The panoramic point was closed in last April and finally we could check it out this time. My hubby…read morehas been there before so he wanted to take me there. This place is hidden gem! You can choose to hike start from the trailhead at the end of Panoramic Point Road, 2 miles up from the park visitor center and market at Grant Village. We chose to drive up to the parking lot instead. It was about a 10 minute drive up on a narrow road from the John Muir Lodge. Gorgeous overlook and amazing views from the top. Highly recommended!

Panoramic Point maybe previously had the potential to be a worthwhile attraction right in the heart…read moreof Kings Canyon National Park. Before I discuss why I was a little frustrated with my experience, let me just give a few details and background about coming here. For my journey exploring Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP's...I stayed in this Grant Grove Village area right in between the border of both parks. I actually rented a tent cabin for a couple of evenings. Panoramic Point was situated just behind Grant Grove and the John Muir Lodge. It was relatively easy to find as there was a sign for it right along the road. If you have any difficulty locating it, the Kings Canyon Visitor Center is situated on the grounds of Grant Grove Village. Just go inside and ask a park ranger and they'll know exactly what you're talking about. Getting here....it was a straightforward drive of 1 - 2 miles up the mountain. Once I arrived, the parking lot was relatively empty around 9am as this was one of the first sights of the day I decided to uncover since it was in the vicinity of my cabin. Getting out of the car, I found the Panoramic Point Trailhead and a description of what the area was all about with what to expect along a short hike. Well, the hike was so quick....it was a 0.5 mile round trip walk. That's how short.... There were 2 main reasons why I was disappointed with Panoramic Point.... 1. Well, I could sense this area could have once been great for panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.....now it looked like over due time the natural skyline appearance had been tainted by trees. To clarify....during my visit a lot of random protruding trees and forest shrubbery appeared in my sightline from the overlook, which ultimately disturbed the scenic aspects of the landscape and beyond. These "unannounced" trees sort of hindered the entire background. I was left puzzled as to what was so special about this spot? I thought in my head...."well, had these trees not been in the way...the potential was there for Panoramic Point to be memorable". Continuing with this idea.....the views were just okay at best. And...the reason I'm convinced Panoramic Point was mediocre was because.....later on in the day I drove fabled 30-mile Generals Highway throughout Kings Canyon which ended at Zumwalt Meadow. Along this parkway I discovered magnificent views and majestic terrain much more inspiring than the short walk up here. In comparison some people may say Panoramic Point is recommended, but for me it was an afterthought especially after stopping at the many beautiful roadside pullovers on Generals Highway like.....Junction View, Yucca Point and Hotel Creek Overlook. My 2nd letdown about Panoramic Point (but this can be easily remedied, lol) was I visited here first thing in the morning over the summer time and I had the sun facing directly into my eyes. Grrrr....this made for picture taking to be difficult especially with the mountainous setting in the distance appearing fuzzy and hazy. So....if you do decide to visit here, I'd certainly suggest stopping on by in the afternoon time with the sun at your back to enhance photographic opportunities. Overall, Panoramic Point could have been momentous back in the day, but with all the new growths of trees rising high into the skyline....it interfered with the whole ambiance and made for a deflating experience. But hey, it's a part of nature. I was in acceptance of it and better to see growth of the forest rather than any wildfires destroying the land.....even if it's at the expense of a place aptly named Panoramic Point.

As part of our quest to visit all 63 U.S. national parks, we set off on a six week road trip. I…read morehave a personal rule: I only count a national park as "visited" if I actually spend time there, hike or walk through it, and truly experience it. On this trip, we visited 14 national parks, and Kings Canyon National Park quickly became one of my favorites. We stayed five days between Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, which gave us plenty of time to explore both at a relaxed pace. Staying in the middle made it easy to enjoy everything the area has to offer. Kings Canyon is simply breathtaking. The drive into the canyon reminded me very much of Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park. Around every curve, another spectacular view appears. Towering granite cliffs rise dramatically above the canyon, while the Kings River rushes below with crystal clear water, waterfalls, cascades, and rapids. It is one of those roads where you constantly want to pull over just to admire the scenery. Yes, the giant sequoias are magnificent, but Kings Canyon offers something different. The combination of the massive granite walls, the river carving its way through the valley, lush forests, and peaceful meadows creates an entirely different experience from neighboring Sequoia. The two parks complement each other beautifully. We were fortunate to drive into the canyon on a Sunday morning before the crowds arrived, making the experience even more enjoyable. The traffic was light, and we were able to stop often, take our time, and truly appreciate the beauty around us. The following day we returned, only to discover road construction and long delays, so we definitely felt lucky with our timing. One thing I would encourage visitors to do is not stop at Sequoia National Park alone. Many people come to see the giant trees and then leave, missing one of the most spectacular drives in California. Kings Canyon deserves just as much attention. In my opinion, the two parks should always be visited together. Whether you come for the towering sequoias, the dramatic granite peaks, the roaring river, or the incredible scenic drive, Kings Canyon National Park delivers an unforgettable experience. It is peaceful, majestic, and one of those places that reminds you just how extraordinary our national parks truly are.

