Kings

The road ends at a gate at Garnet Dike Creek. There are pit toilets and primitive camping is allowed. The standard launch spot is at the base of Garnet Dike rapid. Ambitious boaters can carry to the top of Garnet Dike rapid(class 4ish)or launch in the middle.

A long island divides the river. The standard route is the left channel past big laterals coming off the left bank. Conservative boaters stay middle.

A large round boulder rests in the pool where the two channels merge. At flows above 5,000 cfs this boulder forms a big sticky, raft flipping hole, 'Train Wreck', that catches the unwary. Swimmers here will tend to flush on through Bear Wallow. The commercial rafters tend to run a right side chute at high flows to avoid any possible 'Train Wrecks'.

A wide entry is guarded by numerous large rocks or holes. The river then funnels towards Banzai Hole. Boaters paddle to the left to miss the hole. Banzai Hole is worse at about 1,500 to 2,000 cfs. At higher flows it forms a wave. Class 4 above 10,000 cfs. A huge ledge hole forms at the end of the rapid on the right. Commercial rafters run a left side chute at these flows. Class 5 above 18,000 cfs. Most boaters launch at Hermits at these flows and above. There is nice camping on the terrace next to Bear Wallow rapid and boaters can launch just below this rapid.

Strong hydraulics down a straight section.

River left channel carries the main flow. A right channel is available at higher flows. River curves to the right at the end past several holes along the left wall.

Standard Launching area which avoids Bear Wallow Rapid. Named for Clarence Quigley; the Hermit of the Kings River, who lived in Fox Canyon from 1913 to 1975. There are pit toilets, but no camping allowed. Boat launching only.

Right channel is Bump City Rapid, a sharp left at top of the rapid and big rocks and holes on right side of the rapid. Left Channel is Bump City Bypass; a steep narrow entry into a long shallow chute.  The bypass is only available at higher flows.

Two large low rocks mark the entrance to a left turn. At higher flows,10,000+ cfs stay away from the right wall pour overs. (Two people died in seperate incidents, in 1986 after swimming from this point at around 17,000 cfs).

An island bar divides river into two channels. A big wave train forms where the two channels merge. Good play spots for kayakers are on right just below.

A rapid that changes from year to year. The river drops over several channels across a gravel bar.

A large boulder sits in the middle of the current after a right hand turn. Boats can go to either side at most flows, but the main channel is to the right. The left side becomes rocky at low flows. At high enough flows this boulder forms a wrap spot or flipping hole.

A steep drop that funnels down then curves sharply left. At moderate flows enter river right and move left to avoid the large pour over, Raft Ripper, at the bottom on river right. At higher flows do not go left high in rapid, as a large hidden hole will flip rafts.

The river gradually curves to the right, then down a moderate drop with a nice wave train that leads into a large keeper hole. May be the best raft flipping trap on the river as it is difficult to see from upstream in the rapid until you are staring into the maw. Oops! At higher flows a seperate channel opens up on river right, avoiding the hole.

A long steep, classic S turn rapid. Stay right at the bottom to stay away from the rocks and pour overs against the cliff wall.

River Access and camping area. No toilets, but nice beach.

A straight chute with often very big waves. Tends to have the steepest waves at lower flows 1,400 cfs.

A long rapid starts off very wide. A center left run or a more technical run down the right edge gadually funnel down to a wave train in the middle.

The river drops over a wide rock studded shoal. The cleanest routes are center or just right. The current slams into a jagged cliff wall at the bottom. Stay right.

A large interesting pool with weird currents over a hidden ledge.   The ledge sticks out from the river right wall and was a decent play spot previous to 1997.    The currents can still provide good entertainment.

A shady lunch spot at the mouth of Mill Flat Creek.  A forest service campground with pit toilets is on the hill above the confluence.   This is a favorite stopping place for the commercial companies and for many others. Nice swimming holes can be found at the confluence and along the creek upstream.

Several bedrock intrusions form pour overs and eddies on river right.
A large group campsite is on river left with pit toilets.

