A trip to California's Kings Canyon National Park allows you to experience nature at her most grandiose. From the towering Sierra Nevada mountains to the world's largest trees, everything is big at Kings Canyon. Because it takes several days to explore the entire park, many guests choose to camp within its boundaries during their trip.
If you wish to camp inside Kings Canyon National Park, choose one of the two designated camping areas: Cedar Grove and Grant Grove. The Cedar Grove area is open from May until October and sits at 4,600 feet. It sits at the bottom of the South Fork Canyon along the Kings River. It features three campgrounds: Moraine, Sentinel and Sheep Creek.
The Grant Grove area sits at a slightly higher elevation of 6,500 feet in the Grant Grove of Giant Sequoias. It also has three campgrounds: Azalea, Crystal Springs and Sunset. The Azalea campground is open all year, but be prepared for snow on the ground from November until May. The Crystal Springs and Sunset campgrounds are open from May until September. To access the Grant Grove camping area, enter the park from the Big Stump Entrance on Highway 180.
The Kings Canyon campgrounds do not take reservations. Campers are allowed spots on a first-come, first-served basis. If you feel more comfortable with a reservation, consider staying in the adjacent Sequoia National Park. Its Lodgepole and Dorst Creek campgrounds take reservations during the summer months.
If you choose to camp in Kings Canyon, avoid arriving on a busy day. Saturday nights in July and August are the busiest for the park, and the campgrounds fill up quickly. If you arrive on a Sunday afternoon or sometime during the week, you have a better chance of finding a spot.
Kings Canyon National Park is in the heart of black bear country. You must keep your food properly stored, or it will attract bears. All of the campgrounds have metal food storage boxes, and coolers must be placed inside of these. Do not leave food visible in your car, as the bears will break in to find a meal. Keep it in the trunk in an airtight container or completely hide it in the car if there is no trunk. You also must store scented non-food items, including shampoo, toothpaste and other cosmetics and toiletries, as bears may mistake the smell for food. Place all garbage in bear-resistant trash cans, and do not leave your campsite if your food is not properly stored.
More visitors to Kings Canyon die from drowning each year than any other cause. The rocks around the rivers are smooth, making it easy to slip and fall into the water, and the currents in the rivers are strong. To stay safe, avoid climbing near the water's edge.
Kings Canyon regularly suffers from summer droughts. This means fires can be a serious danger, so only light fires in designated areas within the campground. During a drought, the park will set water limitations, especially at RV dump stations. Call 1-559-565-3341 before your trip to learn current fire and water regulations.
