Best 5 Views in Kings Canyon

Location: Kings Canyon, California

Fee: $35 for up to 7 days, or $80 for the America the Beautiful Pass

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to fill up on gas BEFORE you head into the park! There is only one gas station past the entrance, and it can be expensive.

In August 2020, Chad and I had gotten so stir crazy in our apartment, that a road trip to nature was just what the doctor ordered. We packed a cooler full of snacks, enough clothes for 3 days, and set out on our adventure to the “Land of Giants.”

Sequoia & Kings Canyon have been on my return to list since I first got to visit the park in 2012. It’s is best known for the incredibly large Sequoia trees, housing the largest one, General Sherman Tree, at 275 ft tall and over 36 ft in diameter! While the trees are fascinating on their own, the real hidden gems of this park lie on the on Kings Canyon Scenic Byway. There you will find breathtaking views across the canyon, a sparkling crystal clear lake, and an ice cold waterfall opposite to an incredible mountain view. The best part about this byway is that if you start early enough – you can make it all the way down the 50 mile road in one day! Leave a comment if you do or have done this trip, I would love to know what your favorite spot was!

KEY: Purple circles are places that we stopped at and LOVED. The two yellow circles are places that we drove by and would make time for on the next trip.

FIRST STOP: General Grant Grove

General Grant Grove is the first point you come to after entering the park, and is a fantastic introduction to the uniqueness of the giant sequoias. There is a walking path surrounding this area and a few fallen, hollowed trees that you can walk through and climb in.

SECOND STOP: Hume Lake

As a born and raised Michigander, I know a good lake when I see one, and let me tell you – Hume Lake tops the list as the most breathtakingly beautiful lakes I’ve ever seen. The water was clear and warm, the surrounding area was clean and full of trees. There are cabins in this area as well as a small general store, and everyone I passed seemed to be having the time of their lives. It’s about 15 minutes off the byway down a little trail on the right side of the road. If you’re crunched for time and need to narrow down your list – be sure to leave this one on it!

THIRD STOP: Junction View

After HUME LAKE there is an overlook on the left side of the road, just a small little pull off point. This was one of my favorite overlooks of the whole byway (but there are soooo many, so it’s okay if you miss one).

FOURTH STOP: Grizzly Falls

Grizzly Falls is the next main point of interest on the scenic byway and is quite a ways down from Junction Overlook. It’s a small pull off point on the left side of the road on your way down. Keep your eyes peeled because the entrance is small and covered with trees; we actually missed this one and had stop on the way back for it!

But WOW was it worth it. The water was flowing pretty lightly while we were there, and freezing cold, but it was beautiful nonetheless. It’s about a tenth of a mile walk from the parking lot and is mostly climbing steps.

FIFTH STOP: Roaring River Falls

A short walk down a paved path, this waterfall sits down below and flows into a rocky creek. While the view from the top is lovely, the best way to experience this waterfall is by (very carefully) maneuvering down the rocks to get level with it. The water was a beautiful emerald green and so cold my feet turned red after seconds of being in it. Chad made it across the rocks, but I, on the other hand, slipped on moss and ended up waist deep in it!