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Park geography

A comprehensive map-based analysis of landscape features and regional topography

Kings Canyon National Park Geographic Profile: Boundaries, Elevation, and Terrain Data

This geographic profile details the physical characteristics of Kings Canyon National Park, spanning 1869.25 square kilometers across Tulare and Fresno counties in California. Examine the mountain relief, including peaks such as Mount Brewer and Tehipite Dome, alongside a vast array of habitats ranging from alpine meadows to Mediterranean forest zones.

Related tags

Sierra NevadaGiant SequoiasGlacial ValleysWilderness AreaMountain Peaks

Deep glacial canyons and ancient giant sequoias in California's Sierra Nevada

Kings Canyon National Park

Kings Canyon National Park is a sprawling wilderness preserve in the southern Sierra Nevada of California, spanning over 461,000 acres across Fresno and Tulare Counties. The park is centered on Kings Canyon, a dramatic glacier-carved valley that plunges more than a mile deep, featuring towering granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and pristine mountain meadows. Originally established in 1890 as General Grant National Park to protect a small grove of giant sequoia trees, the park was significantly expanded and renamed in 1940 to encompass the rugged backcountry and the stunning eastern canyon country. Kings Canyon shares a northern boundary with Sequoia National Park, and the two parks are jointly managed by the National Park Service as one unified unit. The park encompasses some of the steepest vertical relief in North America, with peaks exceeding 14,000 feet rising from valley floors at just 4,500 feet, creating a landscape of extraordinary topographic diversity.

Location
United States of America
Park type
National park
Established
1890
Area
1,869.3 km²
Highest point
4,343 m
Kings Canyon National Park National Park Details
Location overview

Administrative boundaries in California, Fresno, and Tulare Counties

Kings Canyon National Park Geographic Location and Regional Setting

Kings Canyon National Park lies in the United States within California, Fresno County, and Tulare County. Regional membership records define the administrative layout and inland geographic status of the protected area.
Countries
United States of America
Regions
California, Fresno County, Tulare County
Primary location
California
Geographic setting
Inland
Boundary and coordinates

Analyzed territory size, coordinate limits, and mapped park geometry

Kings Canyon National Park Boundary Map and Spatial Extent

Mapped park geometry provides spatial context for understanding territorial distribution and shape. Accompanying boundary facts detail total land area measurements alongside geographic coordinate spans.
Pigeon | © OpenStreetMap contributors
Boundary area
1,857.1 km²
Boundary perimeter
312.9 km
Northernmost point
37.2376° N
Southernmost point
36.5929° N
Easternmost point
118.3339° W
Westernmost point
118.9828° W
Geographic centre
36.8916° N, 118.598° W
North–south span
71.6 km
East–west span
57.8 km
Kings Canyon National Park
Elevation and terrain

Explore recorded vertical relief ranges and prominent peaks within the park boundary.

Kings Canyon National Park Elevation and Mountain Terrain Geography

Recorded elevation data outlines a vertical range spanning from 1400 meters up to the highest point at 4343 meters. Linked feature cards supply names, classifications, and spatial relationships for recorded natural features.
Minimum elevation
1,400 m
Maximum elevation
4,343 m
Highest point
4,343 m

Selected named natural features

Mountain saddles

Emerald Pass

3,465 m

Mountain saddles

Gimme Pass

3,182 m

Peaks

Giraud Peak

3,838 m

Lakes

Doe Lake

Streams

Moraine Creek

Lakes

Lower Palisade Lake

Environmental setting

Interpreting mountain relief, forest cover, and Mediterranean climate zones

Kings Canyon National Park Environmental Setting and Landscape Classifications

Recorded landscape features and habitat types provide complementary ways to read the physical setting of Kings Canyon National Park. Associated categories connect directly to relevant atlas destinations where available.
Relief
Mountain
Climate
Mediterranean
Water
Major water bodies
Forest cover
Mostly forested
Seasonality
Strongly seasonal

Landscape features

Valleys · Glacier · Mountains · Grassland · Rivers · Forest · Woodland · Cliffs · Lakes · Waterfalls · Cave

Habitat types

Shrubland · Montane forest · Temperate coniferous forest · Alpine meadow · Tundra habitat · Lacustrine habitat · Wetland · Riverine habitat · Glacial habitat · Karst habitat

Park atlas

Explore the Sierra Nevada's Glacial Valleys, Giant Sequoias, and Mountain Protected Landscapes for Comparative Park Discovery

Discover Other National Parks and Protected Areas Near Kings Canyon National Park

Continue your exploration beyond Kings Canyon National Park by browsing other national parks and protected areas across the Sierra Nevada mountains. Compare the unique glacial valleys, ancient sequoia groves, and towering mountain peaks within the surrounding California protected landscape.
A horizontal watercolor painting depicting a mountain range in the background with rolling hills and a winding river or stream in the foreground.
Protected landscapeCalifornia
Park boundaries overlap#1 closest

North

Inyo National Forest: An Atlas of Protected Landscapes and Sierra Nevada Geography

High altitude wilderness and volcanic terrain in Eastern California

Spanning from the arid Owens Valley floor to the 14,000 foot crest of the Sierra Nevada, Inyo National Forest remains a cornerstone of the American West. This protected landscape contains the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, Mount Whitney, and the Mono Inyo volcanic chain, providing a dense geographic record of glacial, tectonic, and ecological diversity across a vast managed corridor.

