Sequoia & Kings Canyon
National Parks
Sequoia & Kings Canyon
National Parks
Sequoia is the second-oldest national park in the United States. It was established in 1890 to protect the Big Trees in Giant Forest, including the General Sherman Tree, the world's largest living thing. Sequoia also contains the Mineral King Valley and Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain in the U.S. outside of Alaska.
A small portion of what is now Kings Canyon was originally set aside in 1890 as General Grant National Park. In 1940, General Grant was absorbed into the new and larger Kings Canyon National Park which eventually grew to include the South Fork of the Kings River and 456,552 acres of backcountry wilderness. Managed as one park, together Sequoia and Kings Canyon total over 863,700 acres.
If you are planning a visit to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, please check the bulletin board for information on closures or other conditions which might affect your visit.
Visitation in 1997 was 1.539 million for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks combined. Visitation is heaviest in the summer, with August being the busiest month (263,500 people in 1997). Visitation is lightest in the winter (January, 1997 - 31,000 people).
Fresno and Tulare counties, CA
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
47050 Generals Highway
Three Rivers, CA 93271-9651
Recorded information: (559) 565-3341, then press
The park is open 24 hours a day, year-round. Two areas have seasonal closures: The road to Mineral King (in southern Sequoia National Park) is open from Memorial Day weekend to November 1, weather permitting, and Highway 180 to Cedar Grove (down in Kings Canyon) is open from mid-April to early November.
John Muir called the Sierra Nevada a "gentle wilderness," which it is indeed! Deep snow often covers the middle elevations from December to May, but sub-zero temperatures are rare. Precipitation falls mostly between January and mid-May, but thunderstorms, rain and even snow can occur at any time of year.
Temperatures vary with elevation. In the summer, daytime temperatures often exceed 100 degrees F in the foothills, but seldom exceed 90 degrees F in the sequoia groves. Even in the summer, backpackers in the highcountry can encounter nighttime temperatures in the low 30's, and occasionally even in the 20's.
In any season, it is wise to bring clothing that can be "layered". Always include some kind of rain gear.
There are no roads into Sequoia & Kings Canyon from the east. Two main roads provide access to the parks from the west: Highway 180 from Fresno enters Kings Canyon National Park, and Highway 198 from Visalia enters Sequoia. In the summer, the Generals Highway connects the two roads, making loop trips available. During the winter, the Generals Highway between Lodgepole and Grant Grove may be closed due to snow.
Vehicles longer than 22' are not advised on the Generals Highway between Potwisha Campground and Giant Forest Village in Sequoia.
The only public transportation to the parks is via commercial tour companies. Transportation to Fresno and Visalia, where rental cars and commercial airports are available, is provided by air, bus, and Amtrak.
Personal vehicles and bicycles are permitted on roads only. Bicycles are not allowed on park trails. During the summer months, a shuttle is available in Sequoia National Park between Giant Forest, Lodgepole, Moro Rock, Crescent Meadow, and the new Wuksachi Village visitor services area.
Entrance fees are:
The Ash Mountainand Grant Grove visitor centers are open all year. The Cedar Grove Visitor Center, located at the bottom of the Kings Canyon, is open between late May and September. The Lodgepole Visitor Center is open daily from April to early November, and on weekends during the snowy season. The Mineral King Visitor Center is open June to Labor Day. Roadside exhibits along the Generals Highway and Highway 180 interpret the natural and human history of the Sierra.
Together, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks contain 140 miles of roads and 800 miles of trails.
Ranger-led walks, talks, and evening programs are offered primarily during the summer, but some are offered throughout the year. Consult the Virtual Visitor Center for activities at the location you plan to visit. During the summer, concessioner-operated bus tours and horseback rides are also available.
Lodging in Kings Canyon National Park is available through Kings Canyon Park Services, PO Box 909, Kings Canyon NP, CA 93633; 559-335-5500. They operate Grant Grove Lodge in Kings Canyon, which is open all year, and the lodge at Cedar Grove, which is open during the summer.
Lodging in Sequoia National Park is available at the new Wuksachi Village visitor services area. For reservations contact Delaware North Parks Services, PO Box 89, Sequoia National Park, CA 93262; 1-888-252-5757.
Additional lodging is available outside the parks.
Campgrounds in Sequoia & Kings Canyon are operated by the National Park Service. In Sequoia Park, South Fork and the Mineral King campgrounds have pit toilets. All other campgrounds provide flush toilets. All areas except South Fork have drinking water and sanitary disposal stations. There are no hook-ups for RVs in any of the park campgrounds. Showers are available in summer at Lodgepole, Grant Grove, and Cedar Grove through the concessioners. Additional campgrounds are located in the national forests adjacent to the parks.
