Zumwalt Meadow Trail

This is about 1.5 miles round trip from Zumwalt Meadows Trailhead to the far-side junction and back along the same path. Allow about an hour, longer if you linger at the bridge or meadow viewpoints. The reward is a river crossing and a view across the meadow under high granite walls, not a full circuit.

A relatively level, unpaved path leads from the parking area to the expansion bridge. The tread can be sandy and loose. After crossing the Kings River, the trail passes through woods and talus along the meadow's south side; expect uneven rock and some ups and downs. Stop at the far-side junction and retrace your steps. A separate connected route continues toward Road's End and Muir Rock for a longer outing.

Natural flooding in 2019 washed away sections that once crossed the meadow and followed the river. The current walk uses the bridge and the surviving meadow-view route, then returns the way you came. Do not count on circling the meadow or reaching its former riverside sections.

The Kings River and high granite walls frame the lush meadow. From the bridge, the river gives the view a foreground; farther along, openings in the trees look back across the meadow. Spring and early summer bring cold, swift currents, so use the bridge and keep clear of the water.

Parking is at Zumwalt Meadows Trailhead on Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, 4.5 miles east of Cedar Grove Village. Vault toilets, picnic tables, a trash receptacle, and an information panel are at the trailhead. Pets are prohibited on park trails. A park entrance fee applies, but day-use reservations are not required. The road into Cedar Grove usually opens from May through early to mid-November, with dates that vary by weather. The relatively level approach to the bridge may suit some wheelchair users; the full route continues over loose and rocky ground.