Kings Canyon Scenic Byway

Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, CA 180 · Grant Grove Village → Road's End

Twisty34 mi1 hr 5 min3,500 ft climbHigh point ≈ 6,900 ftOne way

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The drive

The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is Highway 180's dead-end run from Grant Grove down into one of the deepest canyons in the country. It leaves Grant Grove Village and winds through forest to Junction View, where the Middle and South forks of the Kings River meet far below, then drops in long curves past Yucca Point. From there to Boyden Cavern the road is blasted out of nearly sheer canyon walls.

Boyden Cavern is a marble cave with summer tours. Farther up the South Fork, Grizzly Falls is a five-minute walk from the road. Then the canyon opens into a glacier-carved U, and the road reaches Cedar Grove, Roaring River Falls and Zumwalt Meadow, with granite walls on both sides. It ends near Road's End, the trailhead under the cliffs, with Muir Rock on the river.

Most of the road between Grant Grove and Cedar Grove crosses Sequoia National Forest before re-entering Kings Canyon National Park. It's a dead end, and the way back is the same road.

Along the way

Grant Grove Village
Boyden Cavern
Grizzly Falls
Cedar Grove
Road's End

Elevation

3,500 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 6,900 ft

Grant Grove VillageRoad's End

Curves

Mostly moderate, with two twisty stretches

mi 0–6mi 7–22

Grant Grove VillageRoad's End

GentleHairpins

Good to know

Past the Hume Lake Road junction the byway closes for winter, usually from early to mid-November until late April or early May.
There's a park entrance fee per vehicle, paid at Big Stump on Highway 180 or Ash Mountain on Highway 198.
There are no gas stations in the park; Hume Lake, a short way off the byway, has fuel year-round.
Rockfall is a real hazard on the canyon walls, especially on freezing nights; it's why the road closes in winter.

Closed past Hume Lake Road from about mid-November to late April. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check National Park Service: Sequoia and Kings Canyon road conditions.

Questions about this drive

How long does the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway take?

The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway from Grant Grove to Road's End is 33.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 5 minutes one way; it's a dead end, so allow the same to return.

When is the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway open?

Highway 180 past Hume Lake Road to Cedar Grove and Road's End usually opens in late April and closes for winter in early to mid-November.

Is there a fee for the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway?

Yes. The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway starts inside Kings Canyon National Park, and the park charges an entrance fee per vehicle, good in Sequoia too.

What are the best stops on the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway?

The National Park Service points to Junction View, Yucca Point, Boyden Cavern, Grizzly Falls, Roaring River Falls, Zumwalt Meadow and Road's End.

What you get in the app

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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