The Don Cecil hiking trail goes from the relatively lower Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park up the southern canyon walls towards Lookout Peak, which is about 4,000 feet higher. The Cedar Grove area is about 2 hours East of Fresno (CA), although it may take you longer if you stop to enjoy/photograph the views of Kings Canyon from one of the many vista points along highway CA-180. It took me a little less time than that coming from Piedra (CA), but if I go there again I’d rather camp at one of the many sites in Cedar Grove, to get an earlier start and drive less the day-of the hike.

The environment of this trail and others in Cedar Grove stand in stark contrast to those in other parts of Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. These trails have much more sun exposure (no giant shade trees 😉 and go through dryer, hotter areas with scrubby plants, rocks and pine trees. Thus be sure to bring more water and sunscreen on your hikes.

Sheep Creek Cascade is the first major landmark along the trail, about 30 minutes/0.5 miles in. The volume and force of the water in Sheep Creek is impressive and you certainly would not want to get swept up in it. In addition to the roar of the water you might be lucky to feel a refreshing cool breeze emanating from the snow-melted water.

Although the trail goes steadily upward it doesn’t have a lot of switchbacks or steep sections. For the most part the path climbs at a modest incline and offers several good spots to take a break. This allows you to take it at your own pace and simply turn around and head back when you’ve gone far enough. I made it to a ridge where I could see far towards the West and North (previously all views were towards the Northeast). At that elevation the last little bit (~1.5 miles) to the top would have taken a lot more energy and time than I had left that day.

With few people and animals along the way, the trail is very quiet. Along one stretch a persistent buzzing sound broke the silence. Hundreds of carpenter bees were using a burned tree and fallen log as their home – a little mountain bee city.