A long straight rapid runs into the left wall forming a very large eddy on the left. It is a favorite stopping area as the eddy current will carry swimmers out to the rapid and then back to shore, round and round as long as they want. It is also a good place to swim a rapid from above as it is easy to reach the eddy. A large group campsite is on the river left also.

A square rock on river left is commonly used to judge the river level. It forms a good surfing spot above 3,500 cfs.

Forrest service campground on river left. There are tables & pit toilets, but no Green Cabins.

A long sweeping right turn with a big wave hole is called Upper Wild Cat.   This leads to a steep funnel chute called Lower Wildcat. Big waves form at the bottom of the funnel and extend around a bend to the left.  At some flows the waves of lower Wildcat provide spectacular surfing.   A large eddy on river left provides service to the surf waves.

Long flat stretch with good surfing holes on left at some flows. Can also be quite sticky!

Large desolate group campsite on river right with pit toilets and large sand hill. Reservations are required.

The river divides. Right channel is Gravel Flats Rapid. Left channel is Devil's Staircase. Left channel provides river access to the Camp 4 1/2 campground on river left. Pit toilets and rental cabin available by reservation. Contact Sequoia Nat Forrest.

A large buried rock forms a hole where the two channel merge. A large wave train extends downstream at flows of 7,000 cfs and above.

The river drops down to the left then bends sharp to the right, past large boulders on the left and middle. Boaters are forced to enter in the middle at the top of the rapid, but must work hard to get right as soon as possible to avoid the pour overs on the bottom left. There are narrow and exciting routes through the rocks on the left at most flows, but a mistake will lead to carnage. Scout from river left.

A single hole or wave lies in the middle of a long flattish stretch. Can be an excellent play spot.

A striped rock on river right center, signals this rapid.  The rapid constricts to the left over the initial drops. A wonderful wave train bends to the right. At high flows the left cliff wall can rip rafts.    At many flows, the wave train provides excellent surfing and or nose stands.   Good eddies provide return service.

A small rocky rapid leads under this steel bridge. The bridge was reportedly built from surplus World War 2 army components.

A long gradual rapid runs past the confluence with the NF Kings on river right. An unofficial campsite is on river right at the confluence.

Immediately after NF rapid there is a short drop on river left, 'The Falls'. Just below is a semi-truck sized bedrock formation, '50-50 Rock', which guards the left side. Water flows over 50-50 Rock at around 15,000 cfs, forming a huge hole. Boaters can safely run the wave train down the center past these two formations, or explore the left side possibilities. Sidewinder proper is a wide bouldery shoal with numerous routes. The easier routes are to the right and the more exciting routes are to the left.  Scout from the road.

If boaters stay far right after Sidewinder they can enter the 'Chicken Chute' which is a long narrow rocky channel that avoids Rooster Tail Rapid. Most boaters stay left after Sidewinder and enter 'The Narrows', which requires a series of interesting maneuvers through a field of boulders and ledges.
Kayaks will find some excellent play spots at many flows.

The river funnels steeply down into a narrow violent wave train. Rafts and kayaks are often and easily flipped here, especially at low flows when the rapid is more violent. Also at low flows swimmers or kayakers who flip have often hit rocks hard. This rapid is easier at higher flows. Roostertail Video

A small rapid, 'Little Bear', leads to the bridge. Good primitive campsites on river left, both above and below the bridge. Do not drive or park in the riparian zone. Also a good car campsite on river right upstream of the bridge.

A clean rapid with lots of big waves curves gradually to the right and eventually leads to the Kirch Flat take out on river right. This rapid is underwater when Pine Flat reservoir is at full capacity, but reappears when the reservoir drops below 937 feet approximately.

This is a fun rapid to swim with a river board. Swimmers can launch at the top of Kirch Flat campground, take out at the bottom of the campground, then walk back to the top to do it again. It does take effort to swim from shore out to the deep water, without getting swept over shallows before the the rapid funnels together.