Moon Sequoia & Kings Canyon

DISCOVER Sequoia & Kings Canyon

10 TOP EXPERIENCES

Planning Your Trip

SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON IN-PARK LODGING

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR…

ESCAPE THE CROWDS

IN THE PARK

Best of Sequoia and Kings Canyon

GO STARGAZING

Family Fun

BEST HIKES

BEST IN ONE DAY

Backpacker’s Paradise

BEST WATERFALLS

Romantic Getaways

BUDGET TIPS

Your experiences in Sequoia and Kings Canyon can be like the features of the parks themselves: the biggest, highest, and deepest.

Sequoia National Park houses the two largest living trees in the world: General Sherman and General Grant. The tallest peak in the contiguous United States is Mount Whitney, soaring above the Sierra Nevada at 14,505 feet high. Driving the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway drops you into one of the deepest canyons in the United States, even deeper than the Grand Canyon. From the top of the Sierra Nevada down to the Kings River, countless waterfalls hurtle off cliffsides. Towering above the giant trees are granite spires and marble walls, carved by glaciers into nature’s immense sculptures.

Most of the parks’ two million annual visitors come for the giant sequoias. Of all the denizens of earth, sequoias are among the oldest, rarest, and largest. The sheer magnitude of these giants defies description and confounds cameras. These remnants of an ancient time once covered the northern hemisphere. Most of the groves remaining in the world persist in a narrow band in Sequoia and Kings Canyon. You can’t help but be awestruck when you’re standing at the base of General Sherman Tree, the largest living thing on earth.

The natural world awaits around every bend of river, road, and trail. Wildflowers paint hillsides along the Kings and Kaweah Rivers in spring. Squirrels chatter and jays shriek. Bears shuffle along the same trails as we do.

Human history is preserved here, too: Among the oaks are grinding stones, where Native Americans once processed acorns to feed their families. Underneath it all lies a system of 200 caves, many of which remain untouched by humans.

These are your parks. Get out there and explore! Gawk up at thousands of giant sequoias. Find unparalleled solitude in the open expanses of windswept granite in the backcountry. Walk along narrow wooded trails, glimmering gold meadows, or snowy paths. Peer up at ink-dark skies and try to count all the stars. Sequoia and Kings Canyon contain enough adventure for a lifetime.

10 TOP EXPERIENCES

Planning Your Trip

Where to Go

Foothills

The foothills of the Sierra Nevada are often overlooked as visitors race to the sequoias. But this area, rich in Native American heritage and filled with oak trees, deserves your time and exploration, too. Pleasant hiking, bird-watching, fishing, and hotel and dining options create an ideal year-round escape. Spring is an especially wonderful time to visit this area, with countless waterfalls and colorful wildflowers.

Giant Forest and Lodgepole

Giant Forest and Lodgepole are the most popular parts of the park, and it’s easy to see why. Not only does the largest living being on earth, the General Sherman Tree, preside over the thousands of surrounding sequoias, but there are over 50 miles (81 km) of trails for hiking and exploring.

Lodgepole grants quick access to high country lakes and unforgettable backpacking trips. Staying at Wuksachi Lodge is a treat, but you can also sleep under the stars at one of the popular campgrounds.

Grant Grove

Bustling Grant Grove offers all the amenities you need for a comfortable trip, including cabins, a lodge, a restaurant, and an excellent visitors center. It’s also home to the world’s second largest tree, the General Grant Tree, and a network of hiking trails. Grant Grove has something for everyone: scenic vistas for photographers, the activity-filled Hume Lake for families, and Redwood Mountain Grove, for those looking to lose themselves in nature.

Kings Canyon and Cedar Grove

Kings Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the country, is an ideal backpacking destination, containing hundreds of miles of wilderness. Granite basins are dotted with idyllic lakes and waterfalls, accessible via day hikes as well as multiday treks. If it gets too hot in the summer, you can duck underground and explore Boyden Cavern. This is also a great area for camping.

Mineral King

In this remote area, the least visited of either park, you’ll encounter peaceful lakes, brightly colored metamorphic rock formations, and a bounty of wildflower-lined waterfalls. Camp at one of two campgrounds, either by a stream or under sequoias, or stay at a rustic resort. This is an excellent place for backpacking, fishing, and bird-watching.

