Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks sit side by side in the southern Sierra Nevada, protecting ancient giant sequoia groves, deep canyons carved by glaciers, and alpine wilderness that stretches to the crest of the Range of Light. While Yosemite draws the crowds, these twin parks offer equally stunning scenery with far fewer visitors—and a chance to stand beneath trees that were already ancient when Rome fell.
The parks are managed jointly, but each has its own character. Sequoia is famous for the Giant Forest, home to General Sherman—the largest living tree on Earth by volume. Kings Canyon protects one of the deepest canyons in North America and some of the most remote backcountry in the lower 48. Together, they form a wilderness that rewards both casual visitors and serious backpackers.
The Giant Forest and General Sherman Tree
The Giant Forest is the heart of Sequoia National Park, a plateau between 6,000 and 7,000 feet elevation where more than 8,000 giant sequoias grow in groves scattered across five square miles. The General Sherman Tree stands along the Congress Trail, a two-mile loop that’s paved and accessible from the Sherman Tree parking area. At 275 feet tall and over 36 feet in diameter at the base, Sherman doesn’t just impress with size—it humbles you with age. This tree is roughly 2,200 years old.
Arrive early, ideally before 9 a.m., or after 4 p.m. in summer. Parking fills completely by mid-morning, and the park runs a free shuttle from the Giant Forest Museum. The Congress Trail continues past the President Tree, the Senate Group, and the House Group—clusters of sequoias named in a moment of civic enthusiasm that somehow stuck.
For a quieter experience, hike the Trail of the Sequoias, a six-mile loop that circles the plateau through old-growth forest. You’ll see fewer people and more trees, including the fallen Tunnel Log and views out over the Kaweah River canyon.
Kings Canyon Scenic Byway and Cedar Grove
Kings Canyon Scenic Byway (Highway 180) drops 4,000 feet from Grant Grove down to Cedar Grove, following the South Fork of the Kings River into one of the deepest gorges in the country. The drive alone—30 miles each way—is worth the trip, with pullouts at Junction View and Grizzly Falls.
Cedar Grove sits at the bottom, surrounded by granite walls that rise nearly a mile overhead. Roads End, at the eastern terminus of Highway 180, is the trailhead for some of the Sierra’s best day hikes. The Mist Falls Trail is a moderate 8-mile round trip that follows the river through forest and opens onto a broad cascade. For something shorter, walk the Zumwalt Meadow loop, an easy 1.5 miles along a boardwalk through wildflower meadows with views of Grand Sentinel and North Dome.
Note that Cedar Grove is only open from late April through November, depending on snow. The Byway closes for winter, and services at Roads End are minimal—pack food and water.
Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow
Moro Rock is a granite dome that juts out from the Giant Forest plateau, offering 360-degree views of the Great Western Divide and the San Joaquin Valley. A steep quarter-mile staircase climbs 300 feet to the summit—400 steps cut into the rock in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. On clear days, you can see all the way to the Coast Range, 100 miles west.
Just east of Moro Rock, Crescent Meadow was called by John Muir “the gem of the Sierra.” It’s a lush, crescent-shaped clearing ringed by sequoias, accessible via an easy one-mile loop. The Log Meadow and Tharp’s Log—a hollowed-out sequoia that served as a summer cabin for cattleman Hale Tharp in the 1860s—sit along the trail.
When to Visit and Practical Tips
Summer is the busiest season, with all roads and facilities open, but also the most crowded. June through August brings warm days, afternoon thunderstorms, and full campgrounds. Reservations are essential for Lodgepole and Dorst Creek campgrounds and can be made up to six months in advance on Recreation.gov.
Late September and October offer ideal conditions: thinner crowds, stable weather, and golden aspens along the Generals Highway. Snow closes Mineral King Road and some higher campgrounds by late October, but the Giant Forest and Grant Grove remain accessible year-round.
Winter transforms the parks into a quieter, snowbound landscape. The Generals Highway between the parks can close temporarily during storms, and chains are often required. Wuksachi Lodge stays open, and ranger-led snowshoe walks explore the Giant Forest on weekends.
The entrance fee covers both parks for seven days. Cell service is nonexistent inside the parks, so download maps in advance. Gas is available only at Hume Lake (outside the park boundary) and Stony Creek Lodge in summer.
Whether you’re hiking beneath the world’s largest trees or staring up at granite walls older than language, Sequoia and Kings Canyon remind you what wild California looked like before the freeways. Ready to explore more hidden corners of the Golden State? Subscribe to the Love California newsletter—one short story a day, straight to your inbox.
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