Roads End

Kings Canyon National Park


Six miles east of Cedar Grove Village is the end of the road for cars. A seasonal ranger station issues wilderness permits, sells maps and hiking guides, and rents bear canisters. Hikes starting here head out into the wilderness; it’s the closest park trailhead to both the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) and the John Muir Trail (JMT).

A popular day hike in the area climbs 4 miles one way to the roaring Mist Falls from Roads End; continue uphill alongside the river 2.5 more miles to reach Paradise Valley. A favorite among bird lovers, an easy 1.5-mile nature trail loops around Zumwalt Meadow, just west of Roads End. Watch for rattlesnakes, black bears and mule deer.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Kings Canyon National Park attractions

1. Muir Rock

0.3 MILES

On excursions to Kings Canyon, John Muir would allegedly give talks on this large, flat river boulder, a short walk from the Road's End parking lot and…

2. Zumwalt Meadow

1.77 MILES

This verdant meadow, bordered by the Kings River and soaring granite walls, offers phenomenal views. In the early morning, the air hums with birdsong, the…

3. Mist Falls

2.26 MILES

One of the most popular destinations for a day hike from the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon, Mist Falls is an Edenic spot, with massive boulders,…

4. Roaring River Falls

2.33 MILES

A five-minute walk on a paved trail (0.3 miles) leads to one of the park’s most accessible waterfalls, a 40ft chute gushing into a granite bowl. In late…

5. Knapp’s Cabin

3.09 MILES

During the 1920s, wealthy Santa Barbara businessman George Knapp built this simple wood-shingled cabin to store gear in during his extravagant fishing and…

6. Cedar Grove

4.85 MILES

Cedar Grove, at the bottom of Kings Canyon, is the last outpost of civilization before you reach the rugged grandeur of the Sierra Nevada backcountry. The…

7. Grizzly Falls

8.96 MILES

The base of these 80ft falls is a short walk from Hwy 180, about 4 miles west of Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon. There's a picnic area here with bathrooms.

8. Monarch Wilderness Area

10.89 MILES

A stunning wilderness area 44,000 acres in size and bisected by the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway (Hwy 180). Monarch includes dramatic, high-elevation alpine…