I've been to Sequoia once, long time ago, and I just recently found out there's another side of the…read morepark where you can see beautiful mountains, waterfalls, and rivers. We came during Memorial Day weekend, and thank God the entrance was free. Surprisingly, it wasn't too crowded even though it was a long weekend. We didn't get the chance to explore all the scenery because the wait at the restaurant inside the park was super long -- around 2 hours or so. We still managed to do a short hike at General Grant Grove and explored Boyden Cavern afterward. That ended up being the highlight of our short trip. I highly recommend the cave tour -- it was absolutely beautiful inside, and the history behind it was fascinating. We'll definitely be coming back next time for camping!

Less than 10 minutes drive from Cedar Grove visitor center,…read more parking at the Roaring River Trailhead Parking lot, then 5 minutes walk to Roaring River Falls, it's an easy walk and not crowded.

Well worth the drive up there. Such a beautiful and peaceful place. Quick walk from the parking lot…read moreand connected to 2 other short trails if you want to continue hiking.

Parking at the General Sherman Tree Parking Lot, then took The Congress Trail, you will first see…read moreMcKinley Tree, it's the center of the trail, which you can go to Lincoln and the the rest of the giant trees in the Congress Trail. It's about 1 mi to The President (third largest sequoia in the world, after General Sherman and General Grant). The Chief Sequoia is located a few steps from "The President", then further down the trail, you will see The House, The Senate (group features 7-8 giant sequoias clustered together). The whole loop is about 3 miles. Quite easy trail, with few easy incline.

After visit the general sherman tree, we followed this hiking trail to explore the nature. I fell…read morein love with the entire hiking experience. It felt like walking through pristine nature the whole way, with tall trees and wildlife everywhere. The air smelled so fresh and clean. The trail was long but not too challenging, making it suitable for families and kids. We encountered some fellow hikers who mentioned spotting bears, although we weren't lucky enough to see any ourselves. I hope next time we'll have better luck! If you happen to encounter a bear, it's important to ensure you keep a safe distance.

I recently visited Moro Rock, and it was honestly one of the most breathtaking experiences I've had…read morein Sequoia National Park. The hike itself is short but definitely a workout, the stairs are steep, and you'll feel it, especially if you're not used to higher elevations. That said, every step is worth it. As you climb, the views just keep getting better, and once you reach the top, it's absolutely stunning. You get a panoramic view of the Sierra Nevada mountains, deep valleys, and endless forest -- it really puts into perspective how massive and beautiful nature is. One thing to keep in mind: it can get crowded, especially during peak hours, and the stairs are narrow, so you may have to wait at certain points. Also, if you're afraid of heights, some sections might feel a bit intense since there are steep drop-offs, although there are railings for safety. Overall, Moro Rock is a must-visit if you're in the park. It's a relatively quick hike with a huge payoff, and definitely one of the highlights of the trip. Highly recommend going early in the morning or around sunset for the best experience.

This is a must see for first time Sequoia National Park visitors. There are like 700 steps up, and…read morewith only 2-3 spots one person pass at a time. The view is great especially when you can see some snow at the mountains. I would recommend this place if you are not able to fit in any other site seeing spots. Next, Tharp's Cabin is a very nice ADA accessible trail that I recommend seeing, very unique and wonderful close up views of sequoias and the meadow. The views on this easy trail fit the monumental national park vibes. Bird sounds and more remote and expensive. I would not recommend Lodge Pole trail to waterfall unless touching the river water is exciting to you or plan to sit and picnic by the river water on a hot day. The trail is similar to the Vernal Falls at Yosemite but views are meh when comparing the two. Memorial Day 2026 had shuttle waiting times of 40 mins per shuttle. The park was not equipped for the extra visitors so normally shuttles stop at 6pm but were still running when we got on the last shuttle at 7-7:30pm. The signs should change from the shuttle every 15 minutes to up to an hour on busy holidays. I felt bad for the people at the back of the line as they were announcing that they were going to start ending them. Certain parking lots or lodge locations had flushable toilets, but in the more remote trail head locations they were out houses. The Moro rock and crescent trailhead outhouses had wasps flying inside and outside the bathrooms May 2026 , so I would not recommend using those bathroom locations and plan to go before or after at a different place. The Big Tree Museum, lodgepole, The famous tree place, and some others had flushable toilets and some other bigger locations scattered around the park.

