Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, United States

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Travel Guide

Trek Zone

National park

Facts and practical information

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, located in Tulare County, California, are a breathtaking natural wonder that should not be missed. These adjacent parks, often referred to as sister parks, offer visitors a unique opportunity to explore the stunning beauty and diversity of the California region.

Sequoia National Park is home to the world's largest trees, the majestic giant sequoias. These towering giants can reach heights of over 250 feet and have a circumference of up to 100 feet. Walking among these ancient giants is an awe-inspiring experience that transports you to a different world. The General Sherman Tree, located in the park, is the largest living tree on Earth and is a must-see for any visitor.

In addition to the giant sequoias, Sequoia National Park also boasts pristine wilderness areas, rugged mountains, and cascading waterfalls. The park offers a wide range of activities for outdoor enthusiasts, including hiking, camping, fishing, and rock climbing. The famous Moro Rock provides panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, while the Crystal Cave offers a glimpse into the underground world of stunning rock formations.

Adjacent to Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National Park is equally captivating. Known for its deep canyons, roaring rivers, and majestic granite peaks, this park offers endless opportunities for exploration and adventure. The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway takes visitors on a scenic drive through the heart of the park, offering breathtaking views at every turn.

One of the highlights of Kings Canyon National Park is the famous General Grant Tree, also known as the Nation's Christmas Tree. This iconic tree stands tall and proud, representing the spirit of the nation. The park also features numerous hiking trails, including the popular Mist Falls Trail, which leads to a stunning waterfall surrounded by lush greenery.

Elevation: 5846 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 36°29'2"N, 118°44'49"W

Location

CaliforniaUnited States

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Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Top Attractions

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Attractions - What to See and Explore

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Moro Rock, Sentinel Tree, Hospital Rock, Crystal Cave. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

Natural attraction • Geologic formation • Hiking trail
Moro Rock
Moro Rock, a striking granite dome, stands proudly within the heart of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in the United States. This colossal rock formation is not just a geographical wonder but also a popular destination for tourists seeking panoramic views of...
Tree
Sentinel Tree
Sentinel is a giant sequoia located within the Giant Forest Grove of Sequoia National Park, California.
Picnic site
Hospital Rock
Hospital Rock is a large quartzite rock in Sequoia National Park, located just off of the Generals Highway, on the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River.

