Attractions in Sequoia National Park

Biking Information
Biking is allowed on the main roads in the parks but is prohibited on park trails.

Camping
Campgrounds in Sequoia and Kings Canyon are operated by the National Park Service. In Sequoia, 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 RV's in any of the park campgrounds. Showers are available in summer at Lodgepole, Grant Grove, and Cedar Grove through the concessioner. Additional campgrounds are located in the national forests adjacent to the parks.

Fishing Information
Fishing is permitted in most parts of Sequoia and 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.

Hiking
Together, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks contain 140 miles of roads and 800 miles of trails.

If you have only a few hours:
Entering via Hwy 198: Stop in Ash Mountain at the Foothills Visitor Center to learn about California's fascinating and diverse oak chaparral ecology. (In all of North America, only the Central American rainforest has a richer array of plants and animals than California oak chaparral.) Stop at Giant Forest Museum. From the main parking lot, walk down to the General Sherman Tree, the largest, single-trunked living tree on earth. Allow 20 minutes each way for the walk to the tree plus your time there.

Entering via Hwy 180: Stop in Grant Grove Village at the newly-redesigned Kings Canyon Visitor Center and see the orientation film. See the General Grant Tree in Grant Grove (allow 20 minutes to walk the loop) or the General Sherman Tree in Giant Forest. Stop at the Museum in Giant Forest.

Either direction: Allow at least two hours for the drive time between entrance stations on the Generals Highway loop (red road on map at left) plus at least another two hours for your activities.

If you have a day:
Entering via Hwy 198: Stop in Ash Mountain at the Foothills Visitor Center and buy your ticket for a Crystal Cave Tour. Allow at least two hours drive time on the Generals Highway loop from one entrance station to the other--plus 3 1/2 hours for the cave tour.

Entering via Hwy 180: Stop in Lodgepole Village at the Visitor Center and buy your ticket for a Crystal Cave Tour. Allow at least two hours drive time on the Generals Highway loop from one entrance station to the other--plus 3 1/2 hours for the cave tour.

Either way: If you prefer to stay outside: Go on a ranger walk. In Giant Forest, stand among the giant sequoias on the Big Trees Trail. Or in Lodgepole Village, walk up to Tokopah Falls. If you're hankering for more, in Giant Forest look for wildlife big and small around Crescent Meadow and climb Moro Rock or hike out to Eagle View.

If you have a couple of days:
Entering via Hwy 198: On your way up to see the General Sherman Tree and the Giant Forest Museum, stop at Hospital Rock to see the Native American pictographs and grinding stones.

Entering via Hwy 180: Have a picnic in Grant Grove Village at Big Stump. Hike into Redwood Canyon (just south of Grant Grove Village), home to the world's largest grove of sequoias. Visit Converse Basin (just north of Grant Grove Village) where a ghostly forest of sequoia stumps surround the massive Boole Tree. Stand in awe of gigantic Kings Canyon.

Either direction: Ask at a visitor center for a Junior Ranger Program booklet. Camp in one of park's 14 campgrounds. Attend campfire programs. Hike to the Watchtower near Wolverton, the Congress Trail in Giant Forest or Little Baldy Trail west of Wuksachi Village.

If you have a week or more:
Spend a few days exploring one of the more remote parts of these spectacular parks.

Take Hwy 180 into the Kings Canyon--a stunning mountain drive--and visit Cedar Grove Village. From Grant Grove Village to the Kings Canyon, allow 1 1/2 hours each way plus however long you stay.

Or take The Mineral King Road to Atwell Mill or Mineral King. From Ash Mountain, each way allow 1 1/4 hours to Atwell Mill and 1 1/2 hours to Mineral King--plus however long you stay.

Better yet, stop at one of the visitor centers for a wilderness trek into the splendid High Sierra.

For additional activity ideas, check the park newspaper or ask at one of the visitor centers.