Area
7,702.71 km²
Established
1907
IUCN
Ib
Relief
Mountain
Watercolor painting of a lake bordered by a coniferous forest with mountain silhouettes in the distance.
Wildlife reserveTulare County
Park boundaries overlap#2 closest

South

Jennie Lakes Wilderness in Tulare County: Sierra Nevada Protected Landscape Map

High-country geography and wilderness boundaries

Jennie Lakes Wilderness offers a distinct look at high Sierra Nevada topography, featuring granite ridges, alpine lakes, and deep canyons. This Tulare County reserve acts as a critical transition zone between adjacent national parks, preserving a diverse mix of subalpine forests and rugged mountain peaks within its 10,500 acre boundary.

Area
42.72 km²
Established
1984
IUCN
Ib
Relief
Mountain
A watercolor painting showing a panoramic view of mountain ranges, a treeline, and a calm body of water in the foreground.
Wildlife reserveCalifornia
Park boundaries overlap#3 closest

Northwest

John Muir Wilderness: Sierra Nevada Protected Landscape and High Mountain Geography

California wilderness area with glacial basins and granite peaks

John Muir Wilderness represents one of the largest protected high-elevation areas in the contiguous United States. Spanning the Sierra Nevada crest, its granite terrain is sculpted by Pleistocene glaciation into sharp arêtes, deep canyons, and hundreds of alpine lakes. This wilderness serves as a vital geographic anchor for mountain ecosystems, offering an extensive look at the high-country landscape of eastern California.

Area
2,641.76 km²
Established
1964
IUCN
Ib
Relief
Mountain
Watercolor painting of a panoramic mountain landscape with stylized pine trees and soft green meadows.
Protected landscapeCalifornia
Park boundaries overlap#4 closest

South

Sequoia National Forest: Protected Sierra Nevada Geography and Mountain Terrain

A vast protected landscape spanning 1.1 million acres in California

Spanning Tulare, Kern, and Fresno counties, Sequoia National Forest preserves iconic giant sequoia groves across multiple river watersheds. The terrain features vertical relief exceeding 11,000 feet, showcasing a range of ecosystems from chaparral slopes and coniferous forests to glacial cirques and granite spires located within the southern Sierra Nevada range.

Area
4,829.17 km²
Established
1908
Relief
Mountain
Climate
Mediterranean
National parkCalifornia
Park boundaries overlap#5 closest

South

Sequoia National Park National Park: Geographic Identity and Protected Landscape Atlas

Explore mapped boundaries and the terrain of this California protected area.

Gain a structured understanding of Sequoia National Park as a protected landscape, focusing on its mapped geographic boundaries and its context within California. This entry provides foundational data for exploring the park's natural terrain and its role in a broader atlas of conservation lands, ideal for users seeking detailed geographic information.

Area
1,635.19 km²
Established
1890
IUCN
II
Visitors
1.2M annual
A soft watercolor painting showing a range of gentle rolling hills and mountains in pale green, yellow, and violet tones against a white background.
Protected landscapeCalifornia
Park boundaries overlap#6 closest

Northwest

Sierra National Forest: Protected Landscapes of the Central California Sierra Nevada

Geography of alpine lakes, conifer forests, and mountain basins

Spanning from 900 to nearly 14,000 feet in elevation, Sierra National Forest protects a massive vertical range of California terrain. Discover its iconic wilderness areas and reservoir-studded landscape, providing a deep look at the geographic connectivity between major national parks in the central Sierra Nevada.

Area
5,300 km²
Established
1893
Relief
Mountain
Climate
Alpine
National parkCalifornia
34 km away#7 closest

East

Death Valley National Park: Exploring California's Mapped Protected Landscape

View the geographic boundaries and desert terrain.

Access a detailed atlas perspective of Death Valley National Park, a protected national park situated in California. Understand the park's distinct mapped boundaries and its role within the regional geography. This resource highlights the unique desert landscape, offering focused insights into its protected-area identity and natural terrain for geographic discovery.

Area
13,848.4 km²
Established
1994
IUCN
II
Visitors
1.1M annual
Wildlife reserveFresno County
About 36 km away#8 closest

Northwest

Kaiser Wilderness: Exploring the Alpine Ridges and Glacial Terrain of the Central Sierra Nevada

A federally protected wilderness area in Fresno County, California.

Kaiser Wilderness offers a dense collection of signature Sierra Nevada landforms, including granite cliffs, subalpine forests, and high-altitude lakes. This wildlife reserve preserves a rugged, glacier-scoured interior that provides a distinct contrast to the surrounding regional landscape of the Sierra National Forest, making it a critical entity for understanding mid-elevation mountain ecology.

Area
92 km²
Established
1976
IUCN
Ib
Relief
Mountain
MoriAtlas Explorer

Continue Exploring Kings Canyon National Park's Mapped Landscape and Regional Geography

Deepen your understanding of Kings Canyon National Park by examining its precise mapped boundaries and its significant position within the California region. Further atlas exploration will reveal the park's protected landscape characteristics and its contribution to the broader geographic context of the area. This focused discovery is essential for anyone mapping protected lands and understanding the natural atlas.