Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Knapp's Cabin Trail
easy History BuffsFamiliesQuick Stops
0.2 mi Distance
Varies Estimated Time
roundtrip Trail Type
What to Expect
This is less a hike and more a stroll with a story at the end. From the roadside pullout near Cedar Grove, a flat, well-worn path threads through ponderosa pines and granite outcroppings to a compact stone cabin perched above the Kings River. The cabin belonged to George Owen Knapp, a Chicago industrialist who had this rustic outpost built in the 1920s so he could fish one of the finest stretches of trout water in the Sierra Nevada. The structure itself is modest — stone walls, a simple roof — but the setting is what sells it: the river rumbles below, canyon walls climb to the sky, and the air has that particular stillness that comes from being deep in a glacially carved gorge. This is a perfect leg-stretcher for families road-tripping through Kings Canyon, history enthusiasts, or anyone who wants a reason to stop and take in the canyon without committing to a longer climb.
Trail Details
Distance 0.2 miles round-trip
Difficulty easy
Estimated Time Varies
Trail Type roundtrip
Pets Not allowed
Season Year-round
Trailhead Knapp's Cabin Trail
- 1
Pair this with the longer Zumwalt Meadow Loop just down the road — the two together make a satisfying Cedar Grove morning without overlapping scenery.
- 2
The cabin exterior is the attraction; the interior is not publicly accessible, so spend your time exploring the river bank below and looking for the best angle on the stone walls against the canyon backdrop.
- 3
Cedar Grove Road closes in winter and early spring — check current road conditions before making this a dedicated destination, as the access window runs roughly late May through October.
