Mist Falls.

Tucked away in the Cedar Grove district of Kings Canyon National Park, Mist Falls offers one of the region’s most rewarding day hikes. Reached via an eight-mile round-trip trail from the Road’s End trailhead, the route begins as a relatively flat, sandy stroll along the South Fork of the Kings River before shifting into a steep, sun-exposed climb over the final mile. The reward is a roaring, 100-foot cascade that flings a refreshing, cooling spray over the surrounding granite slabs—a welcome relief during peak summer heat. As a major gateway to the deeper backcountry of the Rae Lakes Loop, the trail transitions from lush riparian forest to stark glacial canyon, where hikers frequently spot black bears and marmots amid the spectacular Sierra landscape.