At Kings Canyon National Park, hiking is a favorite pastime – and at Grant Grove, it’s also one that offers stunningly beautiful scenery and awe-inspiring vistas. Whether you’re simply interested in exploring Grant Grove hiking trails or are seeking the challenge of Redwood Canyon, Kings Canyon hiking offers something for everyone.
Big Stump Trail
Distance: 2 miles
Time: 1 hour
Trailhead: Next to the entrance station inside the Highway 180 entrance
Elevation Gain: 200 feet
Description: One of the lesser-traveled Kings Canyon hiking trails, Big Stump features many enormous stumps left over from the logging days. Two points of interest along the trail include the Mark Twain tree, a giant stump you can climb onto via a small ladder, and the Sawed Tree, a sequoia tree that bears an enormous scar from being partially sawed through – and now stands perfectly healthy.
Redwood Canyon Trail - Hart Tree Loop
Distance: 6.5 miles, round trip
Time: 4 hours
Trailhead: Redwood Saddle parking area
Elevation Gain: 850 feet
Description: The Hart Tree Loop is another less-traveled Grant Grove hiking trail located in Redwood Canyon, which contains the largest sequoia grove in the park. To get to the trailhead, drive south on Generals Highway from Grant Grove and turn right at Quail Flat onto a dirt road. The Redwood Saddle parking area is 1-½ miles down the road. The Hart Tree Loop trail goes past an old logging site from the 1800s, past Hart Meadow and Fallen Goliath, and through Tunnel Tree, a hollowed out giant sequoia. Roughly halfway into the hike you will reach a spur trail that leads to the Hart Tree, the largest tree in the grove. The hike is relatively easy and provides numerous vista points along the way.
Big Baldy Trail
Distance: 4.5 miles, round trip
Time: 2 ½ hours
Trailhead: Parking area on Generals Highway, approximately 8 miles south of Grant Grove
Elevation Gain: 600 feet
Description: This moderately difficult Kings Canyon National Park hiking trail leads to the summit of Big Baldy. The trail alternates between forest and granite covered areas and eventually reaches an elevation of 8,209 feet where you’ll find jaw-dropping panoramic views. For those interested in a little more hiking, continue on for another half mile to catch a view of a formation called Chimney Rock.