Before You Go

When to Go

Sequoia and Kings Canyon are open every day of the year, though some areas close in the winter.

HIGH SEASON (MAY-AUG.)

Summer, from May to August, is the high season for both parks. Plan ahead for lodging reservations and tours of Crystal Cave, especially on weekends. Lines to get into the park can be long, so arrive early. The shuttles that traverse Giant Forest and Lodgepole will be packed, so don’t wait for the last bus of the day. To escape the crowds, visit less trafficked parts of the parks, like Cedar Grove or Mineral King.

MID-SEASON (MAR.-APR. AND SEPT.-NOV.)

The shoulder seasons are when you can get great deals on hotels, first pick of backcountry campsites, and enjoy temperate weather. Fall, from September to November, is gorgeous in Cedar Grove, Grant Grove, Lodgepole, and Mineral King, when the leaves of riparian trees and the grasses brighten to gold. The streams of the Foothills run low, but you’ll enjoy cool weather for strenuous hiking.

Springtime, from March to April, is a delight in Grant Grove, Lodgepole, and the Foothills, when snowmelt trickles into waterfalls, hiking trails start to thaw, and the blooms of redbud trees blaze along the river. Spring is peak wildflower season in the Foothills.

LOW SEASON (DEC.-FEB.)

Lodgepole and Grant Grove are at perhaps their most photogenic in winter, which spans from December to February, with white snow contrasting against the red bark and green needles of the giant sequoias. Cozy up at the hearth of a park lodge, or join a ranger on a snowshoe walk.

The Foothills don’t see snow in winter, so you’ll have your pick of trails, many of which offer total solitude. Cedar Grove and Mineral King are closed in winter.

Before You Go

Visit the official website for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (www.nps.gov/seki). There’s even an official (and free!) smartphone app offered by the National Park Service. The site and app give you access to the park map and newsletter, among many other resources and tools. For more ideas, check out the website for the Sequoia Parks Conservancy (www.sequoiaparksconvervancy.org [URL inactive]) and follow the nonprofit group on social media.

Park Fees and Passes

To cruise through the park entrance stations without waiting in a long line, buy your entrance pass online in advance. Passes last for up to seven days and cost $35 per vehicle, $30 for motorcyclists, and $20 for pedestrians and bicyclists. Other options include:

• an annual pass to Sequoia and Kings Canyon, which costs $70 and covers all passengers in your car

• the America the Beautiful pass, which costs $80 for a year and covers all passengers in your car

• a senior pass ($20 for a year or $80 lifetime), if you’re a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and 62 or older

• the Access Pass (free), which is available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents with disabilities

• the Every Kid Outdoors Annual 4th Grade Pass (free), which is available to children in fourth grade (and their families) and lasts the length of the school year

Entrance Stations

The southern entrance to the parks is the Ash Mountain Entrance Station (Hwy. 198, open year-round), near the town of Three Rivers. It provides easy access to the Foothills, Giant Forest, and Lodgepole.

Also near Three Rivers is the Lookout Point Entrance Station (Mineral King Rd. and Hwy. 198, late May-mid-Oct.), which provides access to Mineral King.

For access to Grant Grove, Cedar Grove, and Kings Canyon, head to the Big Stump Entrance Station (Hwy. 180, open year-round), the northern entrance to the parks.

Reservations

If you’re visiting in summer, you’ll want to reserve most activities in advance, especially tours of Crystal Cave and horseback riding excursions. Ranger activities are free and do not require reservations.

Reserve a campsite on www.recreation.gov. For the park-based lodges and cabins, you can make reservations on www.visitsequoia.com. If you plan on taking the shuttle into the park from Visalia, reserve your seat in advance at www.sequoiashuttle.com.

In the Park

Visitors Centers

The parks’ four major visitors centers house educational exhibits and bookstores with souvenirs. They also host ranger programs and are where you can obtain a wilderness permit.

• Giant Forest Museum (Generals Hwy., 16 mi/26 km north of the Ash Mountain entrance, 559/565-4480, 9am-6pm daily mid-May-mid-Nov., 9am-4:30pm daily mid-Nov.-mid-May) is in the heart of Sequoia’s big trees. There’s a shuttle stop and a large parking lot, a picnic area, access to hiking trails, and enough information about giant sequoias to make you an expert.

