Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Overview

About

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are made up of Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park.
Here you will find the giant sequoia, the world’s largest tree species, and canyons more than 1,000 m deep.
The giant sequoia is the world’s largest tree, but not the tallest.
The tallest is the redwood.

Visitor map

Travel tips

Getting there: the park lies on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada in central California. The nearest major airport is Fresno, about 100 km to the west; from Fresno Grant Grove is about 1 hour by car and Giant Forest about 2 hours. Los Angeles is about 4 hours.

Two entrances: in the north, Highway 180 leads to the Big Stump entrance; in the south, Highway 198 runs through Three Rivers to Ash Mountain, then along the Generals Highway to Giant Forest.

Caution: beyond Ash Mountain the Generals Highway is steep and winding, so large RVs and trailers should be careful or avoid it.

Giant Forest: the General Sherman Tree has trails and a parking area, and loops around the Giant Forest Museum pass groves of big trees. A free summer shuttle saves the search for parking.

Moro Rock: Moro Rock has a stair path of about 350 steps, taking about 20 minutes round trip, and the top overlooks the valley. Do not climb it in winter or during thunderstorms.

Kings Canyon: Highway 180 continues east to Cedar Grove along a deep canyon, and Grant Grove in the north has the General Grant Tree.

Season: in winter the road to Giant Forest is usually open but may need snow chains; the section of Highway 180 to Cedar Grove is closed in winter and reopens around May. Summer is crowded and spring and autumn are quieter.

Where to stay: the park has several campgrounds and a few mountain lodges, which need early booking in summer; Fresno, Three Rivers and other places outside offer more choice.

Sequoia National Park

The main sights of Sequoia National Park include Giant Forest, the General Sherman Tree,
Moro Rock and Crystal Cave.
The Generals Highway is the park’s main road. It links the Ash Mountain Entrance in the southwest with the Big Stump Entrance in the northwest, and passes most of the main sights.

The General Sherman Tree is the largest tree in the world. It is about 84 m tall, about 11 m across at the base, and over 2,000 years old.
Moro Rock is a lone rock outcrop. Its top is over 2,000 m above sea level and about 100 m above its surroundings. From here you look down into a valley more than 1,000 m deep and across the Sierra Nevada.

Mount Whitney, 14,494 feet, is the highest peak in the US outside Alaska. It is in the east of the park, far from any road, and takes one or two days to reach on foot.

Kings Canyon National Park

Kings Canyon National Park lies just north of Sequoia National Park. Highway 180 enters the park at the Big Stump Entrance,
passes Grant Grove, and ends at Cedar Grove.
The General Grant Tree in Grant Grove is 81 m tall.

Map