Looking for more great things to do in Kings Canyon National Park?
Take an awe-inspiring hike to Mist Falls and cool off with a swim at Muir Rock!
For an exciting full day itinerary, check out my guide to One Amazing Day in Kings Canyon National Park.
LOCATION
The Zumwalt Meadow Trail is located in Kings Canyon National Park along Highway 180, just a mile before the highway terminus at Roads End and 4.5 miles east of Cedar Grove Lodge.
LENGTH
1.5 miles out-and-back. It’s possible to lengthen your hike by continuing on the Kanawyers Loop Trail to Muir Rock, located a mile further down the trail. The Kanawyers Loop also connects with other trails in Kings Canyon, such as the Mist Falls Trail.
DIFFICULTY
Easy/Moderate — It’s short and there is no major elevation gain, but parts of the trail are very rocky, requiring sturdy footgear and the ability to navigate uneven stone steps.
WE HIKED IT
June, 2021, about an hour
CURRENT INFO
For information about Kings Canyon National Park, visit the National Park Service website. Find reviews and maps on the AllTrails website. Good maps and trail info are also available in the book Hike the Parks: Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks by Scott Turner. While you can no longer hike the full loop trail as described in the book, the included trail map is still helpful.
GOOD TO KNOW
- Since Zumwalt Meadow is located within Kings Canyon National Park, you must present an America the Beautiful pass (or other national parks pass) or pay the $35 entrance fee (valid for up to seven days) when you enter the park. You can also purchase an annual pass at the park entrance. Check ahead of time to see if you qualify for a free pass — fourth graders and active military do! Fourth graders must print a voucher ahead of time to qualify.
- There is a parking lot and picnic area next to the trailhead, as well as a vault toilet.
- Please note that pets are not allowed on the trails.
- In order to protect the fragile meadow habitat, please stay on the trail. The Zumwalt Meadow Trail is one of the most popular short hikes in Kings Canyon, although it wasn’t too crowded when we visited in June.
- Kings Canyon can be quite hot in summer, so be prepared with sunscreen, shade hats, and water. If you need a place to relax and cool off, cross the suspension bridge to access a small, rocky beach along the Kings River.
- The Zumwalt Meadow Trail and Highway 180 into Kings Canyon routinely close for the winter. Check to see if the road and trail are open prior to visiting in the spring or fall.
HIGHLIGHTS
Zumwalt Meadow is rightly considered one of the gems of Kings Canyon National Park. Ringed by proud evergreens, the emerald meadow is dazzling on a sunny day. Together with the imposing canyon walls and the sparkling water of the Kings River, this short hike highlights the contrasting topography of Kings Canyon. We were also fortunate enough to spot a bobcat (or was it a cougar?) from a safe distance on our hike. Here in the Sierras, the wildlife may be closer than you think!
THE KIDS’ TAKE
The Zumwalt Meadow Trail is a great leg-stretcher for all ages. Kids will especially enjoy the suspension bridge, the chance to play in the Kings River, and clambering over boulders along the trail. Plan to spend some extra time along the water here, or, even better, drive a mile to Roads End after your hike for some excellent swimming and jumping at Muir Rock. My kids highly recommend it!
WHILE YOU’RE HERE
There is no shortage of things to see and do in Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks! Since Zumwalt Meadows is such a short hike, it’s perfect to include on a day trip spent exploring the park. Take a tour of Boyden Cavern, stop to admire Grizzly and Roaring River Falls, and head to Muir Rock for a swim. It doesn’t get much better than that! In summer, you can also enjoy a meal at Cedar Grove Grill in Cedar Grove Lodge, just 4.5 miles west of the Zumwalt Meadow trailhead. Cedar Grove Lodge also operates a small store during peak season.
We camped just outside of Kings Canyon at beautiful Hume Lake. It’s also easy to visit Kings Canyon from Azalea Campground in Grant Grove. If you prefer to stay in the canyon, check out Sentinel, Sheep Creek, or Moraine Campgrounds, all located on the canyon floor near Cedar Grove Lodge.
Our Experience
Our first day in Kings Canyon was a full one. We ogled stalagmites and stalactites at Boyden Cavern, played in the water below Grizzly Falls, and sat in awe watching Roaring River Falls rip through the mountainside into a deep emerald pool. And that was just the beginning! Up next was a short hike around Zumwalt Meadow, probably the best-known mini-hike in the canyon. Charming Zumwalt Meadow is picture perfect, an oasis of green surrounded by the slate grey walls of Kings Canyon.
The hike starts off easy and wide on a flat path that takes visitors to a graceful suspension bridge across the Kings River. It was a hot day, and we appreciated the shade from the surrounding pine and cedar trees.
Beneath the bridge, the Kings River beckoned. The cold, crystal clear water would feel so good to our feet! We spotted others relaxing on a small beach upstream from the bridge. It was a lovely spot, but we already had plans to visit Muir Rock, so forged ahead on the trail.
Not far past the bridge, we came to Zumwalt Meadow. Previously, the trail looped around the meadow. Now, a sign stating simply “DO NOT ENTER” blocked the trail to our left. in 2019, part of the loop trail was washed away, leading to its closure. We followed the sign’s warning and stuck with the main trail.
What had once been a smooth, packed dirt path now became a rocky, uneven route through a jumble of granite boulders. The trees opened up, and we found ourselves directly under the heat of the midday sun. Zumwalt Meadow may be a short trail, but this unexpectedly rough terrain ensured that it felt like a “real” hike.
And while I may have missed the shade, I was certainly glad not to miss out on the incredible views!
As the boys and I made our way down the trail, I was surprised to hear clapping up ahead. Was that Michael? As usual, he’d gone on ahead of us. Had he seen a bear?
It wasn’t long before we saw Michael heading back toward us. “I saw a cougar up ahead!” he told us anxiously, still a bit shaken. A cougar! These shy cats of the forest are seldom seen by hikers, and seeing one in person was both thrilling and unnerving. Cautiously, we decided to continue on. Strange as it seemed, Michael thought the cougar may have been following an older couple he noticed hiking ahead of him.
Alert to any possible signs of a wildcat, we walked onward through the granite boulders. When we crossed paths with the older couple, Michael told them what he had seen. Lo and behold, as we stood chatting on the trail, we once again spotted the mysterious cat. For a mere moment it stood frozen in plain view on a rock below us, then quickly bounded into the nearby brush.
“That’s a bobcat!” I blurted out. At least, that’s what I thought at the time. It looked too small and bushy to be a cougar, its face more like that of a bobcat. Still, I didn’t notice spots. Do all bobcats have spots? In any case, it was an exciting and unexpected wildlife encounter, and the wildcat was just distant enough that we didn’t feel threatened. My phone lacks a true zoom lens, but I managed to snap a photo of the cat, furtively hiding in the bushes. Bonus points if you can spot it in the snapshot above! Unfortunately, with a photo of that quality, we’ll never be able to prove its true identity, but we definitely won’t forget our wild feline encounter.
Soon after our wildcat sighting, we reached the trail terminus, where another sign marked the turnaround point. The hike back to the trailhead was uneventful, but spirits were high. We piled into the car for the short drive to Muir Rock, our final big stop of the day. Our trip into Kings Canyon had been full of surprises, and we couldn’t wait to see what it would bring next!
