Kings River Overlook

This is a great family hike short enough for little ones but with enough features to keep little ones engaged.  From the parking area, it's about .6 miles on a relatively flat, well-marked trial to the overlook.  (Plenty of room to step off trail for social distancing)  We went in April with three teenagers and a three-year-old and it was easy enough for the little guy to enjoy and not get tired, and the views, cave and waterfall kept the teenagers engaged.

After about .4 miles you will notice trails to the bluffs just 20 feet off the trail to your right that offer initial looks as the valley deepens.  Good idea to start keeping a closer eye on the little ones there as it only gets steeper.  The end of the trail opens up on a good sized cliff face that overlooks a hairpin turn in the Kings River from a couple hundred feet up.  There are plenty of places to sit and plenty of shade, but the edge is steep and straight down.

As you're going to the overlook, about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way in there is a smaller trail running perpendicular to the main trail.  To the left about 50 feet is a small cave.  To the right you can work your way down 300 feet to the top of a waterfall going through a hole in the rocks and falling 30-40 ft to a basin with deep overhangs.  To get to the basin there's a trail running about 700 feet on the right which allows you to work your way down into the basin and then walk back to the waterfall where the pics were taken.  Getting to the waterfall is a little tougher for small children, but it's doable.  Under the overhang people have set up a firepit with rocks stacked like a bench.  

On your way out of the basin, start back the same way you came in, but to the left there's a trail that goes straight back to the parking area if you've already been to the overlook and are ready to head home without going back to the main trail.

We spent a couple hours, including plenty of lazy time at the overlook on a gorgeous spring day, and even the teenagers had nothing to complain about!