Roaring River Falls is fed by snowmelt from the region south of Silliman Crest in Sequoia National Park and west of the Sphinx Crest in Kings Canyon, including the Deadman and Cloud Canyons. In spring and early summer this large catchment results in a powerful torrent of water that cascades into a deep, granite pool.
In late summer and fall / autumn, the waterfall is a little less ferocious, but there’s still a decent flow of water (a little more than in the nearby Grizzly Falls). The granite pool generally deep enough for swimming – but it’s not recommended due to strong currents.
There are more cascades and pools upstream, which you reach by scrambling up the creek (to the left of the lower falls), beyond the end of the official path.
Getting to Roaring River Falls
The Roaring River Falls trailhead and parking area is on the south side Kings Canyon Scenic Byway (Highway 180) between General Grant Village and Roads End, 3 miles (4.8km) past Cedar Grove. It’s a very short walk on a paved path to the base of the falls. You can do a longer hike by taking the trail to the left (just before the falls) which follows the South Fork Kings River east up the canyon toward Zumwalt Meadow, Kanawyer Loop Trail, Bubbs Creek, and the Sierra backcountry.
Note: Part of the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway (from the Hume Lake turn off to Roads End) is closed during the winter, generally from November to April. The actual dates vary due depending on weather conditons and are determined by the State Highway Department, CalTrans.
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