Parking
Small roadside turnout on Highway 180, about 1.3 miles north of Grant Grove Village, on the right when driving north.
Overview
About North Boundary–Lone Pine Loop
Why go
- A quieter forest walk with a short giant-sequoia section
- The Corral shortcut gives a shorter option, though it skips the grove highlight
Heads up
- Limited shade and several road crossings
- The Lone Pine turn by the service road is easy to miss
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Kings Canyon map
Full mapElevation6,289–6,900 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Kings Canyon alerts
- ClosureGrant Grove trails and areas closed for prescribed fireMentions Grant Grove, referenced in this guideSome 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
- 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
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Kings Canyon Tour Guide
Your drive to North Boundary–Lone Pine Loop, 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 tourRecorded for this trailhead
North Boundary and Lone Pine Loop0:00 / 0:26
“You're approaching North Boundary Trailhead, the start of the North Boundary and Lone Pine loop.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Kings Canyon Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Bird That Plants Pines
- Panoramic Point
- General Grant Tree and Grant Grove
- Grant Grove Village
- 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 North Boundary–Lone Pine Loop
A longer Grant Grove walkThis 4.
This 4.5-mile loop starts at a small Highway 180 turnout and connects the North Boundary and Lone Pine trails. Allow about two to two and a half hours; it is a moderate outing with a quieter feel than the busy grove stops. Its standout is a short giant-sequoia stretch above the Grant Tree Trail, not miles of walking through a grove.
North Boundary to the groveThe North Boundary side dips through small drainages and crosses Abbott Creek. At about 1.
The North Boundary side dips through small drainages and crosses Abbott Creek. At about 1.3 miles, stay on the full loop at the Corral junction; the shortcut skips the best sequoia section. The route climbs as it approaches the Grant Tree Trail around 2.2 miles in. The trees above that junction are the main payoff.
The Lone Pine returnContinue on Lone Pine past Grant Grove Stables and along a road toward Highway 180.
Continue on Lone Pine past Grant Grove Stables and along a road toward Highway 180. Near the highway, watch for an easy-to-miss turn onto a service road; cross to the far side and pick up the clearer Lone Pine path toward Crystal Springs Campground. Stay on Lone Pine at the Manzanita connector. Abbott Creek is crossed again before you rejoin North Boundary, about 0.2 mile from the turnout.
Access and effortThe start is a small roadside turnout about 1.3 miles north of Grant Grove Village.
The start is a small roadside turnout about 1.3 miles north of Grant Grove Village. Shade is limited on the route, and there are several road crossings, so carry water and pay attention near traffic. Pets are prohibited on park trails; service dogs are permitted.
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.
