Kings River, River system in San Joaquin Valley, United States
The Kings River is a river system flowing through central California that cuts deep canyons through the landscape before reaching Pine Flat Lake and branching into multiple channels. The waterway flows through parts of three counties in the San Joaquin Valley region.
The river was named by Spanish explorer Gabriel Moraga during a military expedition in 1806, marking the first European documentation of this waterway. This naming event introduced the river to maps and records used by European settlements.
The Yokuts people built settlements along the riverbanks where they fished and traded for generations, shaping how the landscape was used and valued.
You can explore the area on day hikes with varying difficulty depending on which trailheads and viewpoints you visit along the river. The best times to visit are when water levels are moderate, neither at flood stage nor at their lowest point in summer.
The river carves Kings Canyon with extraordinary depths and contains Garlic Falls, a powerful waterfall tucked deep within the gorge that few visitors discover. This hidden feature remains largely unknown to those who only explore the valley floor.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
