Hiking the Hotel Creek Trail to the Cedar Grove Overlook in Kings Canyon National Park
Distance: 4.4 miles / 7.1 km
The Cedar Grove Overlook via Hotel Creek Trail is one of my favorite adventures within the Cedar Grove District of Kings Canyon National Park!
I say this because day hiking in Cedar Grove is truly limited to just a handful of trails that begin off Highway 180 within Kings Canyon, effectively meaning there aren’t many options when it comes to sunrise and sunset hikes down in the canyon.
However, the Hotel Creek Trail to the Cedar Grove Overlook is the one exception, with its expansive 360º views of the high Sierras from the top, which is especially beautiful if you plan to hike the trail in the late evening for sunset!
U.S. National Park Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
Hotel Creek Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Hotel Creek Trailhead is located almost directly behind the Cedar Grove Lodge, off the third right-hand turn when coming from Highway 180.
While the parking area for the Hotel Creek Trail is small, it’s not among the busiest hikes within the Cedar Grove District. This is especially true if you plan to hike up for sunset, as I recommend.
Google Maps Directions: Hotel Creek Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Sequoia-Kings Canyon
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park.
That being said, bear spray is purposefully excluded from this list because, while the Sierra Nevadas are home to a large black bear population, bear spray is not allowed in either Sequoia or Kings Canyon National Park.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Hotel Creek Trail
The Hotel Creek Trail, like the Don Cecil Trail across the river, is one of the steeper day hikes within the Cedar Grove District of Kings Canyon National Park.
By this, I mean that most day hikes that begin off the South Fork of the Kings River don’t climb up the steep slopes of the canyon unless they are more commonly used as backcountry trails.
However, the Hotel Creek Trail to the Cedar Grove Overlook Trail is one of very few exceptions to this, which is why the one thing that commonly sticks in hikers' minds after the trail is how steep the hike really is!
Hotel Creek-Lewis Creek Connector Junction
Immediately after leaving the trailhead, the Hotel Creek Trail splits with the Lewis Creek Connector Trail, located about 1.4 miles (2.3 km) down the canyon.
That being said, go right to continue up the Hotel Creek Trail, which will begin climbing up the steep slopes on the canyon almost immediately.
This first turn marks the first of 33 switchbacks, ascending roughly 1,650 ft. (503 m) from the trailhead to the Cedar Grove Overlook Trail above!
If you ever encounter any bear scat within Sequoia or Kings Canyon National Park, it often contains Arctostaphylos berries during the summer, which can be a good indicator that a bear may be nearby, depending on how fresh the scat is.
On a different note, I highly recommend hiking in a hooded sun shirt, as it is almost always essential for protection during the hot summer months in Kings Canyon, especially on exposed hikes like the Hotel Creek Trail!
This is where a small wildfire on the south side of the river started to become more and more visible from here to the overlook.
This is exactly the kind of Black Bear scat that may be encountered, but this was obviously not from any recent activity.
Toward the upper switchbacks, the Cedar Grove Overlook Trail—the final section atop the slopes in the photo below—starts to become visible, which is a nice mental checkpoint to have as a reference for how much more elevation gain there is until the trail levels out.
This is the 33rd and final switchback up the Hotel Creek Trail, which is truly a nice sign after all the constant climbing since the hike began.
At these upper elevations, the wildfire across the canyon became much more visible!
Hotel Creek-Cedar Grove Overlook Junction
After about 1.8 miles (2.9 km), the Hotel Creek Trail finally meets the Cedar Grove Overlook Trail, where the elevation gain levels out significantly from this point until the end.
That being said, go left to continue to begin the Cedar Grove Overlook Trail, which totals about 0.4 miles (0.6 km) from this split to the end.
Cedar Grove Overlook Trail
After leaving the Hotel Creek Trail, the Cedar Grove Overlook Trail begins a slight descent before climbing back up to the beautiful overlook above Kings Canyon.
Cedar Grove Overlook
Standing at roughly 1,400 ft. (427 m) above the canyon below, the Cedar Grove Overlook is one of the most beautiful viewpoints in all of Kings Canyon National Park!
For this reason, I highly recommend hiking the Hotel Creek to Cedar Grove Overlook Trail at sunset, as this is one of the best times of day to beat the heat during the warmer summer months and to enjoy the soft evening light on the surrounding peaks.
That being said, be sure to pack a good headlamp for the roughly 2.2-mile (3.5 km) hike back down to the Hotel Creek Trailhead if this is an adventure that you’re considering.
More Sequoia-Kings Canyon Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures within Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park, check out my separate posts below!
Sequoia National Park
Kings Canyon National Park
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
Most importantly, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park is bear country, and while hiking in black bear territory generally presents less of a risk as opposed to hiking with grizzlies, it‘s important to never get complacent.
That being said, bear spray is not allowed within either Sequoia or Kings Canyon National Park, but storing your food properly, both on your person and in your vehicle, is not only necessary but required. For this reason, always keep your food and trash with you, and follow these basic rules from the NPS with regards to food in your vehicle.
On a different note, there is one venomous snake found in both parks known as the Western Rattlesnake, and surprisingly, I have encountered it many times, both in dry landscapes and in the meadows of both parks.
Finally, during winter months, you may be required to carry tire chains or have them on your vehicle before entering either park. In addition, micro-spikes may be necessary to stay safe on certain trails, such as Little Baldy and many others during the early and late summer season.
As always, find the most up-to-date information and conditions on the official Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park website.
National Park Service: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
Disclaimer
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