itinerary: How to Hike to Mist Falls and More
If Highway 180 is open into Kings Canyon, you must go! Our Kings Canyon National Park itinerary will take you on an adventure to Mist Falls, Zumwalt Meadows, Roaring River Falls, and Grizzly Falls.
Plan an unforgettable trip of your own to these three must-see waterfalls at Kings Canyon National Park. As part of our epic 16-day road trip in Central California, we recommend exploring Kings Canyon for 2 days.
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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.
- Road’s End parking was empty as we arrived at the lot around 8:30 am, but it was full upon our return to the car. There is a long-term hiker parking lot near this location as well, which can likely be used for overflow.
- To reach Road’s End, travel along Highway 180 until you can’t drive anymore. This is literally the end of the road! Highway 180 is a long, narrow, and winding road with steep drop-offs in some locations. From the Squaw Valley, CA area, it’s about a 1.5-hour drive. From Sequoia National Park, Road’s End is a 2-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 very spotty in the Road’s End area. This is a very remote location with very few services.
- Do mosquitoes love you? They will in Kings Canyon. 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 NO food or gas services at Road’s End. Hume Lake is the closest area with food and gas.
- Restrooms: There are restrooms located at Road’s End near the visitor center and parking areas when the road ends. Some have running water, and some do not.
- Weather can vary depending on your location in the park. Road’s End is at the lower elevation of Kings Canyon National Park, and it will likely be hot and sunny.
- Temperatures in the canyon during the summer months will likely be around 80F-90F.
- Be aware of forest fires: fire and smoke may be present in the park at any time.
- Poison oak will be present. You wouldn’t want to ruin your vacation, would you? Here is what it looks like!
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.
- DO NOT leave food in your car or Yogi might break in!
- If there is one thing you need to worry about here, it’s rattlesnakes. A friend of ours hiking here saw about 20 during one visit. Luckily, we only spotted one, but it was a close encounter right on the Mist Falls Trail.
Map
The map above shows the route we completed during our first day at Kings Canyon National Park.
The Drive to Road’s End
First up on your Kings Canyon National Park itinerary is a nice scenic drive on Highway 180 into the canyon to reach Road’s End. We absolutely loved this spectacular drive, and we were so lucky that the road opened about a week before our visit.
The winter and spring seasons can wreak havoc on this area of the park with snow, ice, and landslides that can cause the road to wash out or become covered with debris in the spring.
Be sure to stop at the scenic viewpoint along the way down. A photo of Kings Canyon doesn’t do this amazing view justice. As you near the Road’s End, stop at the Cedar Grove Visitor Center for a quick restroom stop or check in with the rangers.
Finally, head to the Road’s End and park in the lot on the right just as you enter the loop. Here you will also find restrooms and a National Park Service Permit station. The day hike to Mist Falls does not require a permit. After you apply your skeeter protection, find the North Side Cedar Grove Trail and get hiking!
➡️ Read next: Kings Canyon: How to Visit Grant Grove, Hume Lake, and More
North Side Cedar Grove & Mist Falls – 8.2 miles – easy/moderate, 800 ft gain
To reach Mist Falls, start hiking on the North Side Cedar Grove Trail just past the ranger permit station. The first part of this trail is mostly flat and travels through a sandy habitat with great views of the surrounding cliffs of Kings Canyon.
It will be sunny and hot here in the summer! Eventually, the trail will lead you into the forest and closer to the river. At about 2 miles, take the trail toward Mist Falls. If you reach the bridge, you have gone the wrong way, but this is a great location for pictures!
Mist Falls
Continue along the trail following the river through the woods. This part of the trail has considerably more shade than the prior section, so take some time to enjoy the coolness in the woods. Be on the lookout for rattlesnakes in this section. As you steadily climb the mountain, you’ll arrive at a clearing where the views of the canyon behind you are unmatched!
Continue along the trail until you reach Mist Falls. You will hear it before you see it, but it is magnificent! Be very careful along this section of the trail as parts of the rock are slick even while dry, and a fall into the river would likely prove deadly.
You made it! Now, take a rest and enjoy the views and the waterfall before you head back the way you came toward the bridge. If you didn’t stop at the bridge already, be sure to check it out. If you choose to cross the bridge, you can hike along the South Side Cedar Grove Sand Flats Trail back to the trailhead.
We attempted this hike, but multiple stream crossings were too deep to stay dry, even with waterproof shoes. We turned around, crossed the bridge, and took the North Cedar Grove Trail back to the parking area.
🌲 Looking for tours and other fun things to do near Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks? Check out the options from Viator!
Zumwalt Meadow
The next part of your Kings Canyon National Park itinerary takes you to the beautiful Zumwalt Meadow. There are a few options to get here.
- Drive to the parking area but risk it being full.
- Hike there from where your car is parked already – a nice 1-2 mile trail to reach the meadow.
So what did we choose? You guessed it! We left our car where it was and hiked! From the parking lot, take the connector trail from the western side of the parking lot. If you reach the river, it’s the wrong way!
Cross a small bridge and link up to the South Side Cedar Grove Trail. Then, turn right (west) after the big bridge. Hike through rocky sections of the trail and through a small rock tunnel. Finally, you’ll reach Zumwalt Meadow.
Unfortunately, the boardwalk here was closed, so we could only hike around the south side of the meadow. Normally, this trail is a loop. When you have enjoyed your time here at Zumwalt Meadow, head back the way you came to the parking lot and prepare to drive to Roaring River Falls.
Roaring River Falls
Congratulations! All of the hikes on your Kings Canyon National Park itinerary are complete, and now you’ll visit 2 waterfalls as you make your way out of the park. First up on the list is a stop at Roaring River Falls. Park in the small lot here and walk the short trail to the waterfall. This one was definitely roaring, and it’s clear how it got its name.
Grizzly Falls
Last up on your Kings Canyon National Park itinerary is a quick roadside stop at Grizzly Falls. This is another picturesque waterfall just off the road that takes very little effort to see. Don’t miss this gorgeous waterfall! This is also a great stop for a picnic lunch.
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 these 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.
It may also be wise to check out the nearby homes on VRBO. This is another great way to stay in the area, but outside the park.
Final Thoughts
Our first day at Kings Canyon National Park was epic! From the insane views of the canyon while driving into the amazing waterfalls in the park, we couldn’t have asked for a better adventure. The highlight of our Kings Canyon National Park itinerary was definitely the hike to Mist Falls.
It was a somewhat easy hike for a great reward. For those who backpack, one of the most amazing 40-mile backpacking loops is located here- the Rae Lakes Loop. Could we be persuaded to tackle this someday? Maybe! Oh, wait, we usually choose not to camp, but it would be an amazing hike!
To continue your 2-day visit to Kings Canyon National Park, check out our post about visiting Grant Grove and Hume Lake.
🛏️ Don’t forget to book your stay at the Clingans Junction Cabins!
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