America's longest mountain range, the Sierra Nevada is located here. Mt.Whitney in the park is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States is located here. This mountain stands 14,491 tall above the sea level. There are another eleven peaks of over 14,000 feet within the preserves of the park. In the Kings Canyon National Park the mountain range that extends toward the West of the Sierra Nevada crest is known as the Goddard and Monarch divide. The lofty peaks here are over 13,000 feet high. A second range of mountains, The Great Western Divide, runs parallel to the Sierra crest. Here the peaks are less in elevation but even then are over 12,000 feet high. These mountains are visible from the Moro Rock and the Giant Forest area. (Geology Fieldnotes: Sequoia and Kings Canton National Parks 2004)

Within the lap of these mighty peaks lie the deep, breath taking canyons. These are spectacular, majestic and cast their magic spell at first sight. The most significant canyon is the Kings Canyon. It is a glacial valley, and has beautiful waterfalls, gorges, lush green landscape and set amidst the grandeur of the upright mountain cliffs. A little distance outside the park the Canyon becomes deep, one of the deepest in the country.

The South Fork and Middle forks of the Kings River converge at 2,260 feet. On the North side of this point is the Spanish Peak. There are score of other canyons (including the Tokopah Valley above Lodgepole, Deep Canyon) and rivers ( Kaweah River, the Kern River, two forks of the Kings River).

A great majority of the mountains and canyons are formed in the granite. As per the geologists these rock formations (granite, diorite and monzonite) have evolved molten rock, formed as a by-product of a geologic process known as subduction, cooled well below the surface of the earth. The geologists have further theorized that powerful forces in the earth created the landmass under the waters of the Pacific Ocean beneath and below an advancing North American Continent. The ultra hot water rose from the active ocean floor and melted rock as it went. This geological process is estimated to have occurred a hundred million years ago. The grantic rocks here carry a speckled salt and pepper appearance on account of the presence of various minerals such as quartz, feldspars and micas. ( Geology Resources Overview, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park 2004)

The Sierra Nevada range, in geological time frame, is considered young at age ten million years! During this period there have been four glacial advances. These have left a thick coating of ice behind, on these mountains. Glaciers need cool and wet climate for their formation. The southern-most glaciers in North America are within the Park Range. Glaciers move through mountains a river in ultra slow motion. Such glacier movement carves deep canyons and rugged peaks. The extensive history of glaciation have resulted in creation of (i) erosion resistant granitic rocks and (ii) magnificent scenery of beautiful valleys and peaks, waterfalls, alpine lakes and massive glacial canyons. ( Geology Resources Overview, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park 2004)