Kings Canyon Scenic Byway

The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is the road that gives Kings Canyon National Park its drama. Highway 180 runs about thirty miles from Grant Grove down to Cedar Grove, dropping from the sequoia forest into the gorge of the South Fork of the Kings River, and it takes around an hour with stops. Early in the drive, the road passes viewpoints such as Junction View, where the canyon opens below you, and Yucca Point, with grand views over a landscape that rivals the better known valleys of the Sierra. Along the way you pass the river cascading over granite, Grizzly Falls near the roadside, and waterfalls that peak in spring. The road ends at Road's End, a trailhead at the foot of towering cliffs, with Cedar Grove, a broad flat valley of meadows and forest, about six miles earlier. Cedar Grove Village has a seasonal lodge, market and snack bar, a ranger station and visitor center in season, and a campground. The canyon is more than a mile deep in places, measured from the rim of the surrounding peaks, which gives it a reputation as one of the deepest canyons on the continent. The road is subject to seasonal closure: it is typically open from spring until the first heavy snow in late autumn, and the park posts the expected closing date. Hours of the facilities in Cedar Grove vary, and by the end of October most services have shut down, so check ahead if you want to eat or sleep there. Fuel is not sold in the canyon, so fill up before you leave Grant Grove or Fresno.

The drive. Allow at least half a day for the round trip, more if you plan to hike. The road is paved, winding and narrow in places, with steep drop-offs and few guardrails, so drive carefully and use pullouts to photograph. Vehicles towing trailers may find parts of the road difficult. Watch for rocks on the roadway after storms, and for bears near the river and campgrounds. Cell service is absent for most of the route, so carry maps and water.

Stops worth making. Besides Junction View and Grizzly Falls, look for Boyden Cavern at the river bend, a privately operated marble cave with tours in season, and Roaring River Falls and Zumwalt Meadow in Cedar Grove. The valley is a good picnic location, with swimming holes on hot days (take care in fast water) and trails to Mist Falls and Paradise Valley for strong hikers.

Seasons. Spring brings thundering waterfalls and wildflowers, while summer is hot in the canyon but cooler than the valley floor. Autumn offers color from oaks and a quieter road. In winter the road beyond the Grant Grove area is closed to cars, and Cedar Grove is inaccessible without a long ski or snowshoe trip. If you only have one day in Kings Canyon, this drive combined with a stop at Grant Grove gives a rounded picture of the park, but an overnight at Cedar Grove or Grant Grove allows a slower pace.

Fitting it into a trip. Many visitors base themselves in Grant Grove, drive the byway in the morning while the light is soft and return by midafternoon. If you are staying in Fresno or Visalia, start before dawn to leave time for the canyon. Cedar Grove has a campground and seasonal lodging, which lets you linger for sunset, but facilities close in autumn. Pack a picnic, a flashlight, a paper map and enough water for the whole day.