Zumwalt Meadow

The Zumwalt Meadow loop is about a mile and a half, easy and mostly level, making it accessible to a wide range of visitors. It crosses the Kings River, skirts the edge of the meadow, and passes through forest and past jumbles of granite boulders fallen from the walls above.

All around, the canyon walls rise dramatically, including the great dome of North Dome and the cliffs of Grand Sentinel, giving a powerful sense of the canyon's depth. Wildflowers bloom in the meadow in summer, and deer and birds are often seen.

Zumwalt Meadow sits near the end of the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway in the Cedar Grove area, the developed heart of the canyon floor, so it pairs naturally with other nearby stops like Roaring River Falls and the canyon overlooks.

Because it is reached by the seasonal canyon road, it is generally a late-spring-through-fall destination. River conditions and trail repairs can occasionally affect parts of the loop, so checking current trail information before you go is worthwhile.

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.

Zumwalt Meadow is a lush green meadow on the floor of Kings Canyon in Kings Canyon National Park, California, ringed by granite walls and domes that rise thousands of feet on either side. Set at the bottom of one of the deepest canyons in North America, alongside the clear Kings River, it offers some of the finest canyon-floor scenery in the park. An easy loop trail circles the meadow, making the dramatic setting accessible to almost anyone. Peaceful and beautiful, framed by soaring cliffs, Zumwalt Meadow is a beloved highlight of the Cedar Grove area at the end of the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway.

The Zumwalt Meadow loop trail is about 1.5 miles and is rated easy, staying mostly level as it circles the meadow and follows the Kings River. This makes it accessible to a wide range of visitors, including families, and it packs in extraordinary scenery, with towering granite walls and domes rising all around, for relatively little effort. Allow about an hour or a bit more at a relaxed pace to enjoy the meadow, river, and views. Occasionally, river conditions or trail repairs can affect parts of the loop, so it is worth checking current trail information before you set out.

Zumwalt Meadow is in the Cedar Grove area on the floor of Kings Canyon, reached by driving the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway (Highway 180) down into the canyon to near its end. The lower portion of that road is seasonal, generally open from late spring through fall and closed in winter, so it is important to check the current road status before planning your visit. Once at Cedar Grove, the Zumwalt Meadow trailhead is a short drive along the canyon floor, with parking nearby. From there, the easy loop trail leads out to circle the meadow beneath the canyon's dramatic granite walls.

At Zumwalt Meadow you can take in some of the most dramatic canyon-floor scenery in Kings Canyon National Park. The green meadow and the clear Kings River sit at the base of soaring granite walls and domes, including North Dome and the Grand Sentinel, which rise thousands of feet overhead and convey the immense depth of the canyon. Along the easy loop trail you may spot wildflowers in summer, mule deer, and a variety of birds, all in a tranquil setting. It is a place that captures the grandeur of Kings Canyon in an accessible, peaceful walk, which is why it is such a beloved stop.