Tucked side-by-side in California’s southern Sierra Nevada range, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are managed together as a single destination, these twin parks offer a stunning contrast of landscapes from the world’s largest living trees to granite canyons that drop deeper than the Grand Canyon. If you are looking to disconnect, breathe in the scent of cedar, and walk among giants, this is your ultimate guide.
Sequioa & Kings Canyon National Park Travel Map
How to get to Sequioa & Kings Canyon NP?
The closest major airport is Fresno Yosemite International (FAT), located about 1.5 to 2 hours from the park entrances. If you are driving from major California cities, the parks are highly accessible:
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From Los Angeles: it takes about 3.5 to 4 hours to reach Sequoia National Park Ash Mountain entrance.
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From San Francisco: it takes about 4 to 4.5 into Kings Canyon National Park Big Stump entrance.
You will need a car to get to and around the parks, you can compare car rentals here.
Getting Around Location Sequioa & Kings Canyon NP
You will absolutely want a car to navigate the steep, winding mountain roads connecting the highlights. Be prepared for switchbacks on the Generals Highway, which links the two parks. During the peak summer months, Sequoia Nationl Park offers a free internal shuttle system that stops at major sights like the General Sherman Tree and Moro Rock, which is highly recommended to bypass crowded (or full!) parking lots. You can find out more about the shuttle routes and schedules in the following link. Note there are no shuttle services available for Kings Canyon National Park.
A separate, fee-based commercial service called Sequoia Shuttle connects the park to the outside cities of Visalia and Three Rivers, which requires advanced reservations. And once inside the park you can use the free internal shuttle system.
Where to stay?
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Inside the Parks (Lodges): Lodges offer a comfortable experience while still being inside the park. Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia offers a classic mountain lodge experience, while John Muir Lodge in Kings Canyon’s Grant Grove offers a cozy rustic retreat.
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Inside the Parks (Camping): There are 14 campgrounds across both parks. Lodgepole Campground is the most popular and central for Sequoia, while Cedar Grove Campground gets you deep into the canyon. Reservations open up to 4 months in advance on Recreation.gov.
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Outside the Parks: The small gateway towns of Three Rivers (outside Sequoia’s southern entrance) or Pinehurst/Dunlap area (outside Kings Canyon’s western entrance) offer plenty of cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals.
We stayed at Grant Grove Cabins inside of Kings Canyon National Park. The cabins are simple but comfortable with just a bed, basic furniture and a picnic table outside. You have access to clean shared bathrroms and hot showers. The cabins are in a great location just a short walk from the Grant Grove Visitor centre, Restaurant and General store. We really enjoyed our stay there being inside the park and having easy access to services was just perfect for us.
When is the best time to visit Sequioa & Kings Canyon NP?
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Summer (June – August): The ideal time for first-timers. All roads, trails, and visitor centers are open, and the weather is perfect for hiking, though crowds are at their peak.
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Fall (September – November): A gorgeous, quieter time to visit. Crowds thin out, but early snow can close the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway by late October or November.
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Winter & Spring (December – May): A snowy wonderland perfect for snowshoeing, but many roads (including the road down into Kings Canyon) close completely, and tire chains are frequently mandatory.
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Things to do in Sequioa National Park
Moro Rock
Moro Rock is a massive granite dome that doubles as a spectacular natural viewpoint. Reaching the summit requires a short quarter-mile trail up a narrow stone staircase with over 350 steps clinging to the side of the dome, thankfully there are plenty of sturdy handrails to help you along the way. From the summit of Moro rock, the world opens up and you get amazing sweeping views of the Great Western Divide’s high-alpine peaks and over the entire national park. The parking lot here is tiny so it’s best to visit early (before 8am) to avoid the crowds or take the shuttle.
TRAVEL TIP: You will be at 6,725 feet or 2,050 meters of elevation while in the park which can leave you short of breath.
Tunnel Log
Located in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park, the Tunnel Log is a massive, fallen giant sequoia that visitors can drive through. The tree stood 275 feet tall and was over 2,000 years old when it fell across Crescent Meadow Road from natural causes in late 1937. The tree was too large to move, so workers carved a tunnel through it. Since then people have been driving through Tunnel Log. Vehicles taller than 8 feet (2.4 m) can use a bypass.
General Sherman Tree
The Gerneral Sherman tree is said to be over 2000 years old and standing at 275 ft (83m) and 103 ft (31m) at it’s base making it the largest tree in the world by trunk volume. The General Sherman tree is accessed by a 1.1 mile(1.8km) out and back trail that starts from the General Sherman Tree parking lot. The trail quickly descends into a giant sequoia grove where the air is cooler as you walk in the shadows of the giant sequoia that surround you everywhere you look. After walking amongst the giants you will eventually reach the General Sherman Tree a truly humbling experience standing in front of this towering tree.
