Roaring River Falls

Kings Canyon National Park


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 spring and sometimes in early summer, the strength of this cascade won’t disappoint. Look for the parking lot and trailhead on the south side of Hwy 180, about 3 miles east of Cedar Grove Village, slightly closer to Road's End. It's a great spot to stretch your legs after a long drive.

You can clamber over the boulders and dip your toes in the pool at the bottom of the falls. There's also access to the River Trail here, a pleasant almost-flat walk along the riverbed reaching Zumwalt Meadow Loop (1.6 miles) and continuing a further mile onto Road's End.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Kings Canyon National Park attractions

1. Zumwalt Meadow

0.6 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…

2. Knapp’s Cabin

0.84 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…

3. Muir Rock

2.14 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…

4. Roads End

2.33 MILES

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,…

5. Cedar Grove

2.76 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…

6. Mist Falls

4.57 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,…

7. Grizzly Falls

6.95 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

9.2 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…