Cedar Grove Lodge

The Kings River runs right by a patio sitting area with lounge chairs, a lovely spot to relax after hiking. Our room was clean and adequate, and the setting is beautiful. I hoped there'd be a grill so we could cook some meals, but the fires in the area made that understandable. A mini fridge would have been useful. There’s no TV or cell service, and guest WiFi is limited. I loved the break from all the noise of the world.

After hiking all day, I was counting on a shower. At the store, a young girl brushed me off when I asked for shower tokens, saying they were out for the day and I should come back tomorrow. She blamed someone taking them over Labor Day and showed no concern about the hassle. Running short seems fixable if they collect tokens midway through the day for other guests. I understand things happen, but her rudeness was the last straw.

The stream beside the lodge is beautiful, and we even saw a bear wandering all around the lodge at about 5:30 am, so be careful in the area early in the morning. It’s a great base for hiking Kings National Park. There are some basic food and camping supplies at the lodge, though the cafe had sold out of most menu items when we visited.

The beds were great, and I slept better than I expected. The pillows weren’t too flat either. You can relax in lounge chairs by the river, though there’s no mini fridge in the rooms. The walls don’t block much sound, especially in rooms near the entrances, so light sleepers should definitely bring earplugs.