We stayed at the Cedar Grove Lodge for four nights (Mon-Fri) the week after the Fourth of July and were satisfied with everything about it. As with other National Park lodges, our room was modestly sized, but clean. It had a telephone, no television, a wall-mounrted AC, and a small bathroom with shower. As mentioned elsewhere, the hallway between rooms is narrow. There are stairs and a handicap ramp at opposite ends of the building for access to the upper floor rooms.
You aren't roughing it compared to your other option of camping, but this lodge is not a resort, so it is not for those people who want to vacation in their hotel! The building is situated so that all of the rooms have a view of the Kings River, which flows by within 50-100 feet. The river was still running quite high the first week of July and, ironically, my wife had to get up the first night we stayed to close our window, because the river noise was keeping her awake!
No cooking is allowed in the guiest rooms, but there are picnic tables with grills outside the building. The restaurant/snack bar on the first floor is also an eating option, but the menu is limited, so you will be repeating your choices within a few days. There is nothing else nearer than General Grant Grove, which is a winding, 1-hour climb/drive away. The restaurant staff gave us hot water to make tea with our own teabags at no charge each day.
The setting here is simply gorgeous! We spent almost all of our non-sleeping time outside the lodge, which is what anyone staying here should plan on doing as well. There can be excellent trout fishing (brook and brown) in the Kings River and its tributaries. The clean air is wonderful and Zumwalt Meadow and the surrounding views of the canyon are breathtakingly beautiful - and the views change constantly from morning to evening. Roaring River Falls is a short, 1/4-mile hike from the road.
The Park Service has a major 'bear awareness' campaign underway - any food or anything that is aromatic left in your car can result in a $150 fine. Apparently the black bears can recognize grocery bags, coolers, etc. as food containers. If a bear tears your vehicle open to get at some food, you will get a ticket!
We didn't see any bears, but did get a friendly warning from another couple while eating a picnic dinner along the river near sunset that they had seen a mother bear and cub moving toward us from up river and a male bear coming toward us from down river as they drove by - they made a U-turn to come back and suggest that we might want to finish our dinner and pack up!
- Also Known As:
- Cedar Grove Hotel Sequoia And Kings Canyon National Park
- Cedar Grove Hotel
- Hotel Cedar Grove
Region:
United States >
California >
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
Amenities:
Free Parking
Restaurant
Ranked #4 of 5 hotels in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
Price Range:
$
