Kings Canyon

Kings Canyon National Park - August 5, 2003

To your right is a picture of Roaring River Falls. Just one of the attactions to be found at Kings Canyon National Park. This particular attraction is about 30 miles into the Park, and a short walk from the parking area.

Kings Canyon is famous for its canyon, hence part of the name. The rest is a shortened version of its original name, Three Kings Canyon. Kings Canyon is adjacent to Sequoia National Park, famous for its trees. Sequoias are also found in Kings Canyon.

Kings Canyon was the first stop on my trip, mainly because I was going to camp at the Azalea campground located in Grant Grove Village. The Park is split in two. There's the part where I camped, the Grant Grove village area. Then you "exit" the park as you drive along California Highway 180 into the Great Sequoia National Monument. You "reenter" the Park after about 20 miles in the Cedar Grove area. Which is where Roaring River Falls is located.

Also located in this part of the Park is Zumwalt Meadows. I took a ranger-led tour around the Meadow. There are a lot of other hikes in the Cedar Grove area, but I didn't take them. I headed back to Grant Grove and drove up to Inspiration Point. From there, I hiked over to what looks like a fire road and walked along that for a while.

But, due to the hours the shower was open, I did not hike as far as I could have. The shower was only open from 11am - 4pm. Not the best of hours because there is a lot of daylight left if you shower during those hours. The showers also cost a lot. About $6 if I remember correctly.

The next day I visited the General Grant tree, located near the very Grant Grove village where I was staying. Actually, I took the mile walk down to the tree from the campground. The General Lee tree is also in the area. These trees are sequoias, and the General Grant tree is the third largest tree in the area or the third largest living organism in the world. I forget which.