Kings Canyon National Park hikes are really beautiful but they are often overshadowed by Sequoia National Park hikes because Sequoia trails are more numerous and concentrated in certain areas while some of the best Kings Canyon National Park hikes are quite remote and take a long time to get to. On top of that not all Kings Canyon National Park hiking trails are open all year round.
In this article I will highlight King Canyon National Park hiking with kids. Let’s face it, Family Road Trip Guru is a family travel blog and I doubt you are planning a backcountry trek with your toddler. 🙂 These are also perfect trails if you have limited mobility.
Below is a list of my most favorite kid friendly Kings Canyon National Park hikes. It is possible to do them all in one day and they showcase all the best things you can see in Kings Canyon National Park, such as giant sequoias, rivers, lakes, waterfalls and meadows.
That said, I strongly recommend at least 2 days to explore Kings Canyon National Park.
Kings Canyon National Park Hikes: #1 General Grant Trail
General Grant Trail is one of my most favorite Kings Canyon National Park hikes. General Grant is a giant sequoia. It is the second largest tree in the world after General Sherman sequoia located in Sequoia National Park. General Grant Trail is an easy 0.7 miles paved loop trail that is fully accessible.
On this trail you can see several points of interest in addition to General Sherman, such as Centennial Stump, the Fallen Monarch and other giant sequoia trees. My personal favorite is the Fallen Monarch – it is a fallen giant sequoia through which you can walk from beginning to the end!
Pay attention to interpretive stands along the trail – they are very interesting and educational.
Kings Canyon National Park Hikes: #2 Roaring River Falls Trail
Roaring River Falls trail is also an easy paved 0.3 out and back trail to see a gorgeous waterfall. Some waterfalls in California’s national parks dry up in summer, but not this one. In July Grizzly Falls, for example, was just a trickle (see a picture below) while the Roaring River Falls was still mighty.
Kings Canyon National Park Hikes: #3 Zumwalt Meadow Trail
I love Zumwalt Meadow Trail as one of the best Kings Canyon National Park hikes that feature water. It is an easy 1.5 miles out and back trail that first goes along South Fork Kings River (tons of river photo ops plus a beautiful bridge) and then along the Zumwalt Meadow that bursts with wild flowers in late spring – early summer.
You can combine this trail into 2 longer routes: adding 1.5 miles trail that will lead you to Roaring River Falls or about 1 mile trail that leads to Road’s End. There are clear directions for both option on the trail.
Kings Canyon National Park Hikes: #4 Grizzly Falls
Let’s be honest, 0.1 trail is not a trail in my opinion, it is a short walk from the parking lot, but on AllTrails app’s map it is indicated as a trail so here you go. This Kings Canyon National Park hike is paved and it leads you to Grizzly Falls best seen in May when it is in full force. On the picture below you can see how it looks in July and in spring it is 10 times bigger and better.
Kings Canyon National Park Hikes: #5 Hume Lake
Hume Lake is technically not a part of Kings Canyon National Park but it sits on the way between the National Park’s sequoia groves and the King River canyon. So if you are driving from one part of the Park to the other I strongly suggest a stop at Hume Lake.
There is a trail going around this beautiful lake which is close to 3 miles long but the terrain is easy. And if you get tired you can hike just part of it or jump for a swim in the lake – isn’t it great?!
These a my favorite scenic Kings Canyon National Park hiking trails, there are more trails in the Park, of course, but these five are the ones that you definitely should not miss.
Things to know before you go to Kings Canyon National Park
- The road into the Canyon and to Hume Lake is closed in winter so no waterfall viewing or river or lake hikes are available until the snow melts. Check the National Park’s website to know when the road is open.
- There may be mosquitos and other biting bugs near rivers and lakes, especially when it gets warm in summer (it was not an issue during the Memorial Dar weekend but the bugs were definitely present in early July). I strongly suggest to take a bug spray with you.
- Always have water safety in mind when visiting Kings Canyon National Park. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks firmly hold their spot in top 5 most deadliest National Parks in the U.S., year after year. One reason for it is that people underestimate water safety. The rivers here are always swift, chilly and unpredictable, especially in Spring. We did bathe in the Kings River in July but we chose a protected, shallow spot with gentle current where we saw people bathing safely. Always be extremely careful! Hume lake is probably the best place for swimming on this itinerary, especially with kids.
- I suggest taking water, snacks and/or picnic lunch with you since all these trails put together make for a full day trip because of the driving portions between the sequoia groves and the bottom of the canyon, which can take over an hour each way.
- Check out our video tour of Kings Canyon National Park hiking trails #1, 2 and 3 on our YouTube channel which I will post in the next couple of days.
- The road into Kings River canyon is windy so if you have motion sickness you need to think about remedies to take on your trip. Here are my personal life savers that work for both myself and my kids:
7. Most of the Kings Canyon National Park hikes that I mentioned in this article are on paved ground or good flat terrain but I still recommend having good hiking shoes that protect and support your feet:
FOR ADULTS:
FOR KIDS
Have a great trip!
And if you like U.S. National Parks hiking, check out our other National Parks itineraries.
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