Panoramic Point Picnic Area and Trailhead

A trail sign located on Panoramic Point

Quick Facts

Location:

Kings Canyon National Park

Amenities

11 listed

Animal-Safe Food Storage, Audio Description, Parking - Auto, Picnic Table, Recycling, Restroom, Restroom - Seasonal, Toilet - Vault/Composting, Trailhead, Trash/Litter Receptacles, Wheelchair Accessible

Take this fairly easy half-mile hike to Panoramic Point and a great view of the Kings Canyon, Hume Lake, and the mountains beyond. It offers one of the best places to get a view of the effects that millions of years of erosion, and especially the Ice Age, have had on Kings Canyon. The trail to Panoramic Point is paved, with gentle slopes. You can continue past there to the Park Ridge Fire Lookout, another 2.5 miles of unpaved trail.

Area Information

At the parking area are vault toilets, picnic tables, and food-storage boxes. Be aware that the road to the trailhead is narrow; drive it slowly and carefully. Motor homes and trailers are not permitted.

Accessibility

This quarter-mile paved trail trail offers benches and pullouts along the route. At Panoramic Point, there are accessible wayside exhibits and ample space to turn around. For the easiest climb, begin near the restroom and stay to the left at each trail junction, then return the same way. Along that route, the average trail grade is 6.5%.

Winter Access

To access this area in winter, you will need to hike, snowshoe, or ski into the area.