We have been fortunate enough to be able to see a lot of what California has to offer, including many of the national parks. Sequoia & Kings Canyon were the first 2 we got to visit back in September 2022. In February 2024, we were able to make another visit to Sequoia. Here we will walk you through how we have been able to explore these 2 national parks, and what we think is worth checking out.
Some Info
Both of these amazing parks are located in the Sierra Nevada of California. The Sierra Nevada is one of the most incredible places that we have been. It is massive, and we were fortunate enough to be able to visit a bunch of different places. The Sierra Nevada boasts an impressive collection, including: Yosemite NP, Sequoia NP, Kings Canyon NP, Mt. Whitney, and Lake Tahoe. So, you are in for a treat when you visit the Sierra Nevada.
If you want to check out how we rank the California National Parks we have visited, click here. Or, if you want to check out some of the awesome things you can do in central California, click here.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon are about 1 hour and 10 minutes from each other (from Giant Forest Museum to Kings Canyon Visitor Center) along the Generals Highway. These are both pretty large parks, so the drive time can be much longer. I chose these two points since they are “easy points” that are in the mix of some of the things to do.
Fun Facts
- Sequoia is the 2nd oldest NP, established in 1890
- Kings Canyon later joined in 1940
- The Sequoia trees are the largest living trees by volume on Earth
- General Sherman Tree is the largest tree by volume in the world 275 feet tall and 36 feet wide! (Hyperion in the Redwoods is the tallest)
- Highest point on contiguous US is located here: Mt. Whitney (14,494 feet)
- 108 miles of the PCT is in the parks
Shout out to the NPS for the facts and all that y’all do, get more info here.
How To Get There…
Fresno, CA is the closest big city to Sequoia & Kings Canyon, and the easiest to fly into and rent a car. This is also true for Yosemite National Park. Here is a list of how far of a drive it is from major cities/attractions to Giant Forest Museum or Kings Canyon Visitor Center.
- Fresno, CA (FAT): ~2 hours, 10 minutes; ~1 hour 15 minutes
- Bakersfield, CA: ~2.5 hours; ~2.5 hours
- San Jose, CA (SJC): ~4.5 hours; ~3.5 hours
- San Francisco, CA (SFO): ~5 hours; ~4 hours
- Yosemite Valley: ~4.25 hours, ~3.5 hours
- Los Angeles, CA (LAX): ~4.75 hours, ~4.5 hours
- Death Valley National Park (west sign/entrance): ~5.25 hours, ~5 hours
Where We Stayed…
On our first visit to the parks, we actually met some friends who flew in from Texas and rented a camper van for the weekend. We managed to snag a campsite at the Azalea Campground in Kings Canyon NP. Click the link to check for reservations, they are required and of course fill up quickly in the busy months.
This seemed like a great spot for us because it was pretty central between the parks and what we wanted to see. The campground was great, no issues at all. It is situated among the trees, so you get to sleep beneath some monster trees. The campground is situated at 6,500 feet, so be prepared for the temperatures that come with that.
Our second go around, we stayed at Potwisha Campground close to the entrance of Sequioa. We were focused more on Sequoia this time, and this campground is about 45 minutes from the Giant Forest Museum. It is another really solid campground, with a great location. But, we got rained on quite a bit, so that was a little bit of a bummer.
What To Do…
Hike
There are endless trails in Sequoia & Kings Canyon. So, you can pretty much find a hike for all ages and hiking levels. But, be sure to be prepared and know what you are getting yourself into. If you are interested, you can check out what we pack for our day hikes.
Mist Trail
Mist Trail was our first hike in Sequoia & Kings Canyon. This hike is located at the “Road’s End” where highway 180 comes to a stop deep in Kings Canyon. Because of this, it is good to get an early start due to it being over an hour from Azalea campground. It is a long drive, but it is an absolutely beautiful drive. So, try to give yourself some extra time either coming or going to be able to stop at some of the viewpoints.
The hike is about 8 miles, with ~900 feet elevation gain. So, it is not the most challenging hike you will find. But it is also not “a walk in the park,” if you will. Our experience was a bit of a mixed bag. The trail is beautiful, and you are surrounded by the massive shear cliffs of Kings Canyon on either side.
But, we did not get the memo to bring bug nets, and they were out in droves. So that made the experience a little less great. Also, it rained on us a bit. But, we were more prepared for the rain, and Erin even had a little poncho from the NP store. As you can see below, the “Hiked it, Liked it” was fitting for a bit, but the rain got old.
We would recommend this hike because of how beautiful the canyon and falls were. But also because it gets you to drive all the way down highway 180 to “Roads End.” Just check out the forecast, and recent reviews for bugs!
The Giant Forest
This is pretty much a must-do when in Sequoia & Kings Canyon. The Giant Forest is home to some of the most massive trees you can find. You really cannot grasp how huge these trees really are until you see them in person. There is a nice trail that leads you through the forest, and is a pretty easy walk overall.
Moro Rock
Moro Rock is a massive granite dome that you can climb up. To be able to make it up, you need to climb the 350 stairs. Although it is not overly strenuous or long, it can be a challenge at higher elevation (6725 feet), or if it is crowded. You get a beautiful view of the San Joaquin Valley down below, and some of the massive peaks of the Sierra Nevada above.
We actually hiked up to Moro Rock in the winter when we were snow shoeing. Since there was plenty of snow on the ground, and ice on the steps, we brought our micro spikes. These made it so much easier and safer for us to get up and down the frozen stairs.
Snow Shoe
On our second visit to Sequoia, we went while there was still plenty of snow on the ground. But that helped because we wanted to do some snow shoeing. For this we ended up renting snow shoes from REI in Fresno since we don’t have our own.
We snow shoed along Crescent Meadow Road to visit some of the major spots in this area. Since it was winter time, the road was closed to cars. So we had most of this area to ourselves. There were a few hikers walking along the road to Moro Rock, but once we ventured anywhere off the road we were pretty much alone.
We would definitely recommend this! It was a cool and different way to check out the area, and a great way to get away from any of the people.
Drive “The Generals Highway”
As long as you are going to visit both Sequoia & Kings Canyon, you will most likely drive this scenic highway. But, if you visit in the winter time it will be closed. Remember that these parks are located high up in the Sierra Nevada and they get a lot of snow. So, just make sure to check the status of the road.
Backpack the Rae Lakes Loop
This is not something we have done. But, the Mist Trail does follow along the trail for a portion of it. We learned about it as we were starting our hike, and then looked into it more later. It looks absolutely stunning! We would not have had the time or equipment to do it, but this could definitely be something that we would return for. You definitely need a permit for it, so make sure to check on that.
Here are a few random facts about it that I found interesting:
- ~39 miles
- ~7700 elevation gain
- Highest point ~11987 feet (Glen Pass)
- Part is on the PCT and John Muir Trail
- Usually done in 3-4 days
All in all, Sequoia & Kings Canyon are two awesome National Parks that are unique compared to a lot of the other places we have been to. They are definitely worth checking out, and it is nice that you can get a 2-for-1 since they are so close to each other.
Reach out if you have any questions for us!
Follow along with us on all of our adventures @acoupleoftravelingpts!
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