CONFLUENCE - Kings River South and Middle Fork
Posted by: Groundspeak Regular Member Bernd das Brot Team
N 36° 50.276 W 118° 52.513
11S E 332788 N 4078534
Junction of the two main forks of California's Kings River
Waymark Code: WM3NZ5
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 04/27/2008
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member silverquill
Views: 55

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Wherever one travels on Kings Canyon Road, one cannot escape the magnificent view of the junction of the two main forks of the Kings River. However, only few people actually make it all the way down to the place where the South and Middle Fork, coming from the top of the Sierra Nevada meet in roaring thunder.

Junction View

A first look at the river

The easiest view to see (and hear) the junction is at a highway vista point called Junction View, 2,300 feet above the river.

The junction seen from 2,300 ft above

Zoomed in on the junction

Yucca Point Trail

Hiking down to the river

For those who want more, there is Yucca Point Trail, winding down the slopes of Kings Canyon and leading right to the river.

Yucca Point Trail

Trailhead

The trail is steep and the hike is somewhat strenuous, but those who do it are rewarded with an amazing experience:

The merging of two wild, untamed rivers, coming from the snowy top of the Sierra Nevada and merging in a steep canyon, carved by the forces of water and time.


We usually avoid polluting a perfectly pristine landscape with our own images but here we just had to produce some proof that we really made it there.

Joining Forces

Once the Middle Fork (top left) and the South Fork (top right) joined forces, they continue together, pick up the North Fork
16 miles downstream and move on through Fresno County until they end up in the Central Valley, being completely diverted to irrigation.

Kings River after the merge

Kings Canyon Road

The Story continues...

After Yucca Point, Kings Canyon Road continues for another 20 miles along the South Fork of the Kings River.

We know, these pictures have nothing to
do with the confluence-topic, but we find
this wild river so amazing that we just want
to share these pictures with everybody else
who loves rivers.

Parking Coordinates: N 36° 49.821 W 118° 52.623

Trailhead Coordinates: N 36° 49.821 W 118° 52.623

Relevant Web Site: Not listed

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