Even if you hate hiking, you’ll want to get out of the car and stroll the negligible distance (less than 0.25 mile) from the parking area three miles east of Cedar Grove Village to the Roaring River Falls. The whole tiny trail sits under a canopy of trees, making it cool even in the hottest parts of summer, and just looking at the falls feels refreshing after driving the Generals Highway.
Another easy meander comes only a mile from Road’s End (the northeast terminus of Generals Highway). Zumwalt Meadows offers a flat one-mile loop around the meadow of the same name, then a shady walk through a grove of heavenly smelling incense cedar and pine trees along the Kings River.
Moderate hikes abound in this area. A good place to bring a picnic is Sheep Creek Cascade. This hike takes about an hour and a half, ascends 600 feet, and runs about two miles total. You end up in a picturesque shaded glen that’s perfect for taking a load off your feet and enjoying the serene surroundings.
The Mists Falls Trail (Road’s End) is a popular jumping-off point for backpackers destined for the Kings Canyon [1] backcountry. However, you can go eight miles out and back to Mists Falls in about five hours.
Plan for dust and heat on the first couple of miles of the trail, then steep switchbacks that take you up 1,500 feet to the falls. If you’re passing through on your way to the John Muir Trail for a longer trek, keep going past the falls, up to Paradise Valley [2], then to the trail crossing at Upper Woods Creek.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/california/yosemite-and-the-eastern-sierra/sequoia-and-kings-canyon-national-parks
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/montana/the-missouri-headwaters-and-south-central-montana/livingston-and-the-paradise-valley/paradise-valley