Hiking the Mist Falls Trail in Kings Canyon National Park
Distance: 8.2 miles / 13.2 km
The Mist Falls Trail is, without a doubt, one of the best and most beautiful day hikes in the Cedar Grove District of Kings Canyon National Park.
That being said, the Mist Falls Trail is one of the longer day hikes in Cedar Grove, given that the trail is truly only the first few miles of the roughly 42-mile (67.6 km) Rae Lakes Loop Trail, the most popular backcountry hike in all of Kings Canyon.
With that in mind, it’s important to consider this distance when deciding when to begin the hike to Mist Falls, but I personally recommend starting at Road’s End in the early afternoon hours, which I talk about in more detail below.
Mist Falls Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Mist Falls Trailhead is located at the very end of Kings Canyon Road, more commonly known as Road’s End.
It is here, at this farthest trailhead in Kings Canyon, that a number of different trails branch out, making Road’s End one of the busiest trailheads in the park, especially since many parking spaces will always be occupied by backcountry hikers during the busy summer travel season.
Google Maps Directions: Mist Falls 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.
Hiking the Mist Falls Trail
The Mist Falls Trail begins at the Road’s End Trailhead, adjacent to the backcountry office where wilderness permits can be obtained for overnight trips.
On a different note, I mentioned above that I recommend beginning the Mist Falls Trail in the early afternoon, and while that might seem counterintuitive because of the heat, I strongly believe this for one big reason: the falls are more beautiful when starting at this time of day!
Simply put, Mist Falls and the entire South Fork Canyon, where the river flows, are much more beautiful if you reach the falls in the late afternoon hours as opposed to late morning, if you were to start early in the day.
On top of this, there’s no avoiding the midday heat on a trail as long as Mist Falls, meaning that you’re truly only deciding whether you’d rather hike through it on the way to the waterfall or back to Road’s End, which is why I believe that beginning midday is the best time to hike to Mist Falls.
Upon leaving Road’s End, the first 2.0 miles (3.2 km) of the Mist Falls Trail follow a relatively flat but fairly exposed stretch through the bottom of Kings Canyon.
That being said, a good sun shirt is essential for long trails like Mist Falls and others in the canyon, such as the Don Cecil Trail.
On top of a good sun shirt, be sure to carry at least 2–3 liters of water for an adventure like Mist Falls, which is why I highly recommend hiking with the Osprey water bladder shown below.
When the valley to the north (left) starts to become more and more visible, it’s a good sign that the first and most exposed section of the hike is almost over.
This is the junction where the Rae Lakes Loop begins.
Finally, as the Mist Falls Trail nears the Bubbs Creek junction, the trail re-enters the forest, which remains fairly constant for the rest of the hike to the waterfall.
Mist Falls-Bubbs Creek Junction (Rae Lakes Loop)
After 2.0 miles (3.2 km), the Mist Falls Trail reaches the first and only junction of the entire hike: the beginning of the Rae Lakes Loop.
In short, the Rae Lakes Loop Trail is the most popular backcountry trip in Kings Canyon National Park, as it traverses through some of the most beautiful alpine lakes in the heart of the Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness.
In any case, go left at this split to begin the final portion up South Fork Canyon to Mist Falls.
Some of these slower-moving sections of the Kings River can make for amazing places to cool off during the summer months.
However, this is truly only possible and safe during the late summer, when the heavy flow from the season's snowmelt has subsided.
At about halfway between the beginning of the loop and Mist Falls, I came across the Western Rattlesnake just off the trail.
That being said, they generally don’t bother humans, so long as you keep your distance and allow them space to move where they please.
It’s always nice to see a random Sequoia growing in the backcountry!
Some of these sections, shortly before Mist Falls, are as steep as the entire trail ever gets, as the hike only gains about 700 ft. (213 m) over the course of 4.1 miles (6.6 km) from Road’s End to the waterfall.
This south-facing viewpoint is one of the most iconic and photographed vantage points on the Mist Falls Trail.
Mist Falls
Finally, after 4.1 miles (6.6 km), the South Fork Trail reaches Mist Falls, a roughly 100-ft. (30.5 m) waterfall that cascades down the steep granite slopes of the South Fork of the Kings River.
That being said, Mist Falls can look entirely different from the photos below, depending on the time of year you visit Kings Canyon.
By this, I mean that the spring and early summer snowmelt drastically changes the water levels throughout Kings Canyon. As a result, the area where the photo below was taken may not be safe or even possible to visit if you hike the trail early in the season.
I have tried, and Mist Falls is almost unrecognizable from these photos during the early season, which is just something to keep in mind when planning your visit.
Sequoia National Park
Kings Canyon National Park
