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9 Mist Falls
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Location: Cedar Grove, Kings Canyon National Park, Fresno County
Height: ~60 ft.
Access:  
Distance: 7.6 miles (RT)
Elevation: 5000 ft. (+600 ft.)
Season: May-Sep
Difficulty: 
Lat/Long:36.81414, -118.54853
Directions:Located along Hwy 180 at Road's End, 5.6 miles east of Cedar Grove village
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Mist Falls is an awesome waterfall along the South Fork Kings River, dropping 60 ft. in a spectacular display. It is actually better to see later in the summer when the river is lower. In the spring, when the snow is melting, it is just a big white mess. We were here in early June 2007, but due to the bad winter we had in California, the level of the river was more like a usual August.
It is a 4 mile hike to Mist Falls. I started hiking in the dark in order to get to the falls shortly after sunrise and photograph the waterfall in good lighting conditions. The first two miles of the hike are very flat and easy going. At 2 miles you reach a junction, where you turn left to go to Mist Falls. The sign indicates it is 3 more miles to the falls, but it is definitely only 2 miles. From here the trail is still fairly easy for the next mile, but the last mile of the trail is steep, and this is where you climb most of that 600 ft. in elevation.
Mist Falls certainly lives up to its name. There was even mist at the lookout along the trail. As you approach the falls closer, it feels like it is raining (hard) and you get very wet. It is an awesome experience, be sure you do go right up to the waterfall. But it is a difficult waterfall to photograph, with all the mist everywhere.
You can continue up the trail to the brink of the falls. There are more cascades right above Mist Falls. And it is an interesting view at the brink of Mist Falls. But do not, I repeat, do not venture out on the very slick granite rock to get a closer view. The rocks are very slippery, and if you fall, you will go right over the falls.
You can also get a view of another waterfall, Gardiner Creek Falls, from the top of Mist Falls.
Zoom out on map to see all nearby waterfalls:
Other waterfalls nearby:
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