Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks see · Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks attractions
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Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks attractions
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks attractions
Driving in the parks provide mostly up-close views of trees, so the roadside vista points that do exist should not be overlooked:
The road to Cedar Grove provides many excellent views of the narrow Kings Canyon.
Between Grant Grove and Lodgepole is only one major lookout. Great view of the Sierras.
The steep and winding road from Giant Forest down to the Ash Mountain entrance has some good vistas of the Kaweah River valley.
Some of the scenic attractions in Sequoia and Kings Canyon, divided by area, are:
Grants Grove, a grove of giant Sequoia trees at the west entrance to the parks.
Giant Forest, a collection of groves at the center of Sequoia a few miles south of the main Visitor Center, including the General Sherman Tree, the world's largest (by volume and weight) tree. The areas centers around a museum, and the grove can be seen along a 1-2 mile looping trail. The parking area is 0.4 miles uphill from the grove, so those who may not be able to easily walk back up the trail (remember that the elevation is 7000 feet) may want to arrange for a pickup from the main park road.
Crystal Cave, Crystal Cave Road, 15 miles (24 km) from the Sequoia Park entrance on Hwy 198, and 3 miles (5 km) south of the General Sherman Tree Maximum vehicle length is 22' (6.7 m); +1 559 565-3759. Tour times: Saturdays 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, & 4pm; Sundays through Fridays at 11am, 2pm, & 3pm. A large cave filled with various water-sculpted features. The temperature in the cave is 50°F (10°C) so dress warmly. No strollers, tripods, or baby backpacks are allowed in the cave and it is not wheelchair accessible. Tickets for a tour must be bought at either the Lodgepole or Foothills visitor center, neither of which is located near the cave. No tickets are sold at the cave.Adults (13-61): $12, children (6-12): $6, seniors (62 and up): $8.95, six and under are free.
Moro Rock-Crescent Meadow Road, a 3-mile (5 km) road leaving General's Highway at the Giant Forest Museum. Leads to several features at the south of the Giant Forest. Note that this road is not recommended for trailers or RVs.
- Moro Rock, a granite dome you can climb to the top of via a steep 1/4-mile (.4 km) staircase to the summit (300 foot /91 m elevation gain). The top provides spectacular views of Sequoia's mountains and the Great Western Divide. Note that this is not for those afraid of heights as the staircase is very narrow with steep drop-offs.
- Tunnel Log, a fallen sequoia that can be driven through. A bypass is available for tall vehicles.
- Auto Log, a giant sequoia log formerly available for vehicles to drive onto, for a photo opportunity. The natural process of decay has put an end to the practice as the log can no longer safely support the weight of a vehicle.
- Crescent Meadow, a High-Sierra meadow awash with wildflowers in the summer.
Cedar Grove, the main area of Kings Canyon, is about 45 minutes northeast of Grants Grove. The deep canyon offers impressive mountain scenery, a waterfall, and broad meadows.
Mineral Kings, a secluded, narrow, alpine valley accessible by car. Two campgrounds in the area, from which it's possible to make day hikes to lakes and mountain passes with splendid views.
A broad variety of wildlife can be seen in both parks, including deer, birds, and bears.
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Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.