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  4. CT News 2021, Issue 3.
  5. Road trippin': Mendota to Roads End

Road trippin': State Route 180, beginning to end

A royal adventure, from great valley to the deep canyon

State Route 180 is not unique in the sense that it passes through contrasting countrysides and cityscapes. But somewhat like its northern cousin, State Route 140, SR-180 stretches from the vast flatness of the Central Valley deep into and windily up the Sierra Nevada, where it dead-ends in a national park. Join CT News as we venture from the proud agricultural town of Mendota all the way over, up and around to the backpackers' launchpad into Kings Canyon National Park, at Roads End.

State Route 180

180-00 (Screen shot courtesy of Google Maps)
180-01 State Route 180's westernmost point it at the junction of State Route 33 in the Central Valley town of Mendota.
180-02 From its western starting point in Mendota, Highway 180 sets out on a level and straight path to Fresno, an hour away.
180-03 Kerman is about halfway between Mendota to the west and Fresno to the east.
180-04 State Route 180 rolls through Rolinda, a Central Valley that has relatively few residents and evidently isn;t too high, either.
180-05 On its western approach to Fresno, Highway 180 morphs into a freeway. At right, in the distance, downtown Fresno peeks out.
180-06 Not far east of Fresno, State Route 180 is still flat, but hills and mountains come into view (air quality permitting).
180-07 The Friant-Kern Canal alongside State Route 180 was markedly dry in May.
180-08 The rainy season, such as it was in 2020-2021, was obviously a fading, brown memory along State Route 180 in May.
180-09 Motorists who pull over beside Highway 180 as it enters the mountains can look back and see (again, air quality permitting) the Central Valley.
180-10 Wintry weather annually closes State Route 180 between Grant Grove and Cedar Grove, and can temporarily shut Highway 198, too.
180-11 As it enters the mountains, Highway 180 provides access to a small cluster of national forests, monuments and parks.
180-12 Roadside signs, as they do throughout the Golden State, along State Route 180 point out noteworthy wildlife, topical features and historical events.
180-13 Highway 180 nears its junction with Highway 198. The former continues on to Kings Canyon National Park, while the latter goes to Sequoia National Park.
180-14 A few miles before the State Route 198 junction, State Route 245 juts off to the south toward Pinehurst, Badger and Auckland.
180-15 Big, tall trees -- really, really big and tall trees -- loom over the entrance kiosks for Kings Canyon and Sequoia national parks on Highway 180.
180-16 South of its meeting State Route 180, State Route 198 is known as Generals Highway and is one of the state's prettiest roadways.
180-17 Grant Grove Village, the gateway to Kings Canyon National Park, contains a visitors center, general store, lodging options, campgrounds and trails.
180-18 Recent wildfires are starkly in evidence just east of Grant Grove, before State Route 180 begins its descent to Kings Canyon.
180-19 The eastern portion of California's Highway 180 is designated as a National Scenic Byway.
180-21 Springtime wildflowers add to the glorious views along State Route 180, as the South Fork of Kings River becomes visible in the distance.
180-22 The South Fork of the Kings River comes into sharper focus, and starts to be heard, as Highway 180 nears the canyon's entrance.
180-23 Boyden Cavern, located approximately where State Route 180 meets the Kings River, again is open for tours.
180-24 Just past Boyden Cavern, motorists can pull over to get a closer look at the South Fork of Kings River. Swimming in it is not prudent, however!
180-25 As State Route 180 continues eastward toward Cedar Grove, trees and brush dominate views more than the river does.
180-26 It can be difficult to keep track of park and monument borders along this route. Nearing Cedar Grove, SR-180 re-enters Kings Canyon National Park.
180-27 At Cedar Grove, there is a visitors center along with several campgrounds, a store and a lodge.
180-28 CT News is of the opinion that the best views inside Kings Canyon are not at vista points such as this one, but rather are from trails.
180-29 State Route 180 comes to an end at aptly named Roads End. To get to the Eastern Sierra from here, you either hike up, up, up, or settle in for a long car ride.