Summer is the high season for both Sequoia & Kings Canyon. Though the parks get a combined visitation that’s a fraction of nearby Yosemite, expect crowds on popular trails near sequoia trees and in the Giant Forest area. With warm days, snow mostly melted, and wilderness trails open, it’s an excellent time for scenic drives, car camping, long hikes, and fishing.
Spring hits at vastly different times in these parks, due to their huge range of elevations and biozones. In the Foothills, look for bright bursts of wildflowers (like yellow fiddlenecks and harlequin lupine) in April and May. In June, expect to see pops of color parading across the high alpine.
In autumn, the family crowds begin to disperse and evenings become chilly, but hiking and backpacking are still very much on the menu (if you don’t mind snuggling up in a loftier sleeping bag). Wildfires have become a major issue in this part of California, emboldened by climate change, and campfire restrictions will most likely be in effect during this season.
Like many of California’s mountainous parks, much of Sequoia & Kings Canyon shuts down when winter snows hit hard, though a few areas stay blissfully open for kids to enjoy the fluffy white stuff. Pack your snow chains and head for Grant Grove or the Wolverton Snowplay Area if you’re visiting from December through March. Wuksachi Lodge also rents cross-country skis and snowshoes for intrepid travelers who’d like to explore further.
How to get to there
The closest airports to Sequoia & Kings Canyon are Fresno Yosemite International Airport and Visalia Municipal Airport. In summer months, the $20 Sequoia Shuttle runs to and from the Visalia Transit Center. Once inside the park, shuttle riders can hop on and off a variety of in-park routes to top sights like Moro Rock and Lodgepole.
Still, most visitors will want to road trip out or rent a car, for the freedom to explore (and stay late for sunset). Just be prepared for winding mountain roads and vehicle length restrictions for rigs over 22 feet. Coming from the north? Enter via Big Stump from Highway 180. Driving up from sunny SoCal? Head towards the tiny gateway town of Three Rivers (and don’t forget to grab a scoop of Reimer’s ice cream) on Highway 198 and cruise through the Ash Mountain Entrance.
Best things to do in Sequoia & Kings Canyon national parks
Admire the trees
By far, the top attraction at both Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks is witnessing the sheer grandeur of giant sequoia groves up close and personal. The good news is that the National Park Service has gone to great lengths to ensure that these natural wonders are accessible for many ages and mobility levels, paving wheelchair-friendly trails through some of the best old growth woodlands in the country. Check out the General Grant Tree Trail, the General Sherman Tree, and the Big Trees Trail for mellow meanders through ancient conifers.
Hiking and backpacking
Adventurous hikers who’d rather rough it in search of less-traveled sequoia groves can find them by hiking the 2.7-mile Congress Trail or the 4.8-mile Atwell Grove Trail, in far-flung Mineral King. There’s also the option to grab a backpacking permit, don a pack, and shuffle 13 miles along the Middle Fork Trail to Redwood Meadow to pitch a tent for the night.
