Kings Canyon National Park

Kings Canyon National Park plunges deeper than the Grand Canyon, its granite walls rising 8,000 feet from the Kings River. This lesser-known companion to Sequoia National Park protects pristine Sierra Nevada wilderness including groves of giant sequoias, the world's largest trees by volume. The General Grant Tree, standing 267 feet tall, serves as the Nation's Christmas Tree. The park encompasses remarkable elevation diversity from 1,500 to 14,000 feet, creating varied life zones. Alpine lakes dot the backcountry while thundering waterfalls cascade over granite cliffs. The dramatic landscape resulted from glacial carving that excavated U-shaped valleys and polished granite domes rivaling Yosemite's grandeur with fraction of the crowds. Wilderness dominates Kings Canyon - over 97% remains undeveloped, accessible only by foot or horseback. The John Muir Trail traverses the eastern boundary through some of California's most spectacular high country. Black bears, mountain lions, and bighorn sheep inhabit remote reaches. Cedar Grove Valley offers accessible canyon bottom exploration while the backcountry provides solitude among peaks that inspired John Muir's conservation passion.

Water Features

Kings River, alpine lakes, waterfalls

Ecosystem

This destination features a temperate forest ecosystem.