Parking
No roadside access or parking: the trail begins at a remote junction on the John Muir Trail, reached as part of a separate wilderness itinerary.
Overview
About Center Basin Trail
Why go
- A direct side route into Center Basin from the JMT
Heads up
- High elevation and faint tread complicate route-finding
- No roadside access; it is part of a backcountry trip
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Kings Canyon map
Full mapElevation10,472–11,230 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Kings Canyon alerts
- CautionStage 1 fire restrictionsStage 1 fire restrictions are active because high fire danger raises the risk of accidental human-caused fires that could threaten visitors and employees.Official details
- ClosureGrant Grove trails and areas closed for prescribed fireSome trails and areas around Grant Grove and the General Grant Tree are closed during an active prescribed burn; stay out until crews clear hazards and reopen them.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Kings Canyon Tour Guide
Your drive to Center Basin Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Kings Canyon National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Kings Canyon audio tour- 55 audio storiesacross Kings Canyon’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Black Bear, Mule Deer, Marmot, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 77 trails, 61 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“…The kids and my husband and I all agree that the narration really added to our experience driving through the parks. We learned so much about the history and the flora & fauna.”
Trail guide
Hiking Center Basin Trail
A high-basin side tripCenter Basin Trail is a 3.
Center Basin Trail is a 3.3-mile out-and-back spur from the John Muir Trail (JMT), climbing about 800 feet from roughly 10,470 feet to above 11,200 feet. Allow around three hours for the mapped section itself. It suits hikers already on a backcountry itinerary; reaching the junction takes a separate wilderness approach.
Finding the turnComing south on the JMT from Bubbs Creek, look for the Center Basin turn near a meadow view…
Coming south on the JMT from Bubbs Creek, look for the Center Basin turn near a meadow view down to the creek. The junction has been described between two cairn-marked trees. A campsite spur with a bear box about 20 feet south can look like the turn, so pause and check before leaving the JMT.
Into Center BasinThe mapped path heads east and southeast across high ground into the basin, with granite peaks…
The mapped path heads east and southeast across high ground into the basin, with granite peaks and alpine water as the payoff. Tread is faint in places. The mapped line stops before the uncertain, marshy continuation toward Golden Bear Lake; that distance and the old Junction Pass route are not included. Don’t count on a maintained trail past the mapped end.
Backcountry accessThere is no road or parking at this junction.
There is no road or parking at this junction. Reach it as part of a separate John Muir Trail wilderness trip. Overnight stays outside designated campgrounds require a wilderness permit, and pets are prohibited on park trails.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Kings Canyon
227 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
385 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
188 sightingsMarmotMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
118 sightingsPikaMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
14 sightingsGolden TroutMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
32 sightingsRainbow TroutMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Kings Canyon. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
