2023-08-24 01:42:30
Both Sequoia and Kings Canyon are split into two parts. You can visit the main part of Sequoia and the main areas of Kings Canyons in one day (a little on the run), but it will take more time to really explore the two parks. Here are some must-sees during your visit to Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon:
Sequoia National Park
At the very south-east of the developed part of the park, accessible by the Lookout Point Entrance and 40min drive away, is the ranger station of Mineral Kings Ranger Station. You will come here to hike and enjoy the more classic but no less breathtaking high altitude landscapes. Hike to a lake or along the river, enjoy the unobstructed views of the Sierra Nevada reliefs… the experiences here will be closer to the atmosphere of Yosemite than to the central part of Sequoia Park. You can still see beautiful specimens of redwoods at East Fork Grove and Atwell Grove.
General Highway et Giant Museum
It’s around this road that crosses the park from southwest to northwest, from Ash Moutain Entrance to Stony Creek Village that you’ll find the most popular tours and the most famous sequoias. If you take the route from south to north, as soon as you come in you will pass under the laid boulder of Tunnel Rock. Further on, you can stop to climb to the top of Moro Rock to enjoy a breathtaking view of the valley of mountains as far as the eye can see. Then, following the rock tunnel, it is the redwood tunnel that you will cross at Tunnel Log if you take the small road that goes right to the swampy meadows of Crescent Meadow, where you may see bears or deer.
Plan then or before, a stop at the Giant Forest Museum, the essential visit to discover the history of the sequoias of the region, you will have the chance to see the gigantic Sentinel Tree. The trail of regarding 30min walk from Big Trees Trail will also allow you to see other giant sequoias. A little further on, stop to observe the most massive tree in the world: the Sherman Tree, via the short 30-minute walk of the same name through a beautiful forest of Sequoias. You can then stop at the Lodgepole Visitor Center and why not, from there, go to reach the waterfalls via the Lodgepole Falls Trail, a walk of regarding 2 hours.
The Generals Highway road will take you without realizing it to Kings Canyon, you will leave Sequoia a little following Lost grove and enter Kings Canyon National Park just following Montecito Sequoia Lodge.
Parc national de Kings Canyon
The Kings Canyon Overlook quickly offers a beautiful view of the park, there is also the start of the short Buena Vista Trail hike which leads to another viewpoint, this time on Redwood Canyons. Further on, do not miss the viewpoint of Redwood Mountain Overlook. The Big Stimp area is a great place to view a stump and learn more regarding cutting giant sequoias. The General Tree Trail is a 30min walk that allows you to observe the giant sequoia of the same name over 82m tall and the Fallen Monarch Tree on the ground.
Kings Canyon Scenic Byway et Cedar Grove
The two parts of Kings Canyons, that around Grand Grove Village and that of Cedar Grove, are separated by the Sequoia National Forest which is crossed via the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway on nearly 50 miles of road (regarding 2 hours drive one way ). The road that winds through gorges and steep cliffs offers beautiful mountain views and a few stops not to be missed, including Grizzly Falls. We come from that side of the park, which therefore requires an additional half-day visit (4 hours round trip just to get there) to hike, camp, or go see the waterfalls of Roaring river falls. Don’t miss the alpine scenery of Zumwalt Meadow.
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