Highway 180 to Cedar Grove and Roads at Kings Canyon: what applies in 2026?

Direct answer

Highway 180 to Cedar Grove and Roads End closes for the winter (typically mid-November to late April/early May)

Exact conditions

Status: Not required; the stated access rule still applies
Applies to: vehicles
Place or corridor: Highway 180 (Kings Canyon Scenic Byway) from Hume Lake Road east to Roads End — the only road into the Kings River Canyon and the Cedar Grove area. Status at time of checking: OPEN.
Effective dates: January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026
Release model: first come

Release detail: Live status is on the parks' Road Conditions page and the 24-hour road hotline: (559) 565-3341 (press 1, then 1 again).

Exceptions and limits

The Grant Grove area (Big Stump Entrance Station to Hume Lake Road, General Grant Tree, Kings Canyon Visitor Center) stays open year round, subject to temporary snow closures.
Tire chains can be required at any time on park roads due to snow and ice; vehicles without proper traction devices may not be allowed on certain roads or into the parks.
Opening and closing dates may change depending on weather and conditions — no fixed dates are published.

Official source

National Park Service · reviewed August 27, 2026

Hume Lake Road to Roads End (access to the Cedar Grove area) — Provides access to the Kings River Canyon and Cedar Grove area. This section of the highway closes for the winter. It typically closes in early to mid-November and reopens in late April or early May.

Road Conditions - Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (U.S. National Park Service)