There is a trail along the river all the way to Muir Road at the Road's End. It's an easy to medium hike. We passed by bridges, giant rocks and a beautiful meadow. The meadow itself is magnificent with grass field and hills. Half of the trail was not shaded, so be prepared to get some radiation shields (SPF, hats and sunglasses) read more

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One Effn winding road (180) to get to Zumwalt Meadow and it's not only winding ( if you get car sick , this road might be tough ) the road is on the edge of the cliff most of the time. Why is it worth the drive ? Cuz it's simply beautiful and way less crowded than Yosemite. Depends on the time of the year we have this place all to ourselves. Even though 180 is winding, the views of the mountains and the Kings River from this part of the road is spectacular. Just a few more miles further from Zumwalt , you'll find the trailhead to the Mist Falls Trail ( not to be mistaken from Mist Trail in Yosemite). read more

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Visited in June 2020. Definitely worth it! It's not as dramatic as some of the other hikes in King's Canyon, but it's lush, serene and so peaceful. I loved it! Plenty of paved parking. They have restrooms and also picnic tables outside of the entrance, in the shade and right on King's River! We ate our little lunch there before leaving and even had some very friendly Stark's Jays keep us company! The entire loop is about 1.5 miles, but parts of it are still closed due to flooding in previous years and also fire...there was a controlled burn so a small part of the trail was ashy and smoky as we walked. The boardwalk is closed off in the middle and part of the loop is blocked off too. But the part that is available is still very lovely! The entrance is obvious and well marked. You cross a bridge before you get to the actual loop part and there were some great photo ops off the bridge! It's mostly flat (total elevation gain of just over 130 ft) with some areas of rocky steps and small rises in elevation that give you great panoramic views from the top! The meadow is flanked by rising gray cliffs! And since the area is so far into the park, there is hardly any traffic, so all you can hear is the wind in the grasses and trees, the river, and a plethora of birds, including red-winged black birds that make the most delicate music! I'd consider this a very easy walk. The river is beautiful, but cold and swift and still dangerous so resist the temptation to swim! Side note: you can hike to the Roaring River Falls from the loop and it will add about just over 3 miles to your hike. But you can also do it separately. read more

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At the end of the scenic byway at Kings Canyon National Park, you'll find this meadow. I was surprised at the lack of hiking at this national park, so we definitely wanted to stop here and walk around for a bit. There was supposed to be a two mile loop, but it the sign said part of it was closed. We didn't see it closed, but we did get to a point where we weren't sure where to go anymore, so that's where we turned back. The trail is along a river which is pretty. You're at a low elevation and the trail is flat and easy. The surroundings are pretty though and there's some nice mountain views. If you're passing by, I think this is a good place to get out and explore for a bit. read more

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Zumwalt Meadow is a nice stop/area at the end of scenic 30 mile Generals Highway at the base of King's Canyon National Park. After spending a majority of my day driving and stopping to soak up the wonderful sights of this scenic byway....finally I arrived at Zumwalt Meadow. Here....just before the "Road's End"....there's a little Visitor's Center if you have inquiries about any of the sights around the area. There's also a supply/gift shop if you need any extras or the basics. Before mentioning Zumwalt Meadow Trail (the highlight of this section), I'd also like to say that just near the general store is a flowing river stream that cuts through the park. As I was driving to get here, I found the waters to be quite peaceful....totally enhancing the natural surroundings of the area. I took a moment to walk over to the river's edge, sit down and appreciate how far away I felt from reality. Here at Zumwalt Meadow...was an opportunity to do some pleasant hiking. I had read that the 1.5 mile Zumwalt Meadows Trail (situated along the main, River Trail) was worthwhile. Not only did I agree with that....but the entire setting was highly picturesque. I had no problems finding a parking spot (and this for visiting back in June over the summer travel season). Upon gazing around, it's quite noticeable how Zumwalt Meadow reminded me of the canyon walls of Yosemite. I mean, yeah, they're both located in the general vicinity of each other in California. I just recall how the sheer cliffs surrounding me in both places, were quite similar....yet obviously Yosemite had many many more on a grand stature and scale. Upon hiking, the whole location steered me into the woods. I crossed a charming little bridge that afforded me a great viewpoint of King's Canyon's overhangs in the distance. This was certainly an opportunity for some photos especially with the river effortlessly streaming through the forest. The trail is not difficult at all. There's hardly much elevation. I climbed a few small sections of rocks....but this was great as it got me an enhanced perception of the rugged terrain encompassing me. Continuing on, I came upon the meadow....with the green lush grass and the rock faced cliffs in the background.....lol, once again it made for some great photo chances. Eventually....about 1 mile into the hike, I got stopped along the trail as there had been plenty of rain in the prior days and the path had been flooded preventing me from continuing on. This was no problem as I had plenty of good moments to immerse myself in the tranquil and photogenic landscape. Overall, Zumwalt Meadow was a great continuation and final highlighted destination along the 30 mile King's Canyon - Generals Highway. I used about 2 hours walking around and admiring the views. From here, I turned around at the "Road's End" and headed back towards the Grant Grove area where I was staying. For those who are exploring King's Canyon National Park, I'd certainly recommend taking a portion out of your day to drive and visit this secluded section of the park. It's a therapeutic getaway from all the touristy attractions. read more

