Kings Canyon National Park in California, deeper than the Grand Canyon and carved by glaciers during the last Ice Age, offers breathtaking, dramatic cliffs and valleys but remains one of the state’s least visited parks due to its remote location. Visitors who do venture there can experience its stunning natural beauty uniquely through horseback trips offered by Cedar Grove Pack Station, which follows scenic routes along the South Fork Kings River and through historic grazing lands. The park supports a rich ecosystem fueled by the Kings River and its tributaries, where wildlife encounters, such as bears and mountain lions, add to the wild allure.

Bordering the more popular Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon features a distinct environment and a deep history of conservation championed by John Muir in the late 1800s. The Loverin family, owners of Cedar Grove Pack Station since 1985, have helped maintain many of the backcountry trails and continue to provide essential support to park staff. The park remains a place of solitude and raw natural beauty, where visitors can explore vast wilderness areas often without seeing other people for weeks, preserving its status as a hidden gem in California’s national park system.