California · the United States

Sequoia and Kings Canyon

The largest trees in the world by wood volume, such as the General Sherman and the General Grant, the granite dome of Moro Rock, a marble cave, and the glacial valley of Kings Canyon.

California

In the photo: Moro Rock, Sequoia National Park

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks sit side by side on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada in California and are jointly managed. Sequoia, established in 1890, was the second U.S. national park. Kings Canyon was created in 1940, incorporating the former General Grant National Park, also from 1890.

The parks protect groves of giant sequoias, the largest trees in the world by wood volume. In the Giant Forest in Sequoia is the General Sherman, the largest of them all, and in Grant Grove in Kings Canyon is the General Grant, the second largest. Some of these trees are over 2,000 years old. Recent wildfires in 2020 and 2021 killed thousands of large sequoias, and the park is working on replanting.

Beyond the groves, the parks feature the granite dome of Moro Rock, with a stairway to the top, Crystal Cave, a marble cave visited on guided tours, and the Kings Canyon valley, one of the deepest canyons in North America, carved by glaciers and the Kings River. More than 90% of the area is designated wilderness, with no roads, and includes Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States, reachable only by long trails.

Roads climb from about 400 meters at the foothills to over 2,000 meters in the groves. Summer is the easiest time to visit, with all roads open. In winter, snow covers the groves and some roads close.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Visalia, Three Rivers.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

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Where Sequoia and Kings Canyon is

Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau / geoBoundaries (public domain). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Sequoia and Kings Canyon

✈ Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), in Fresno · 70 km to Visalia

Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) is the closest, about 90 km from the Kings Canyon entrance and 130 km from the Sequoia entrance. Visalia is about 55 km from the Sequoia entrance at Three Rivers. From Los Angeles it’s about 340 km to Three Rivers, and from San Francisco about 400 km to Fresno.

Suggested arrival point: Visalia

Califórnia · Sequoia and Kings Canyon Suggested arrival point

Visalia

City in the San Joaquin Valley, in central California, in a region of orchards and farms, about 55 km from the Sequoia National Park entrance. It is the base with the most hotels and restaurants for Sequoia and Kings Canyon, with an old downtown of low buildings. In summer, buses leave town for the Giant Forest. From Visalia you can also reach Grant Grove and the Kings Canyon valley.

Califórnia · Sequoia and Kings Canyon

Three Rivers

Small town at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, on the Kaweah River, next to the main entrance to Sequoia National Park at Ash Mountain. It is the closest base to the Giant Forest, with inns, cabins and restaurants along the river. From the entrance, the Generals Highway climbs on tight switchbacks to the sequoia groves, with the General Sherman, Moro Rock, the Giant Forest Museum and Crystal Cave.

The local experience

Things to do in Sequoia and Kings Canyon

Visalia · California · Grove of sequoias

General Grant Tree and Grant Grove

Grove of giant sequoias in Kings Canyon with the General Grant, the second largest tree in the world by volume, called the Nation’s Christmas Tree, reached by an approximately 800-meter paved trail.

Three Rivers · California · Tree

General Sherman Tree

The largest tree in the world by wood volume, a giant sequoia about 84 meters tall and over 2,000 years old in the Giant Forest, reached by a short trail that descends from the parking area.

Three Rivers · California · Viewpoint

Moro Rock

Granite dome in Sequoia National Park, with a staircase of about 350 stone steps carved to the top, offering views of the Great Western Divide, the Kaweah River valley and, on clear days, the San Joaquin Valley.

Visalia · California · Valley

Zumwalt Meadow and Cedar Grove

Meadow at the bottom of Kings Canyon in Cedar Grove, surrounded by granite cliffs, with a roughly 2.4 km trail along the Kings River, reached by a road that is open only in season.

See 2 more places in Sequoia and Kings Canyon

Three Rivers · California · Museum

Giant Forest Museum

Museum in Sequoia National Park dedicated to the giant sequoias, housed in a historic stone-and-wood building in the Giant Forest, and the starting point for the Big Trees Trail, a flat loop around a meadow.

Three Rivers · California · Cave

Crystal Cave

Marble cave in Sequoia National Park, with calcite formations, stalactites and an underground stream, visited only on guided tours with tickets bought in advance during the summer season.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From June to September, with all roads open, Crystal Cave operating, and the road to Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon accessible. May and October have fewer visitors, but some attractions may be closed. In winter, snow makes the groves beautiful but requires chains and closes some road sections.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Two to three days: one in the Giant Forest for the General Sherman, Moro Rock and the museum; one in Grant Grove and Kings Canyon, to Cedar Grove in summer; and one for Crystal Cave and longer hikes.

Which city to stay in

Visalia, about 55 km from the Sequoia entrance, has more hotels and restaurants. Three Rivers, at the park entrance, is closer to the Giant Forest, with inns and riverside cabins on the Kaweah River. Inside the parks there are lodges and cabins at Wuksachi, Grant Grove and Cedar Grove, and several campgrounds that usually require reservations.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Sequoia and Kings Canyon

Which airport serves Sequoia and Kings Canyon?

Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), about 90 km from the Kings Canyon entrance and 130 km from the Sequoia entrance.

Are Sequoia and Kings Canyon the same park?

They are two neighboring national parks, jointly managed and connected by the Generals Highway. A single entrance pass is valid for both.

Do you need a car in Sequoia and Kings Canyon?

Yes. In summer there are buses from Visalia to the Giant Forest and internal buses in Sequoia, but for Grant Grove, Cedar Grove and Crystal Cave you need a car.

How many days should I stay in Sequoia and Kings Canyon?

Two to three days for the Giant Forest, Grant Grove, Kings Canyon and Crystal Cave.

Are the roads in Sequoia and Kings Canyon open in winter?

The Generals Highway usually stays open, with chain requirements on snowy days. The road to Cedar Grove and the Crystal Cave road close in winter. Check conditions before you go.

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Sequoia and Kings Canyon

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The cities on this trip