California · Hiking · Near Silver City

Don Cecil Trailhead

Don Cecil Trailhead
5.3 mi
round trip
3,826 ft
climb
8,516 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Don Cecil Trailhead open right now?

No closures listed

The National Park Service lists no closures for Kings Canyon National Park.

As of · Source: NPS · Kings Canyon National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Don Cecil Trailhead is a trailhead in Kings Canyon National Park in California, managed by the National Park Service. The route is an out-and-back that climbs from about 4,667 feet to 8,516 feet, a total gain of 3,826 feet over a round trip of about 10.6 miles. The trail is rated hard, and the climb is steep, so plan on a full day. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Huntington Lake show July and August highs around 74°F with lows near 49°F and only one or two wet days a month. That station sits about 1,500 feet below the trail's high point, so temperatures up top run cooler. Sentinel Campground and the South Fork Kings River are both within a quarter mile of the trailhead. Canyon View Group Sites and the Cedar Grove Bike Path are also close by.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Sentinel Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 0.2 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Cedar Grove Grill

    Fast food

    On your way back · 1 mi · Open after 6
  • If it rainsDavid Fulmer, CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Giant Forest Museum

    Museum

    On your way back · 16 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: David Fulmer, CC BY 2.0 (commons)

More in Silver City

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Don Cecil Trailhead

    Best months: May–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      43° / 24°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      44° / 23°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      46° / 26°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      50° / 29°

      8 wet

    5. May

      56° / 36°

      6 wet

    6. Jun

      66° / 42°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      74° / 49°

      2 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 49°

      1 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 44°

      2 wet

    10. Oct

      58° / 37°

      4 wet

    11. Nov

      49° / 31°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      44° / 25°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Huntington Lake, CA, 42.9 mi away at 7,020 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Cedar Grove Bike PathPhoto: NPS staff, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Cedar Grove Bike Path

Next door

0.56-mile out-and-back bike path in California with 43 ft of elevation gain.

Hotel-CreekPhoto: NPS staff, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Hotel-Creek

Next door

3.02-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,404 ft gain and max elevation 6,191 ft.

HIKE

Lewis Creek Trailhead

~2 min drive

This trailhead orientation panel shows a map and images of the Lewis Creek Trail area. Lewis Creek Trail is a 9.8 miles one-way trail at a difficult incline. This can be a hot and dusty climb, and the trail becomes difficult to follow north of Kennedy Pass. The trail offers…

HIKE

Copper Creek

~8 min drive

This trailhead orientation panel shows a map and images of the Copper Creek Trail area. Copper Creek Trail is 10 miles one-way (20 miles round-trip) at a difficult incline. The trail travels through several aspen forests and meadows, ending at Granite Lake, a stop that…

Cedar Grove OverlookPhoto: jimmyharris, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Cedar Grove Overlook

~2 min drive

0.46-mile out-and-back trail to Cedar Grove Overlook in California's National Park Service system.

Lower Lewis CreekPhoto: jimmyharris, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lower Lewis Creek

~2 min drive

1.92-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,222 ft gain and 5,782 ft max elevation.

Happy GapPhoto: Tom Hilton, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Happy Gap

~7 min drive

8-mile out-and-back trail in California with 2,742 ft of elevation gain.

Lightning CreekPhoto: Genista, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lightning Creek

~2 min drive

0.68-mile out-and-back trail in California's National Park Service system with 53 ft of elevation gain.

Upper Lewis CreekPhoto: jimmyharris, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Upper Lewis Creek

~3 min drive

4.07-mile out-and-back trail in California with 2,096 ft elevation gain.

Lower Copper Creek SwitchbacksPhoto: lewinb, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lower Copper Creek Switchbacks

~8 min drive

4.37-mile out-and-back trail in California with 2,747 ft elevation gain.

Route details

Distance
5.3 mi round trip
Climbing
About 3,826 ft
Starts at
Don Cecil - lower Trailhead (about 4,666 ft)
Summit
8,518 ft
Difficulty
Hard

Other routes up Lookout Peak

Questions about this route

How long is the Don Cecil Trailhead on Lookout Peak?

About 5.3 mi round trip from Don Cecil - lower Trailhead (about 4,666 ft).

How much elevation gain is on the Don Cecil Trailhead?

About 3,826 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Don Cecil Trailhead?

It is rated hard.

Where does the Don Cecil Trailhead start?

Don Cecil - lower Trailhead (about 4,666 ft).

How many routes go up Lookout Peak?

2: Lookout Peak and Don Cecil Trailhead.

Conditions and forecast on Lookout Peak

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.