The Yu's Rh-catalyzed [3+2+1] cycloaddition followed by a Pd-mediated 5-endo cycloalkenylation is shown to be a general and powerful approach for efficient construction of the tetracyclic core structure of ent-kaurane diterpenoids. The utility of this strategy was further demonstrated by concise and protecting-group-free total syntheses of ent-la-hydroxykauran-12-one, 12-oxo-9,11-dehydrokaurene, and 12 alpha-hydroxy-9,11-dehydrokaurene.