We arrived first in Sequoia NP, took a sign picture, and immediately started driving up in elevation. The road winds its way up through the mountain forests that house this park, offering grand views of both trees and valleys. Our first stop was the General Sherman Giant Sequoia which is located well into the heart of the park. This tree is the largest tree by volume in the world (as far as we know.) The tree is reached by taking a short, steep hike downhill (and uphill on the way back) from the parking lot to the tree itself. The tree truly is massive, not only at the base, it stays thick and powerful all the way up to the branches near the top.
We continued our drive through the Sequoia forests on our way to Kings Canyon. Sadly we could not visit the canyon portion of this park as it is closed for winter. We almost weren't able to drive to the forested part of the park either as a snow storm was imminent, but we made it just in time! We arrived at King's Canyon just as it was getting dark, explored the General Grant Grove for several minutes, then, as darkness fell, we headed out of the park and on our way. The giants behind us keeping watch over their domain as the storm loomed ever closer.
Personnel:
As we approached the road to go from Sequoia to King's Canyon the ranger there was closing the road, but after checking with us and discovering that we were planning to drive straight through, she let us continue on our journey. She was very friendly and quick to understand our situation and accommodate us as allowed with the approaching storm situation. We appreciated her manner and promptness.
Climate/weather:
SNOW! was coming... sadly we didn't experience any of the snow in these parks, but we know that it was imminent! While we were there it was quite cold but there was no rain or wind. It was overcast, but not ugly, weather.
Facilities/signage:
The facilities that we stopped at were not up to par as far as cleanliness goes. They didn't have hand sanitizer, but fortunately we came prepared! The Sequoia entrance sign was fantastic. Definitely not normal and channeled the park's identity. The King's Canyon sign was MIA, we were unable to find one. We did, however, take a picture with the entrance booth that had a sign at the top. The signs within the sign were quite well done, both on the road and on the trails. The trail to the General Sherman was especially well done with informative and interesting signage.
Hiking experience:
Hiking through the sequoia forest is fantastic! the trails were well maintained, and hiking among the giants makes you feel so tiny and insignificant. Also, as we hiked down to the General Sherman they had a stop where the base of the tree was outlined on the ground, you could get a sense of how truly massive the tree is! So good! The General Grant Grove had a hollow Sequoia that you could walk through as well! We definitely want to hike here more!
Super windy, lots of elevation change, and SO diverse! It started off with smaller sparser trees, as you moved up you got into a classic mountain forest, then finally you rose into the giants of the sequoia groves! The mountains and cliffs also impressed, perhaps not as amazing as Zion or Grand Canyon, but they truly hold their own. Be prepared in winter for road closures due to weather (in the form of SNOW!)
Camping options:
There are 14 campgrounds in the two parks with more than 2,000 campsites. Many are closed during the winter months. Also permits are required for any wilderness trips.
Hammockability:
If you had several hundred feet of webbing, you might be able to hammock between sequoias! There are also plenty of other less girthful trees that would make hammocking a fantastic experience here.
Scenery:
Giant sequoias are amazing! Their reddish brown bark stands out among the other trees. The shape of the sequoia is also unique and appealing. The trees alone are fantastic, but when you combine that with the incredible mountains surrounding the groves these parks are worth adding to your travel list. We didn't get the chance to visit the canyon in King's Canyon, but even without that it is worth coming.
Nearby food:
There are several lodges in the park that we believe have food options. There aren't any towns that are easily accessible so bringing your own food is advisable.
This park provided a very peaceful and beautiful experience as you walk through the ancient sequoia groves. It really has a calming affect on the pace of life. We are definitely planning to come do some backcountry hiking/camping here, perhaps the John Muir Trail that leads from these parks to Yosemite! We also plan to take some time to visit at a different time of year when the namesake of King's Canyon NP is open to visitors! These parks deserve more than just a day of exploration, and we plan to give it that!
Next stop: Yosemite National Park!
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