Route #4 Kings Canyon Twist and Shout 247 miles – 458’ to 6,897’ elevation
¤ From the Best Western head east on Hwy 190
¤ Turn left on J37 (Balch Park Road) (look for the old white barn on the left)
¤ Turn left onto Yokohl Valley Road (this is a fun, tight and twisty road)
¤ Turn right at the T
¤ Turn right onto Hwy 198
¤ Turn left on Hwy 216 (look for the Texaco station)
¤ Turn right on Dry Creek Road
¤ Follow Dry Creek Road right onto Hwy 245
¤ Turn right onto Hwy 180 and follow the signs into Kings Canyon
¤ Turn around at the terminus of Hwy 180 and head back up out of the canyon
¤ Turn left on Hume Road
¤ Turn right on Generals Highway
¤ Turn left at intersection to Hwy 180
¤ Turn left on Dunlap Rd (be sure you stay on Dunlap through each intersection)
¤ Turn right on Hwy 245 (curvy, twisty, winding to sweepers in the valley)
¤ Follow Hwy 245 over Hwy 198 to Road 204 (you’ll find yourself in grove country)
¤ Turn left on Hwy 65 (look for the fruit stand on the right)
¤ Go east on Hwy 190 to Jaye St. and back to the Best Western
The longest of the rally’s suggested routes, Route 4 twists and backtracks through a variety of terrain between Porterville and Kings Canyon.
It starts in much the same manner as Route #1. East on Hwy 190 through the valley through Springville, left at the large old white barn onto J37 (Balch Park Road) then left to Yokohl Valley Road and so on to Hwy 198 and Lemon Cove. (For more details see Route #1)
! You may wish to top off your gas tank at the Texaco in Lemon Cove, as the next confirmed gas stop is nearly another 125 miles in Squaw Valley.
From Lemon Cove, turn left at the Texaco onto Hwy 216 for about a half-a-mile or so. The turnoff onto Dry Creek Road from 216 is IMMEDIATELY after the bridge. This intersection tends to be a bit sandy, so be careful.
Dry Creek is a narrow back road that will lead north to Hwy 245. Continue climbing north on Hwy 245 to Hwy 180. Turn right towards the western entrance of Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. Entrance to the park is $5.00 per person for motorcycles (two-up means $10). If you have a National Park Service’s ‘Golden Eagle Passport’ you will not be required to pay an entrance fee. Follow the road signs to Wilsonia and Kings Canyon.
The road into Kings Canyon and back is a most excellent motorcycle road and one of the most scenic in the parks. In the past, gas has been available at the antique gravity pumps in Kings Canyon, but what with all the changing EPA regulations, it’s probably best not to count on it. There is however, the usual snack bar/market/gift shop if you’d like to stop for lunch.
From Cedar Grove, head west back up out of the Canyon. Look for the turn-off to Hume Lake on your left. Hume Road is another narrow, twisty back road with sharp drop-offs. Keep an eye out for sand and rocks. Last year, gas was available in front of the little general store in the camp area. Look for it on your right before you get to the swimming pool (don’t blink, you might miss it!). However, as with the gas situation in Kings Canyon, it may or may not be available this year.
At Hwy 180, turn right. Soon you’ll come to a three-way intersection. Turn left and follow the highway out of the park. This stretch of Hwy 180 features great pavement and high-speed sweepers.
Dunlap Rd will be a small road on your left. Be sure to wait and take Dunlap Road – not just the first road that points towards the community of Dunlap. (If you’re short on gas, you may wish to continue west a short ways on Hwy 180 to the gas station in Squaw Valley then backtrack to Dunlap.) Dunlap Road then twists its way back to Hwy 245.
Turning right on Hwy 245 puts you back on the tail end of Route #1 down through the valley to Hwy 65 and Porterville. (Again, see Route #1 for details.)
Parts of this route can also be accessed by going straight up Hwy 65 to Hwy 198, Hwy 245 and Hwy 63 if you would rather make a shorter day.
