One of California's Best National Parks Is 2.5 Hours From Yosemite-With Sequoias, Mountain Lakes, and Waterfall Hikes

"Kings Canyon National Park is one of the best and perhaps the most underrated of all the national parks. Often in the shadow of its more famous neighbors, it offers visitors a different, and some would say better, experience."

"Kings Canyon's scale is misunderstood because it's both deep and vast. It's not just a viewpoint canyon. You're entering a massive backcountry system with alpine basins, roaring rivers, and huge elevation changes that take days to truly experience."

Kings Canyon National Park, located in California's southern Sierra Nevada near the eastern border, is an underrated national park often overshadowed by Yosemite. The park features classic Sierra Nevada landscapes, towering sequoias, and glacially carved canyons without significant crowds. Kings Canyon itself is one of the deepest canyons in the country, dropping over 8,000 feet from rim to river in some places. The canyon's scale encompasses a massive backcountry system with alpine basins, roaring rivers, and significant elevation changes requiring multiple days to fully explore. The park entrance fee is $35 per vehicle or $20 per person for foot or bike entry, with card payment required. America the Beautiful passes are accepted.

Read at Travel + Leisure