Natural attraction • Park • Cave
Crystal Cave
Crystal Cave is a marble karst cave within Sequoia National Park, in the western Sierra Nevada of California. It is one of at least 240 known caves in Sequoia National Park. Crystal Cave is in the Giant Forest area, between the Ash Mountain entrance of the park and the Giant Forest museum.
Nature • Natural attraction • Forest
Muir Grove
Muir Grove is a giant sequoia grove in Sequoia National Park of the Tulare County, which covers about 215 acres. The grove, located in the northwest corner of the park, is accessed by the Muir Grove Trail which begins from the Dorst Creek Campground.
Tree
President Tree
The President is a giant sequoia located in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park in the United States, east of Visalia, California. It is approximately 247 feet high, and 27 feet in diameter at the base.
Nature • Natural attraction • Forest
Giant Forest
The Giant Forest, famed for its giant sequoia trees, is within the United States' Sequoia National Park. This montane forest, situated at over 6,000 ft above mean sea level in the western Sierra Nevada of California, covers an area of 1,880 acres.
36°34'15"N • 118°45'14"W
Cattle Cabin
The Cattle Cabin is a one-room log cabin that was built in the Sierra Nevada by Hale D. Tharp and two partners in 1890, in present-day Sequoia National Park, California.
Tree
Robert E. Lee Tree
The Robert E. Lee tree is the second largest giant sequoia in the Grant Grove section of Kings Canyon National Park, and the eleventh largest giant sequoia in the world. Richard Field, a Confederate lieutenant, named this tree in honor of Robert E. Lee around 1875.
Tree
General Grant Tree
The General Grant tree is the largest giant sequoia in the General Grant Grove section of Kings Canyon National Park in California and the second largest giant sequoia tree in the world. Once thought to be well over 2,000 years old, recent estimates suggest the General Grant tree is closer to 1,650 years old.
36°29'15"N • 118°50'13"W
Ash Mountain Entrance Sign
The Ash Mountain Entrance Sign at Sequoia National Park was constructed in 1935 by Civilian Conservation Corps craftsmen. Featuring a carved Native American face, the sign was made from blocks of sequoia wood and fastened with wrought iron brackets.
Tree
Tharp's Log
Tharp's Log is a hollowed giant sequoia log at Log Meadow in the Giant Forest grove of Sequoia National Park that was used as a shelter by early pioneers. The log is named after Hale D. Tharp, who was described as the first Non-Native American to enter the Giant Forest.
Park
Redwood Mountain Grove
Redwood Mountain Grove is the largest grove of giant sequoia trees on earth. It is located in Kings Canyon National Park and Giant Sequoia National Monument on the western slope of California's Sierra Nevada.
Nature • Natural attraction • Lake
Eagle Lake
Eagle Lake is an alpine lake in the Southern Sierra Nevada near Mineral King in Sequoia National Park. The lake can be reached by a three-and-a-half mile hike from Mineral King Valley and lies at 10,000 feet above sea level.
Nature • Natural attraction • Mountain
Florence Peak
Florence Peak is a mountain located on the Great Western Divide, a sub-range of the southern Sierra Nevada of California. It is located about 6 miles southeast of the community of Silver City and 4.5 miles from the roads end at Mineral King.
Memorial
Washington Tree
The Washington tree is a giant sequoia in the Giant Forest Grove in Tulare County, California, within Sequoia National Park. It is named after George Washington, first President of the United States. Until it partially collapsed in January 2005, the Washington tree was the second largest tree in the world.
Tree
Lincoln Tree
Lincoln is the name of a huge giant sequoia located in Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park. It is currently considered by many to be the fourth largest tree in the world.
Tree
Hart Tree
The Hart Tree is a Giant sequoia tree within the Redwood Mountain Grove, in the Sierra Nevada and Fresno County, California. The Redwood Mountain Grove is protected within Kings Canyon National Park and the Giant Sequoia National Monument.
36°33'31"N • 118°45'11"W
Squatter's Cabin
The Squatter's Cabin is the only remnant of the Kaweah Colony, a socialist utopian group established in the Sierra Nevada in the 1880s. Now located in Sequoia National Park, the one-room log structure is located at Huckleberry Meadow near the Giant Forest.

Day trips

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, it's worth seeing attractions such as: General Grant Grove, General Sherman Tree (Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks), Tehipite Valley (Kings Canyon National Park).

22 milesNW
Protected area
General Grant Grove
Nestled in the heart of Kings Canyon National Park, General Grant Grove is a majestic testament to the grandeur of nature. This awe-inspiring grove is home to the General Grant Tree, one of the world's largest living trees, and is recognized as the Nation's Christmas...
6.7 miN
Sequoia National Park’s main attraction
General Sherman Tree, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
The General Sherman Tree is a natural marvel that stands proudly within the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in the United States. Known as a giant sequoia, this colossal tree is not just any sequoia—it is renowned for being the largest tree on Earth by volume.
29 milesN
Nature, Natural attraction, Canyon
Tehipite Valley, Kings Canyon National Park
Tehipite Valley, a glacial valley of the Middle Fork Kings River, is located in Kings Canyon National Park in the Sierra Nevada of California.
5.8 miN
Village, Visitor center, Museum
Giant Forest Museum, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
The Giant Forest Village–Camp Kaweah Historic District is located in Sequoia National Park. It is notable as one of two registered historic districts in the park that were largely demolished as part of National Park Service efforts to mitigate the impact of park visitor facilities on the park's giant sequoia groves.
26 milesE
Hiking trail, Outdoor activities, Park
East Face, Mount Whitney
The East Face of Mount Whitney is a technical alpine rock climbing route and is featured in Fifty Classic Climbs of North America. Mount Whitney is the highest peak in the contiguous United States.