One of the easy hikes in Kings Canyon National Park takes you along a bridge, across a river, and through the granite to a beautiful meadow. The total distance is just 1.6 mile. Zumwalt Meadow in Kings Canyon is one of our favorite hikes in this national park, and it is found toward the end of King’s Canyon road.
Trail Update
Be aware that the Zumwalt Meadow Trail has changed. You may see literature claiming it is a loop, or you may remember walking through the meadow on a previous trip, but that has changed. In 2019, a flood altered the trail, and since the meadow began to flourish, park rangers decided that they would make Zumalt Meadow an out-and-back trail. It is still a gorgeous hike and you can still look into the meadow.
Where to Park
The trailhead for this hike has a small parking area, and we had to wait about 15 minutes to find a parking spot. There are bathrooms, and this area stays pretty busy. To find the Zumwalt Meadow parking area, drive along Highway 180 in Kings Canyon from Grant Grove past Cedar Grove and watch for signs that say Zumwalt Meadow. It comes up 4.5 miles past Cedar Grove and just before Road’s End, so if you get to the end of the road, you went too far.
The Trail
The Zumwalt Meadow trail begins right at the parking lots and heads back toward the river. This trail is well-traveled and easy to follow. The trail walks between the road and the river until it arrives at a large suspension bridge. This bridge alone makes this hike worth doing, and it is only 0.2 to the bridge crossing. The water is clear enough to see fish, and people play right in the cool, shallow water along the banks. We loved walking across the bridge a few times and looking at the views.
Across the bridge, the trail turns back and parallels the river on the other side. Soon, you’ll come to the old entrance to the meadow, but it is blocked off. Please obey the signs and do not enter the meadow. Instead, follow the trail away from the meadow. The scenery changes from the thick pines to give way to a granite trail. The ground is made of crushed granite, and the trail walks between large boulders and walls. You can easily see how the walls and soaring rocks could be turned into speckled granite countertops. Be careful if you choose to climb on the massive boulders because they are slick and it is harder getting down than up.
Turn Around Point
After you cross through the section of granite, the trees begin to crowd close to the trail again. Soon you come to the old meadow exit. Of course, you can’t cross the cones, so you’ll need to do the walk back to the parking area. This hike is just 1.6 mile RT and mostly flat. Some people choose to extend the hike down to Road’s End and Muir Rock, and the trail does continue on. It’s another 0.7 mile to Muir Rock (so that would add 1.4 to the original 1.6 miles).
We really enjoyed our hike at Zumwalt Meadow in Kings Canyon. It would be a great trail to enjoy in the morning or end of day to try and see animals. For more information about Kings Canyon visit our post here: Kings Canyon National Park Guide. And for other great family-friendly hikes in this park, check out this link: Kid Hikes in Kings Canyon.
