National Park · California, United States
Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon National Park is a national park in California, United States, covering 461,901 acres (186,925 ha), established in 1940; it recorded 779,791 visits in 2025.
Photo: Crd637 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Park facts
| Park type | National Park |
|---|---|
| Location | California, United States |
| Area | 461,901 acres (186,925 ha) |
| Established | 1940 |
| Annual visits (2025) | 779,791 |
| Highest point | North Palisade — 4,343 m (14,249 ft) |
| Coordinates | 36.8000° N, 118.5500° W |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
About Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon National Park is a national park of the United States in the southern Sierra Nevada, in Fresno and Tulare Counties, California. Originally established in 1890 as General Grant National Park, the park was greatly expanded and renamed on March 4, 1940. The park's namesake, Kings Canyon, is a rugged glacier-carved valley more than a mile (1,600 m) deep. Other natural features include multiple 14,000-foot (4,300 m) peaks, high mountain meadows, swift-flowing rivers, and some of the world's largest stands of giant sequoia trees.
Description from the park's Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA), linked in the sources below.
Planning your visit
Best time to visit
June to September — roads and high trails open; winters bring heavy snow
What to do
Getting there
| Nearest town | Three Rivers, California |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Fresno Yosemite International Airport |
Where to stay
| Campgrounds | Yes |
|---|---|
| Lodges | Lodges inside the park, including Grant Grove Cabins and John Muir Lodge |
Famous trails
- Mist Falls Trail — 9.0 miles (14.5 km) — Hard
- General Grant Tree Trail — 0.5 miles (0.8 km) — Easy
Like Kings Canyon National Park? Visit Kings Canyon National Park’s official park page for hours and current conditions before you travel.
Airports near this park
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) · Fresno, United States · 64.7 miles away
Parks nearby
More parks in California
Frequently asked questions
Where is Kings Canyon National Park?
Kings Canyon National Park is in California, United States (36.8000° N, 118.5500° W).
When was Kings Canyon National Park established?
Kings Canyon National Park was established in 1940, per the source listed at the foot of this page.
How big is Kings Canyon National Park?
Kings Canyon National Park covers 461,901 acres (186,925 ha).
How many people visit Kings Canyon National Park each year?
It recorded 779,791 recreation visits in 2025, the latest published figure.
What is the highest point in Kings Canyon National Park?
The highest point is North Palisade, at 4,343 metres (14,249 ft).
When is the best time to visit Kings Canyon National Park?
June to September — roads and high trails open; winters bring heavy snow.
Does Kings Canyon National Park have campgrounds?
Yes — Kings Canyon National Park has campgrounds.
How do I get to Kings Canyon National Park?
The nearest town is Three Rivers, California. The nearest airport is Fresno Yosemite International Airport.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_United_States_National_Park_System_official_units — Wikipedia list of National Park System official units — unit name, state, official designation.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_areas_in_the_United_States_National_Park_System — Wikipedia list of National Park System areas — year established and gross area.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_parks_of_the_United_States — Wikipedia list of US national parks — coordinates, established date, area, recreation visitors (2025), description.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_Canyon_National_Park — Wikipedia article — description (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.nps.gov/seki/ — Official park page.
- https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/directions.htm — Getting there — nearest town and airport, as stated by the source.