First time for us four at Sequoia NP and we loved our experience in Crystal Cave. The staff overall…read moreloved what they do and you can tell. Right from the get go the staff welcomes your group and is telling you instructions to take care of yourself, your group and the caves/park. They greet you with enthusiasm and you learn so much. Please arrive on time! For parking there's quite a bit of spaces. There's restroom nearby so you can go before heading out. You can bring your backpack onto the trail but can't bring it inside the cave. So you can either bring it and leave it on the floor outside the cave or in your car. The trail can be a little challenging for some but very doable. Can be a little challenging for some children and some older adults. This also includes for the caves.The staff are there to watch for your safety but they do warn you about your surroundings. The cave is very cool to explore but there will be some tight spaces you will navigate through. So I don't recommend bringing a stroller and make sure your kids are able to walk and stay near. They will definitely enjoy the cool nature stuff inside! There's a gift shop stand near the entrance of the trail. You can buy nice souvenirs, snacks, and support! Overall we loved our tour and we would comeback again for this. Thank you to all the staff of Crystal Cave for all that you do and taking care of this natural beauty.

We made reservations to see the crystal cave and arrived early. They were able to move up our time…read morewhich was really nice since there's not much to do around there. Once it was time to hike down they made some general announcements and we met the guide at entrance of the cave. It was nice to have someone tell us the history of the cave and guide us through. The 20 minute hike down and up wasn't too bad and was completely doable for my 6 year old son. Overall, it was a unique experience and I'm glad we made the stop during our Sequoia trip!

This is the best place that you could possibly go where the best place to take your children to any…read morecamp I went from the time I was extremely young till the time. I am 56 now and my parents used to go to the marriage retreat every year for over 50 years. It is the most beautiful place you could ever want to be and you just feel this wonderful spirit of God all around you

Quality/Quantity - Sadly the bridge was under construction,…read moreso they lowered the water on the lake where we were staying. So none of the lake activities were open. But it still had beautiful views. The food exceeded my expectations, and I can't believe I did NOT take pictures of the food! Plenty of food options, at reasonable prices. Options to stay at dorms, cabins, cottages, hotels, campgrounds, etc. Atmosphere - 365 acres!! Beautiful views. Rifle, archery, ax throwing, basketball, pickleball, ping pong, corn hole, fire pits, 4x4 jeep tours, etc. Not much fish, but again maybe because they had to lower the lake to work on the bridge. Service - Great customer service. Most local kids from Joshua School were working. Approximately 114 employees. Price - See website, but overall I felt it was very reasonable. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1946!

Near the bathrooms bordering a large parking lot, a trail will lead you to some cool sights. The…read moretrail has 200 feet of elevation gain and about 1.5 miles round trip. It is not well-marked, which sucks because it can be a bit of a maze, so if you don't want to miss anything, you could drive 2 miles up the road to the Kings Canyon visitor center for a map. Bring bug spray and be sure to get your ears because that is where the weird rectangle flying things will hover and buzz near you like police helicopters over Long Beach at night. Sights: Just past a meadow is OLD ADAM, a forty-foot hollow but imposing piece of fire and lightning-scarred, centuries old wood that is not a tree, but merely a piece of one of the largest trees likely to ever exist. A ranger climbed inside to shine a light and found the carved names of history's passersby, including "Sparrow 1758" but they recommend a selfie instead. It is one of the oldest written histories of a European in California. If you pass a sign designating a mill that was once there (which is silly, they could say, hey, look at this big hole, it used to have a giant carved blood-soaked eagle used in Native American sacrifices, but yeah, it's a hole), you will find MARK TWAIN STUMP. Once one of the largest sequoias, the tree was cut down in 1891 so that a cross-section could be displayed in natural history museums in New York and London. The rest became grape stakes and fence posts. They added stairs so that you can climb it. On the way to the Stump I followed a sign to Feather Bed. I didn't see anything of interest. Maybe it's called FEATHER BED because you will fall asleep it is so boring. However, at the end of the trail I found SAWED TREE. Sawed Tree is a giant sequoia stump, spiked like Bart Simpson's hair, bearing the scars of a crosscut saw. I don't know if you are allowed to climb it, but it's climbable. I guess anything is climbable, really. Except my sister. Big Stump Grove is one of many sites on the north half of the park including General Grant Tree and Panoramic Point (3.7 mi), Junction View (15 mi up), Hume Lake (16mi), the Scenic Byway and Boyden Cavern (24mi), Grizzly Falls (29mi), Roaring River Falls (36 mi), and Mist Falls near Road End (40mi).