Kings Canyon National Park

Kings Canyon is the wilder, deeper, less-trodden sibling of neighbouring Sequoia, with which it shares a boundary and a management office, yet its character is quite distinct. Where Sequoia is defined by its giant trees, Kings Canyon is defined by its canyon: one of the deepest in North America, a plunging glacial gorge carved by the Kings River.

A giant grove and a colossal chasm

The park splits into two experiences. Up top, Grant Grove holds the General Grant Tree, the nation's official Christmas tree and one of the largest sequoias anywhere. Then the road descends dramatically into the canyon itself, winding down towards Cedar Grove, where sheer granite walls tower thousands of feet above the roaring river, meadows, waterfalls and trailheads leading deep into the High Sierra backcountry.

That drive into the canyon is one of California's great scenic roads. Beyond it lies some of the most rugged wilderness in the state, a paradise for backpackers. For a UK family, Kings Canyon offers dramatic, vertiginous scenery and a real sense of getting off the beaten track, best paired with Sequoia to experience both giant trees and giant landscapes.

You come to Kings Canyon for scale of a different kind to its famous neighbour, not the girth of trees but the sheer depth of the land. The drive down into the canyon is unforgettable: the road corkscrews between towering granite walls into one of the deepest gorges on the continent, the Kings River thundering below. For a family, it delivers genuine drama and a sense of adventure, of leaving the crowds behind, that its busier sibling can't quite match. Up at Grant Grove you still get your giant sequoia fix at the mighty General Grant Tree, then you plunge into wild, vertiginous canyon country at Cedar Grove, all meadows, waterfalls and soaring cliffs. It's the perfect complement to Sequoia: visit both and you experience the biggest trees and one of the biggest chasms in America. For teens who fancy a proper wilderness edge, Kings Canyon obliges.

A hire car is essential throughout Kings Canyon; there's no park-wide shuttle. The park has two zones linked by one great road. Grant Grove, near the entrance, sits at altitude among sequoias; from there the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway descends dramatically for over 30 miles into the canyon to Cedar Grove, a stunning but slow, winding drive that can take well over an hour each way. Crucially, this canyon road closes in winter and typically reopens only from late spring, so check before planning a Cedar Grove visit. The Generals Highway also connects Grant Grove to neighbouring Sequoia. Distances feel long because of the terrain, so allow generous time, fuel up beforehand, and don't expect to rush. In summer, driving is straightforward if you take the bends carefully; in winter, higher roads may need chains.

There is no public transport to Kings Canyon, so a hire car is essential for reaching and exploring the park. Unlike neighbouring Sequoia's Giant Forest, Kings Canyon has no significant in-park shuttle system, meaning you'll rely on your own vehicle throughout, including for the long, dramatic drive down into the canyon to Cedar Grove. For a UK family, the plan mirrors Sequoia: hire a car at Fresno airport and drive up to the park. Since the two parks adjoin and share an entrance, a single car trip lets you explore both, giant sequoia groves and the deep canyon, at your own pace over a few days.

• Drive the full Kings Canyon Scenic Byway down to Cedar Grove, the descent into the gorge is the park's real highlight, and many visitors never make it past Grant Grove.
• Note that the road into the canyon (to Cedar Grove) closes in winter, so a full experience needs a late-spring-to-autumn visit.
• Zumwalt Meadow at the canyon floor is an easy, gorgeous walk with towering walls all around, ideal for families.
• Visit the General Grant Tree, less mobbed than Sequoia's General Sherman but nearly as vast.
• Fuel up and stock supplies before descending, services at Cedar Grove are seasonal and limited.
• Combine with Sequoia on one ticket, the two parks share an entrance fee and sit side by side.

Like neighbouring Sequoia, Kings Canyon's weather swings with elevation, and the contrast is stark here. High at Grant Grove, around 2,000 metres, summers are mild and pleasant, with cool nights and possible afternoon storms, bring layers even in July. Down on the canyon floor at Cedar Grove, considerably lower, summer days are noticeably hotter, so pack for warmth and sun there. Winter blankets the higher park in snow and closes the road into the canyon entirely, leaving only Grant Grove accessible with proper cold-weather gear. Spring brings snowmelt, roaring waterfalls and a thundering Kings River, though the canyon road opens only once conditions allow. For a summer visit, pack layers for the heights, lighter clothing for the canyon, plus sun protection, sturdy shoes and a waterproof for mountain storms.

Kings Canyon shares its gateway with Sequoia: Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) is the nearest, around an hour and a half from the Grant Grove entrance. From the UK there are no direct flights to Fresno, so you'll connect through a hub such as Los Angeles or San Francisco, both served by direct flights from London and both good launch points for a California road trip. Because Kings Canyon and Sequoia sit side by side and share an entrance, most families visit the two together, and many fold in Yosemite for a grand Sierra Nevada loop. A hire car is essential, there's no public transport to the park. From Fresno the drive climbs into the mountains to Grant Grove; if you're continuing down to Cedar Grove, budget extra time for the long, winding descent into the canyon, spectacular but not to be rushed.