North Grove Trail Guide
The Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park gets busy in the peak months, there's no denying it. If you're trying to see some of the famed giant sequoia, but want to skip the crowds near the General Grant Tree, look no further than the North Grove. With a relatively short trail, plenty of sightseeing and fewer people, it's a pleasant little slice of solitude up in this Sierra Nevada park.
When to Visit
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Late spring and summer bring the heaviest crowds to Kings Canyon, especially in the Grant Grove area, where the North Grove is located. That being said, it's a far less popular trail than the one to the General Grant tree right next to it. Crowds thin out by the fall, and in the winter, you'll probably have the whole place to yourself. Check weather conditions before coming in winter though, as chain laws will be in effect, and bad weather can close roads.
How to Get There
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Entering Grant Grove Village in Kings Canyon National Park, take Highway 180 past the village, turning left at crossroads towards the General Grant Tree. Continue past the parking lot for the Grant Tree, which leads to the lot for the North Grove. A closed gate (for those riding on horseback) signals the start of the trail.
The North Grove Trail
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Time: 1 - 1.5 hours.
Distance: 1.7 miles.
Pass the gate where the trailhead starts; you'll briefly be on the Sunset Trail, but head right when the it bisects, and you'll be on the North Grove trail. At first, it might not seem that spectacular, with few sequoia in sight or nearby. Press forward, and as the trail heads down hill, you'll begin to find yourself in the thick of a sequoia grove.
Sunset golden hour lighting up the beginning of the North Grove.
The further down you get, the more sequoia there are, and the heavier the forest canopy becomes above you. It's a fairly straight forward hike from here, but I recommend taking your time and enjoying the solitude of the forest.
A pair of giant sequoia in the North Grove. / Sequoia cones on the forest floor.
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Hi there, I'm Dan: videographer, travel-addict, and beer-lover. I left corporate life behind to start my own video business and travel the world. Want to know more about me and Dan Treks?
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As you get near the bottom of the loop, it intersects the Sunset Trail again; continue straight to return to the parking lot. If you're feeling adventurous and have the time, feel free to do the loop part of the Sunset Trail where you'll find a large fallen sequoia known as the Dead Giant, and an overlook of Sequoia Lake. Otherwise, finish the North Grove loop, and from here, decide what else you want to do in Kings Canyon National Park. Across the street from Grant Grove though is a short hike to a fantastic look into the heart of Kings Canyon at Panoramic Point.
Panoramic Point.