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Taking the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is a must do if you're in the area for a few days. Along the way there are many pullouts and scenic views, but it's not until you get to the Cedar Grove area, along the Kings River that the real fun begins. Zumwalt Meadow isn't a hike per se, it's more of a scenic walk and a great place to stretch your legs, bring a picnic and use the restroom. There's a 1.5 mile loop that is unfortunately partially closed right now due to boardwalk damage. However, you can still go about halfway and do an out and back. It was still very scenic with the river and granite cliffs framing the Meadow. There's a well marked trail, also to walk to Roaring River Falls but I read it wasn't that scenic so we skipped that (we were doing the longer Mist Falls hike instead) If you're taking the time to drive in to the canyon, definitely make the meadows a priority stop. read more

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Just hiked the 1.5 mile loop that is one of the most popular trail here on Kings Canyon National Park. Zumwalt Meadow is the most scenic part of the Kings Canyon valley floor. It's a large clearing in the forest filled with ferns, wildflowers, and tall grass. Also, you can hear the gently flowing Kings River on one side, the magnificent views of the vertical granite cliffs of Grand Sentinel on the other, and taller peaks (Glacier Monument and Buck Peak). There is a nice suspension bridge over the Kings River, a scenic boardwalk over the marsh for a photo op. The woods around the meadow are very lush and green. We saw people playing in the river but the water is ice cool. Great place for a picnic. Take bug spray. The hike is suitable for all ages. read more

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This place was a really good first hike/walk! Don't get me wrong, it is a little far from everything. I mean Road's End is just a stone's throw away you know. But it's so great to see something like this meadow out in the middle of the mountains! It's such a great spot to walk and take a lot of photos. When we were there, the water was moving in some spots along the trail and it was kind of nice to just sit back and enjoy. I love that the mountains surround the meadow and gives such good contrast to photos. Would recommend this hike for anyone and everyone. The loop is great to do and even if you don't do the entire loop, even just being around the meadow and the water is great! I loved the small suspension bridge at the start. Would also like to mention that people SHOULD NOT go into the meadow itself as it causes the path you make to basically kill the plants. This means you make a small path and the meadow doesn't really ever grow back over it so you'll basically just make what looks like a small river of dirt. Would love for the next generation of people to enjoy this place too :) read more

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This place is really amazing, I think it is a must on anyone's list of "What To Do In King's Canyon". The drive out to trail head alone is an adventure! Plus you get a big pay off for a short, easy hike I believe it's a half mile to the meadow. If you are up for something longer and a tad bit more difficult try doing the Zumwalt Meadow loop (1.5 miles) or hike the loop trail that connect Zumwalt Meadow to Roaring River Falls (4.5 miles). It was busy when we were there, in the early morning just before peak season so I can't even imagine how busy it gets during the summer. However, if you can find a parking spot and deal with either getting up early or fighting the crowds of people, it's definitely worth the effort. Maybe even pack up some food and a blanket and enjoy one of the most idyllic picnics of your life. read more

Extraordinary views around the house fill your mind. How many mountains and mountains are worth watching. Really pretty much