Tokopah Falls
Tokopah Falls is a giganic 1,200 ft (354m) waterfall that cascades down the side of the mountain and into the Tokopah Valley. The trail to the falls features river views, towering granite canyon walls, and wildlife like marmots, deer, and bears. Park at the lodgepole campground parking lot and the trilhead is nearby. This trail is 4.1 miles (6.5km) roundtrip with 600ft (182m) of elevation gain and takes about 2-3 hours to complete.
Things to do in Kings Canyon National Park
General Grant Tree
The General Grant tree is the second-largest living tree in the world by trunk volume, located in the Grant grove area of Kings Canyon National Park. This massive giant sequoia stands nearly 268 ft (81m) tall and with a circumference of 107 ft (32m). The tree was proclaimed as the “Nation’s Christmas Tree” in 1926 by President Calvin Coolidge, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower designated it a living National Shrine in 1956, making it the only living object with that title. There is a 0.3 mile (0.5. km) paved loop trail leads to the tree, that passes through another stunning ancient sequoia grove and other interesting features including the Fallen Monarch a giant fallen sequoia that is hollowed out that was at one point used as a hotel and saloon. Unfortunatley the bar is now closed but you can walk through this hollowed out giant.
Panoramic Point
From Panoramic Point you can see for miles accross Kings Canyon National Park with Hume Lake below and endless snow capped mountinas of the High Sierra’s peaks in the distance. This overlook is located a short driving distance from the Grant Grove Visitor Center on a windy single track road. From the parking lot there is a steep 0.3 mile (0.5km) trail to the viewpoint.
Kings Canyon Scenic Byway
The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is a 50-mile stretch of Highway 180 that joins the Grant Grove area with the Cedar Grove are of the park. The drive is incredibly beautiful starting up high on the canyon rim with panoramic views of the canyon, as you slowly make your way lower into the canyon you will be surrounded by tall rocky cliffs and the rushing water of the Kings River. Be sure to stop at many pullouts along the way for amazing views with one of the best being Junction View, an overlook that puts the scale of this place into perspective. Here, you can see the confluence of the Middle and South Forks of the Kings River, cutting through a canyon that is actually deeper than the Grand Canyon in several spots.
Roaring River Falls
Roaring River is a thunderous waterfall that crashes down a narrow chute into a emerald pool below. The power and sound of the waterfall changes through the year, and is at its biggest and loudest in late spring and early summer. The waterfall is just a short walk from the parking lot in the cedar grove area of Kings Canyon National Park. If you are up for it you can keep walking along the Roaring river trail out to Zumwalt Meadows.
Zumwalt Meadows
Zumwalt Meadows is one of the most scenic places to visit in the park with a large green meadow that is surrounded by tall granite cliffs. Zumwalt Meadows is accessed by a 1.5 mile (2.4km) out and back trail that crosses the Kings river (where you can snap one of my favourite photos from the park) and around the meadows where you get little glimpses of this green oasis amongst the towering granite walls. When we visited the full loop was closed for regeneration and you could only do the linked trail.
Mist Falls Hike
The Mists Falls trail is 8 mile(s12km) out and back with 908 ft(276m) of elevation gain and will take about 4-5 hours to complete. This is a bit of a longer hike and wont be suitable for everyone, but it’s a rewarding day hike for those who want to tackle it. Mist Falls isn’t the most spetacular waterfall in the world but it does live up to it’s name! This trail is more about the journey than the destination as you will be constantly bombarded with scenic views along the entier trail. From the towering granite canyon walls at the start of the trail to the stunning mountain views near the end and the constant roar of the Kings river in the background. If you can’t tell we really enjoyed this trail!
TRAVEL TIP: All these places and more are all listed in the map near the top of the page!
Where/What To Eat & Drink
Dining options are limited inside the parks, so plan ahead and bring along all the food you need for your trip.
You can get sit-down meals at the Peaks Restaurant at Wuksachi Lodge (Sequioa) serves up a suprisinlgy large selection including trout and burgers. In Kings Canyon the Grant Grove Restaurant has less selection, but amazing views overlooking Bradley meadow and has amazing coffee in the morning.
The Lodgepole Market(Sequioa) or Grant Grove Market(Kings Canyon) have a limited range of gorceries and camping supplies. You can find cold drinks, snacks, ready made sandwiches, pot noodles and even beer!