In summer, meals, groceries, camping gear, fishing tackle/licenses, and ice are sold at Giant Forest, Lodgepole, Stony Creek (Sequoia National Forest), Grant Grove, and Cedar Grove. Gasoline is not available within the parks, but is at Hume Lake and Kings Canyon Lodge along Highway 180 in Sequoia National Forest. Diesel fuel is also available Hume Lake.
In winter, light meals, ski and snowplay equipment, and souvenirs are available at Wolverton and Grant Grove. Groceries, meals, and a gift shop are available in Grant Grove and Lodgepole. Wuksachi Village has a year-round restaurant and gift shop.
The Sequoia Natural History Association offers a program of Field Seminars throughout the year. They also offer tours of Crystal Cave from May to September.
The Walter Fry Nature Center, open to children of all ages, is located in Lodgepole Campground. Open July - Labor Day.
The Foothills, Lodgepole, and Grant Grove visitor centers and their restrooms are wheel-chair accessible. Although they do not meet ADA standards, the trails to the General Sherman and General Grant trees are paved, as is the Congress Trail and Round Meadow's Trail for All People (both in Giant Forest). The Ash Mountain, Hospital Rock, and Big Stump picnic areas have modified picnic tables. In the winter, accessibility in the Grant Grove and Giant Forest areas may be limited due to deep snow.
Viewing the giant sequoias; hiking; backpacking; horseback riding; fishing; cross-country skiing and snowshoe walks; ranger walks, talks and campfire programs.
Most campgrounds in Sequoia & Kings Canyon are first come-first served.
Lodgepole Campground in Sequoia is on a reservation system
from Memorial Day weekend through mid-October. Reservations are available at
1-800-365-CAMP (2267) 4am-4pm PST; international calls (301)722-1257; TDD 1-888-530-9796; fax (301)722-1174; http://reservations.nps.gov.
Group campsites at Grant Grove, Cedar Grove (Kings Canyon) and Dorst (Sequoia) are available by mail-in reservation only.
Backcountry permits, which are free, are required for all camping outside designated campgrounds. Permits can be reserved up to three weeks before the start of your trip for $10 per permit.
Fishing is permitted in most parts of Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, and on adjacent national forests. Persons 16 years of age or older are required to have a California fishing license. Licenses and tackle are available at Lodgepole, Stony Creek, Grant Grove, and Cedar Grove.
Driving time from Ash Mountain (Highway 198 entrance) to Grant Grove (Highway 180 entrance) is at least 2 hours, not counting stops. A side trip from Grant Grove into the Kings Canyon will take an extra 2-3 hours. First-time visitors should be sure to see the General Sherman and General Grant trees, both easily accessible from the road. If you are planning a longer visit, you can find out about additional attractions, hiking trails and other activities at our Virtual Visitor Center.
The second Sunday of December is the annual Christmas Tree Ceremony, held at the General Grant Tree in Kings Canyon National Park.
We often think of parks as outdoor museums, but caretaking a living, changing ecosystem is very different than protecting unchanging objects.
You won't notice the ozone-monitoring equipment working unseen 24 hours a day, but other park management activities may unavoidably affect your visit: You may see smoke from a prescribed burn, or last year's campsite might be closed for revegetation or due to intense bear activity. Actions like these are important tools in maintaining this landscape, its inhabitants, and its visitors.
Your time at Sequoia & Kings Canyon will give you but a snapshot of the year-round process of park management. Nature often calls the shots in terms of timing these activities. Please keep in mind that all of these projects share one goal: preservation of these magnificent parks for everyone - today and tomorrow.
Currently, the National Park Service, in cooperation with the Federal Highways Administration, is undertaking a multi-year project to rehabilitate the Generals Highway. Most work will be done on weekdays in the fall, winter and spring.
During the winter, the Generals Highway between Lodgepole and Grant Grove may close due to snow.
Sequoia, Sierra and Inyo National Forests (US Forest Service); Yosemite National Park; Devils Postpile National Monument.
A new General Management Plan is being developed for Sequoia & Kings Canyon. It will provide goals and a vision for the parks' future, as well as practical guidance in resource protection and management that will help us achieve that vision. It will also identify how the parks may best provide for visitor enjoyment while protecting important natural and cultural resources. For more information on how to participate, see our General Management Plan newsletter.
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Visitor Information
47050 Generals Highway
Three Rivers, CA 93271-9651
209-565-3341
For scientific and technical information about fire and fire management in these parks, visit the Fire Information Cache.