Bike the Parks

Parks / California

Kings Canyon National Park

A long seasonal descent into a granite canyon deeper than the Grand Canyon.

2/5
Limited riding

A spectacular seasonal road into one of the deepest canyons in the US, but no bike paths or trails.

Riding here

Kings Canyon is for strong road riders. The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway (Highway 180) leaves the Grant Grove sequoias and drops thousands of feet into the canyon to Cedar Grove and Roads End, open only from late spring to fall. It's a long climb back out. There are no bike paths, and trails are off-limits.

Where you can ride

Under NPS rules, bikes may use park roads open to vehicles, including Highway 180 to Cedar Grove when it's open.

Where you can't

No bikes on trails or in wilderness.

Rides

  • Kings Canyon Scenic Byway to Cedar Grove

    • Road
    • Grant Grove to Roads End
    • Paved
    • Hard

    A long descent into the canyon along the South Fork of the Kings River, and an equally long climb back. Open seasonally.

    Start: Grant Grove

When to go

Highway 180 beyond Hume Lake junction is seasonal (typically late spring to fall). Summer is hot in the canyon bottom.

Safety

Mountain roads are narrow and winding with steep grades. Carry water and food; services are far apart.

E-bikes

The park's own bicycling page doesn't spell out e-bike rules. Under the NPS e-bike rule (36 CFR 4.30), an e-bike with working pedals and a motor under 750 watts is generally allowed where regular bikes are, and riding on the motor alone is barred anywhere cars can't go. Parks can restrict them, so confirm with the park before you bring one.

Fees

Arriving by bike, you pay the park's individual (per-person) entrance fee, normally valid for 7 days, or ride in on an annual or America the Beautiful pass. Amounts change, so check the park's Fees & Passes page. From 2026, non-US residents aged 16 and over pay an extra $100 per person at this park unless covered by a pass (the non-resident America the Beautiful pass is $250).

Rentals, tours and shuttles

  • Your bike shop hereSample listing

    This spot is for one rental shop, guide service or shuttle near Kings Canyon: your name, what you offer, and a link straight to your booking page, at the top of this section.

    Feature your shop on this page, free until spring 2027

Run a shop near Kings Canyon? Add it here.

Sources

Checked November 2026 against these sources. Rules, closures and fees change; confirm with the park before you ride.

  1. Road Information — Sequoia & Kings Canyon (NPS)
  2. Driving Mountain Roads — Sequoia & Kings Canyon (NPS)
  3. NPS e-bike regulations (2020)
  4. Entrance fees by park, incl. 2026 non-resident fee (NPS)

Edited by David Bussell. Spot something out of date? Tell us.

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