Mist Falls Guide
An hour's drive from the busy Grant's Grove section of Kings Canyon National Park, Cedar Grove is at the bottom of the canyon, and remarkably less crowded. While there's a couple short hikes, the thing is, this area is a staging ground for a lot of backpackers looking to venture out into the Sierra Nevada wilderness. That being said, some of the trails at the staging ground can still be done as day hikes, and Mist Falls is one those: at almost 9 miles roundtrip, it's relatively flat, peaceful, and ends with a view of a modest waterfall and the stunning Paradise Valley.
When to Visit
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The road to Cedar Grove is generally open from April through October, but that can change depending on winter weather. To be safe, check here before visiting. Temperatures in the summer are higher down in Cedar Grove compared to Grant's Grove, and the first mile or so of the Mist Falls trail is completely exposed--it wouldn't hurt to get an early start and beat the heat, or visit in the cooler early spring or fall.
Traveling to Mist Falls requires driving the twisting road down to the bottom of Kings Canyon.
How to Get There
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The closest major airport is in Fresno, about two hours away from the bottom of Kings Canyon National Park and the Cedar Grove area. Once you enter Kings Canyon at the Grant's Grove station, turn left, through Grant Grove village, and stay on Highway 180 until it terminates at Road's End--this is where you'll find a large parking lot, the Road's End ranger station, and the trail to Mist Falls. It's a straightforward drive, though it requires you to drive up into the mountains, and promptly back down a twisting, turning road to the bottom of the canyon--go slow, and use low gear, and you'll be fine,
The Mist Falls Trail
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Time: 3-5 hours.
Distance: 8.7-9.2 miles roundtrip.
Park in the Road's End parking lot, and find the trail just past the ranger's station--there will be signs marking it. If you're only doing Mist Falls as a day hike, there's no need for a permit, but anyone backpacking will need to secure a permit and check in at the ranger's station.
Road's End ranger station and the start of the trail.
You may be wondering why the distance is listed as a range above, and the reason is that the park actually has conflicting signage as to how long the trail actually is, with it listed as 4.6 one way at the ranger station, but then as 4.0 back at the visitor center. Either way, prepare for a longer hike; if those numbers scare you though, relax a little bit--the majority of this hike is relatively flat, with the 870 feet of elevation gain not coming until the very end.
The first mile or so is mostly exposed with little shade.
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You'll find little cover on the first mile of the hike, though the sweeping granite walls of the valley make for a nice backdrop. If you start early enough, you can avoid being stuck in the sun at for this part of the hike. If you do start early, or, honestly, no matter what time you're doing the hike, it's probably best to keep an eye out for wildlife, and not to scare anyone, but that includes the, well, maybe scarier stuff too: rattlesnakes aren't uncommon here, nor are black bears--just tread carefully and observe from a distance. After the first mile, the trail descends into the forest, where it stays flat until probably the last 3/4 of a mile of the hike.
The trail eventually descends into thick forest.
While the trail runs along the river pretty much the entire time, it takes a little bit before you can get close to the water's edge. Eventually, you'll come across a junction: stay to the left, where it gradually inclines for a bit, and you'll find yourself much close to the river's bank.
The trail's junction (above) and the banks of the river (below).
From here, you pretty much just stick to the flat trail until it begins to ascend higher into the valley--maybe the last 3/4 of a mile or so until you reach a large, flat, open granite area. Turning around gives the classic view this hike is known for of the valley--be sure to grab some pictures.
The gradual ascent to the falls (above) and a great view of Paradise Valley (below).
Continue up the trail and it doesn't take long to spot the waterfall on your right--I think. We were here during a particularly dry year, meaning the Kings River wasn't flowing at it's strongest. While it wasn't raging and throwing off mist like it's known for, the waterfall below was my best guess at being Mist Falls; we continued past it for a ways just to be sure, but it seemed like the river began to calm, with no sign of another waterfall anywhere close.
Mist Falls!... maybe?
An amazing view of Paradise Valley and the Kings River near the end of the hike.
Kings Canyon National Park Video Guide
Explore the giant sequoias of Grant Grove, amazing Sierra Nevada views, countless waterfalls, the jaw-dropping Boyden Cavern, and venture deep into the backcountry to the stunning Paradise Valley--all in this video guide to one of America's less-traveled national parks!
I'm not going to lie, but I will generalize the opinions of a lot of people I don't know: the highlight of this trail isn't the waterfall, but the view of Paradise Valley you get--it's an iconic view in Kings Canyon, and while not difficult to hike, it is still a long trail. Chances are, you'll be surprised how quickly you trekked the 4.0-4.6 miles to get here--we managed to do it in under two hours, and I am not exactly an avid hiker or in any amazing shape: the mostly flat trail is to thank.
The trail continues deep into the wilderness of Kings Canyon, but that's an adventure for a different guide. For now, it's simply heading back the way you came, and patting yourself on the back for hiking at least eight miles. The Mist Falls trail is a must-do hike for anyone visiting the park, but of course, there's more--feel free to check out my complete guide to Kings Canyon National Park for a lot of other great things to do and see while you're here.