Although Congress created these two parks at different times, Sequoia and Kings Canyon share miles of boundary and are managed as one park. Sequoia was the second national park designated in this country. General Grant National Park, the forerunner of Kings Canyon, was third.
As you explore this landscape of giants, do so in step with nature. Be aware that human activity may conflict with natural events. One example: human - bear interactions can result in problems for both players. Store all food properly and learn other ways to keep your parks healthy and wild.
And stay safe! Rivers are especially dangerous now. Several people have drowned this year, and there have been frightening rescues. Please be careful, and supervise children near any water. Enjoy a safe visit to these wonderful parks.
Death Valley National Park
Yosemite National Park
Manzanar National Historic Site
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Channel Islands National Park
Devils Postpile National Monument
John Muir National Historic Site
Joshua Tree National Park
Other Attractions:
Giant Sequoia National Monument/Sequoia National Forest, (559)338-2251.
Sierra National Forest, (559)855-5360.
Inyo National Forest, (760)873-2500.
Phone Reservations: 866-KCANYON
Details : Front desk 1-559-565-0100. Rooms in a lodge in Cedar Grove Village, deep in the canyon of Kings Canyon National Park. Counter-service restaurant, market, gift shop in building. Elevation 4600 feet (1402m).
Grant Grove Cabins & John Muir Lodge (Kings Canyon Park Services): Open All Year
Phone Reservations: 866-KCANYON
Details: Front desk: 1-559-335-5500. Modern rooms in the John Muir Lodge as well as rustic and housekeeping cabins, all in the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park, 1/2-mile (.8km) to a sequoia grove. Visitor center, market, restaurant, gift shop, & post office nearby. Elevation 6500 feet (1980 m). In winter, you are least likely to encounter road closures enroute to Grant Grove if you enter the park on Highway 180.
Wuksachi Village (Delaware North Park Services): Open All Year
Phone Reservations: 1-888-252-5757
Details: In Sequoia National Park, 4 miles (6.5km) from Giant Forest; 23 miles (37km) from Sequoia Park entrance. Modern hotel rooms in several lodge buildings. Restaurant & gift shop nearby. Elevation 6500 feet (1980m). In winter, you are least likely to encounter road closures enroute to Wuksachi if you enter the park via Highway 198.
Park campgrounds are located in the oak woodlands of the warm, dry foothills and in the higher, cooler conifer forests. They range in elevation from 2100 to 7500'. Lodgepole, Dorst, Sunset, Azalea, Crystal Springs, and Atwell campgrounds are near giant sequoia groves. Four campgrounds are open year-round.
Camping Limit: 14 days during the period from June 14 - September 15; 30 days total per year.
Facilities: Campgrounds have drinking water (except South Fork), tables, fire grills, garbage cans, and either pit or flush toilets. Most have bear-proof food storage that you must use. Availability of some of these facilities may be limited in winter. There are no hookups in these parks.
Road & Weather Information: Before visiting call 559-565-3341, then press 4. Conditions vary widely by elevation. Report is updated by 9:30 a.m. daily.
Reservations: Lodgepole and Dorst campgrounds in Sequoia National Park accept reservations up to five months in advance for the period of mid-May to mid-October. Contact 1-800-365-2267; international requests (301) 722-1257; TDD 1-888-530-9796; fax (301) 784-9079. 4 am - 4 pm PST. All other campgrounds are first-come, first-served.
For reservations at some U.S. Forest Service campgrounds, contact 1-877-444-6777; TDD 1-877-833-6777; international requests 1-518-885-3639.
Limits: Most campgrounds permit a maximum of one vehicle and six people per campsite (Potwisha permits two vehicles). Check bulletin boards for information on where to park extra vehicles.
Mid-sized-group Campsites (7-15): First-come, first-served, available only during the summer at Crystal Springs (in the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon Park), and Canyon View (in the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon).
Large-group Campsites(>15): Available only during the summer, at Dorst (in Sequoia), Sunset (Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon), and Canyon View (Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon).
Some 84% of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks was designated as Wilderness under the 1984 California Wilderness Act. Currently, the parks are gathering information and public input in order to develop a Wilderness Management Plan for these areas.
For more details on planning a wilderness trip, see Backcountry Basics.
Food storage is required as black bears are at home in these parks. Their natural habitat is the forests and shrublands below 8000' (2438 meters), but they will frequently roam above these elevations in order to steal food from backpackers. Federal regulations require proper food storage and prohibit feeding of any park animal. Violations of these regulations will result in a fine of up to $5000. Even stronger than legal obligations is the moral responsibility to respect the wilderness you have come to enjoy. Careless food storage spells death for bears. When a bear repeatedly obtains human food and garbage, it becomes destructive and dangerous, and may have to be killed. You have entered the bears' territory; learn how to protect your food from bears, and don't let your carelessness destroy them in their own homes.
Wilderness permits are required for all overnight camping outside designated campgrounds. There is an overnight camping fee of $15 for permits issued by these parks. Permits are not required for day hikes, except in the Mt Whitney area. All hikers (even day hikers) to Mt. Whitney are required to obtain a permit.
Reservations: Quotas limit the number of people entering each trailhead on a single day. In the summer, the quotas on some popular trailheads are filled. To avoid this, you can reserve a permit in advance for trips between mid-May and September. We can accept backcountry reservations for the current year no earlier than March 1 and no later than 3 weeks before the start of your trip. All reservation requests must be faxed or mailed in. We regret that we are not set up to take backcountry reservations electronically at this time.
Groups are strongly recommended to use the reservation system. The maximum group size is 15 people per trailhead except for Redwood Canyon where the maximum size is 10.
All campers are expected to know and follow the regulations for minimum impact camping. This includes the fact that pets, weapons, and motorized or mechanical equipment are prohibited in national park backcountry.
Stock users, please read the updated Stock Use and Grazing Regulations (in .pdf format) and the minimum-impact stock-use regulations. Check the opening dates for grazing in meadows.
Horseback Riding:
There is one pack station and one stable in Kings Canyon National Park, and one pack station in nearby Sequoia National Forest. All are closed from late fall to spring, but exact dates vary. Each offers specific services; check with them for details and prices.
In Kings Canyon National Park:Cedar Grove Pack Station : 1-559-565-3464 (summer) : 1-559-337-2314 (off season)Grant Grove Stables : 1-559-335-9292 (summer) : 1-559-337-2314 (off season)
In Sequoia National Forest: Horse Corral:
PO Box 546
Woodlake, CA 93286
1-559-565-3404 (summer) : 559-564-6429 (off season) : 1-559-679-3573 (cell)
