Roaring River Falls Guide

Kings Canyon National Park has been described as a miniature version of Yosemite National Park, so, maybe it's fitting that the waterfalls here are smaller--not to put them down of course, they're trying their hardest. Roaring River Falls is a small, but surging waterfall reached by a very short hike in the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon, an area of the park that doesn't see a lot of visitors, but with some of the best hidden views in the Sierra Nevada.

When to Visit

See the best surge in the falls in the late spring and early summer, as the snow melts and feeds the Kings River; it will still be flowing in late summer and fall though. As for winter, the road to Cedar Grove closes around November each year due to heavy snows, and reopens between late April and early June. If visiting in the summer, don't forget the bug spray here.

The Kings River at the bottom of Kings Canyon.

How to Get There

Roaring River Falls is in the heart of Cedar Grove, the less-loved and visited portion of Kings Canyon National Park. If you're coming from the Grant Grove area, take Highway 180 toward Cedar Grove for about 32 miles. The road winds it's way down into the canyon, with steep walls on one side of you, and sharp drops on the other--slow speeds and knowing how to use low gear in your vehicle is a must, otherwise you run the risk of burning your brakes out. Once you've reached the bottom, keep an eye out for the sign marking Roaring River Falls on your right, for the parking lot and trail head.

Roaring River Falls

Time: 15 minutes.

Distance: .3 miles.

It's a short, flat, and paved hike to the falls--chances are you'll be able to hear them from the parking lot, hence the name. Begin the hike, staying right on the trail when it branches off--this leads to Zumwalt Meadow, but more on that later. Eventually the falls will come into view through the forest, where you can walk up to the main viewpoint. Large boulders surround the pool of water the falls rush into. You're free to walk around the viewing area for a closer look, but swimming in the Kings River is ill-advised due to its strong and dangerous current.

Roaring River Falls.

From here, you can take the long way (5.4 miles round trip) over to Zumwalt Meadow where the trail to Roaring River Falls forked earlier. If you don't feel like hiking that long but still want to see it, head back to your car and down the road a bit further to the parking area on the right for Zumwalt Meadow and the loop hike around it, which is only 1.5 miles. It's an easy hike with an amazing view of the granite cliffs that make up Kings Canyon, so what are you waiting for? If meadows aren't your thing though, click here for more information on things to do in Kings Canyon National Park.

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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?