Hiking in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Start with the largest tree on Earth by volume, then keep walking.

The paved General Sherman Tree Trail leads to the General Sherman Tree in the heart of Giant Forest. While many visitors turn around after seeing the tree, continuing onto the Congress Trail offers the chance to spend more time among the giant sequoias and experience a quieter side of the grove.

The trail passes notable groups of sequoias while winding deeper into Giant Forest, making it a natural choice for visitors who want to turn a stop at General Sherman into a longer walk.

Best for: Giant sequoias, first-time visitors and extending a General Sherman visit
Area: Giant Forest
Plan for: Paved access to General Sherman followed by a longer forest trail

For one of Sequoia National Park’s biggest views, head up.

The Moro Rock trail follows a steep staircase carved into the granite dome, climbing toward panoramic views of the Great Western Divide, surrounding forest and Sierra Nevada.

The trail itself is short, but don’t let the distance fool you. Hundreds of steps, significant elevation and exposed sections make the climb more strenuous than its mileage suggests. Take your time on the way up—and leave some for looking around once you reach the top.

Best for: Panoramic views and a short but challenging climb
Area: Giant Forest / Crescent Meadow
Plan for: Steep stairs, elevation and exposed sections

Trade the climb for a slower walk through forest and meadow.

Often called the “Gem of the Sierra,” Crescent Meadow is surrounded by giant sequoias and forest, with trails that allow visitors to explore at a gentler pace. Continue toward Tharp’s Log, a fallen giant sequoia once used as a summer shelter by early settler Hale Tharp.

The combination of meadow, forest and giant trees makes this a rewarding option for visitors who want more time on the trail without committing to one of the park’s more strenuous hikes.

Best for: Meadows, giant sequoias and a more leisurely hike
Area: Giant Forest / Crescent Meadow
Plan for: A relatively gentle forest and meadow experience

Follow the river into a granite canyon.

Beginning near Lodgepole, the Tokopah Falls Trail follows the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River into Tokopah Valley. Granite walls rise around the trail as it travels toward Tokopah Falls, a seasonal waterfall that becomes especially impressive as snowmelt moves through the Sierra.

The journey is part of the experience here. Forest, river views and increasingly dramatic granite scenery unfold along the route before reaching the falls.

Water flow varies throughout the year, making spring and early summer particularly rewarding times to experience this trail.

Best for: Waterfalls, river scenery and a longer half-day hike
Area: Lodgepole
Plan for: Several miles of hiking and seasonal waterfall conditions

Climb Above the Forest

For a hike that trades giant sequoia groves for expansive Sierra views, head toward Little Baldy.

The trail climbs through forest before emerging onto an exposed granite dome, where sweeping views open across the surrounding mountains and forested landscape. It’s a good middle ground between a short sightseeing walk and a full-day hike: substantial enough to feel like an adventure, but manageable for many hikers with some trail experience.

The climb and elevation make the hike more demanding than its mileage alone may suggest, so allow time for breaks and bring plenty of water.

Best for: Panoramic Sierra views and a moderate half-day hike
Area: Generals Highway between Giant Forest and Grant Grove
Plan for: Steady elevation gain and exposed granite near the top

Walk beneath giants without going far.

Grant Grove is home to the General Grant Tree, one of the world’s largest giant sequoias. A relatively short loop winds through the grove, passing enormous trees and interpretive stops along the way.

Its manageable distance makes Grant Grove a good introduction to hiking in Kings Canyon National Park, particularly for families, first-time visitors or anyone planning several stops in one day.

Best for: Giant sequoias, families and shorter walks
Area: Grant Grove
Plan for: An approachable loop through an established sequoia grove

See another side of the giant sequoia story.

Big Stump Trail explores an area shaped by historic logging, where enormous stumps remain from giant sequoias cut before the land received federal protection.

The trail offers a striking contrast to the living groves elsewhere in Sequoia & Kings Canyon, providing a closer look at both the scale of these trees and the conservation history that ultimately helped protect them.

Best for: History, giant sequoias and a different perspective on the parks
Area: Grant Grove / Big Stump
Plan for: Forest hiking with historic features along the route

Sometimes a short walk is all it takes.

Located deeper in Kings Canyon, Roaring River Falls is reached by a short paved trail leading to a powerful waterfall rushing through a narrow granite channel.

The easy approach makes it a natural stop while exploring the Cedar Grove area and Kings Canyon Scenic Byway. Water levels vary seasonally, with spring snowmelt typically bringing more force to the falls.

Best for: Waterfalls, families and a short scenic walk
Area: Cedar Grove
Plan for: A short paved walk with seasonal access

Step into the heart of Kings Canyon.

Few trails capture the scale of Kings Canyon quite like the area around Zumwalt Meadow. The landscape brings together the Kings River, open meadow, forest and sheer granite walls rising dramatically on either side of the canyon.

Rather than racing toward a single destination, this is a place to pay attention to the landscape along the way. River views, changing light and the surrounding cliffs make it particularly rewarding for photography and a slower-paced exploration of Cedar Grove.

Access is seasonal and trail conditions can change, so check current information before visiting.

Best for: Classic Kings Canyon scenery, photography and river views
Area: Cedar Grove
Plan for: Seasonal access and changing trail conditions

Follow the Kings River into the Backcountry

Mist Falls is one of the more substantial day hikes in Kings Canyon and a rewarding choice for visitors who want to travel beyond the shorter roadside stops.

Beginning near Road’s End in Cedar Grove, the trail follows the South Fork of the Kings River through forest and increasingly dramatic canyon scenery before climbing toward Mist Falls. The waterfall is especially powerful when snowmelt is moving through the Sierra, though conditions vary throughout the season.

Because this is a longer hike, start early and plan for a significant portion of the day on the trail. Access to Road’s End and Cedar Grove is also seasonal, so confirm road and trail conditions before making it part of your itinerary.

Best for: Waterfalls, river scenery and a substantial day hike
Area: Cedar Grove / Road’s End
Plan for: A longer outing, warmer exposed sections and seasonal road access