Roaring River Falls

The Roaring River, draining a large area of high country, is forced through a slot in the granite, which concentrates its power and sends it crashing into the pool below. The result is a compact but forceful waterfall, especially loud and impressive in late spring and early summer when snowmelt swells the river.

As the season goes on and the snowmelt slows, the falls calm somewhat, but the granite-chute setting and the accessibility keep it a worthwhile stop year-round when the canyon road is open.

From the pullout on the scenic byway, a paved path of only a few hundred feet leads to the viewpoint, making Roaring River Falls one of the most accessible waterfalls in the Sierra, suitable for almost anyone.

It pairs perfectly with other nearby Cedar Grove stops like Zumwalt Meadow and the canyon overlooks. The rocks near the water can be slick with spray, so it is best to enjoy the falls from the viewpoint and keep back from the edge.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Roaring River Falls is a powerful waterfall in Kings Canyon National Park, California, on the floor of the canyon in the Cedar Grove area. Here the Roaring River is squeezed through a narrow granite chute and surges into a pool below with a loud roar, giving the falls their name. It is one of the most dramatic waterfalls in the park and also one of the most accessible in the entire Sierra Nevada, reached by a very short paved path from a pullout on the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway. The falls are most impressive in late spring and early summer, when snowmelt swells the river.

Roaring River Falls is extremely easy to reach. From a pullout on the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway in the Cedar Grove area, a short paved path of only a few hundred feet leads to the viewpoint, a walk of just a few minutes suitable for almost anyone. To get to the pullout, you drive the scenic byway down into Kings Canyon toward Cedar Grove; the lower canyon road is seasonal, generally open from late spring through fall, so check the current road status before you go. Once there, the brief, accessible walk to the falls makes it a perfect quick stop.

Roaring River Falls is at its most powerful in late spring and early summer, when melting snow from the high country swells the Roaring River and sends it thundering through the granite chute. That is when the falls best live up to their name. As summer progresses and the snowmelt slows, the flow eases, though the falls remain scenic. Because the falls are reached via the seasonal Kings Canyon Scenic Byway into the canyon, which is generally open from late spring through fall, that same window is when you can visit. For the most dramatic water, aim for the spring or early-summer months.

Yes, Roaring River Falls is an excellent stop for families and visitors of all abilities. The paved path from the pullout is very short, only a few minutes' walk, and mostly flat, so it is manageable for young children and those who prefer an easy outing, yet it rewards them with a powerful, roaring waterfall. It pairs well with other easy nearby stops in the Cedar Grove area, such as the Zumwalt Meadow loop. As with any waterfall, the rocks near the water can be slippery with spray, so it is important to keep children close and stay back from the edge, enjoying the falls from the viewpoint.