• Lodgepole Visitor Center (63100 Lodgepole Rd., 559/565-4436, 7am-5pm daily May-Nov.) hosts a wilderness permit desk, a bookstore, and ranger programs in a centralized location near the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River. Nearby are a restaurant and shuttle stop.

• Kings Canyon Visitor Center (Hwy. 180, 559/565-3341, ext. 0, 8am-5pm daily late May-early Sept., 9am-4pm daily late Sept.-Dec. and early Mar.-May, 10am-3pm daily Jan.-early Mar.) is the most detailed in the park. Located in Grant Grove Village, the center has interesting displays and staffs enthusiastic rangers.

• Foothills Visitor Center (Generals Hwy., 559/565-4212, 8am-4:30pm daily Apr.-Nov., 9am-4pm daily Dec.-Mar.) features displays about the area’s flora and fauna, as well as its human history. It’s small, but it packs in a lot, including a self-registration desk for off-season backcountry trips, a bookstore, and lots of handouts about the parks.

The parks have three other informational facilities, though these are more rudimentary than the main visitors centers. In Cedar Grove, the one-room Cedar Grove Visitor Center (Hwy. 180, 559/565-3793, 9am-5pm daily May-Sept.) offers historical photographs and information. The Road’s End Permit Station (Hwy. 180, 559/565-3341, 7am-3pm daily May-Sept.) in Kings Canyon functions as a wilderness station where you can rent bear canisters. In Mineral King, the one-room Mineral King Ranger Station (mile 24/km 39, Mineral King Rd., 559/565-3768, 8am-3:45pm daily late May-mid-Oct.) doubles as the wilderness permit office and bookstore.

Where to Stay

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Sequoia and Kings Canyon at the last minute, here are some tips:

• Check www.recreation.gov for campsite cancellations. Sometimes you can snag a last-minute reservation at Lodgepole or Dorst Creek Campgrounds.

• Call the park (559/565-3341) to see if all campgrounds are full.

• Pick an area where you’ll have a better chance of success, and try your luck at first-come, first-served campgrounds. You’ll find the most options at Azalea and Crystal Springs Campgrounds in Grant Grove. In Cedar Grove, try Sheep Creek or Moraine Campgrounds. If you’re set on camping in Lodgepole, try for a spot in Stony Creek or Upper Stony Creek, both of which are in nearby Sequoia National Forest.

Getting Around

A personal vehicle is recommended to optimize your ability to move around and between the parks. There is a free park shuttle, but it’s limited to just the Giant Forest and Lodgepole areas of Sequoia National Park. There’s also a long-distance shuttle that transports riders to Giant Forest from Visalia; it costs $20. Both shuttles run only on holidays and in the summer.

Best of Sequoia and Kings Canyon

Over a long weekend in Sequoia and Kings Canyon, you can see the highlights and get some solitude. Whether you want to camp or stay in a hotel, be sure to make reservations in advance.

Day 1

Pack a picnic lunch for today, so that you can stop to eat whenever hunger—or the scenery—calls. Enter Sequoia National Park via Ash Mountain Entrance Station. Just past the entrance station is the Indian Head sign, carved in the 1930s, which marks the entrance to Sequoia. Pop into the Foothills Visitor Center to get your passport stamped and to get oriented.

Continue up the Generals Highway until you reach Hospital Rock. At this large rock outcropping, you can see pictographs left by the Patwisha people who once lived here. It’s about an hour’s drive to the next stop: the General Sherman Tree, a giant sequoia that’s also the world’s largest living tree. Explore more of the surrounding Giant Forest by hiking the Congress Trail.

Backtrack along the highway a bit to the Giant Forest Museum. Park your car here and explore the museum, learning all about giant sequoias. Take the shuttle to Moro Rock, then climb 400 stairs to get a stunning view of the park, overlooking the forest canopy.

Head back up the Generals Highway to Wuksachi Lodge, where you’ll retire for the night. Make reservations in advance for dinner at the lodge’s restaurant, The Peaks. Sip an aperitif on the deck and enjoy the sunset views. If you’d rather sleep under the stars, you’ll need to make reservations in advance for a spot at the Dorst Creek or Lodgepole Campgrounds.