If you want to explore further, walk the Congress Loop, a 2-mile loop that heads further into the forest. More Information for Your Trip to California, Planning a trip to the United States? Your engine may get louder as it slows you down, but it will save your brakes from overheating and burning out. If you are driving slowly or stopping to view the scenery, pull into the paved turnout areas and let other vehicles pass. Theres a lot to see at Sequoia NP and the adjoining park, Kings Canyon National Park, and we planned to stay at least 3 nights so camping was not in the cards this trip. To get to Sequoia National Park from Kings Canyon, drive south past Grant Grove and follow the signs for Sequoia National Park. Drivers will be held responsible for any hazardous conditions caused by their actions. Try climbing up there in the middle of winter! To see giant sequoias, visit Kings Canyon National Park. Maybe it was pretty, but I had my eyes shut half the time. This fee includes both Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park and is valid for up to 7 days. Save these tips for . As Sequoia National Park's sister park, Kings Canyon (which is adjacent to Sequoia) is also all about big treesbut it's still an entirely separate and . Is the drive to Sequoia National Park scary? General Grant Grove is home to the largest sequoia trees in Kings Canyon, including General Grant, the second largest tree in the world. Generals Highway (Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park Scenic Drives Shuttles If you dont want to deal with the mountain driving, take the shuttle. Take I-80 W towards Sacramento. Driving to Sequoiascary ASF? : r/Bakersfield - Reddit Snow tires and/or snow chains are required from November to March regardless of the current weather and state of the roads. So glad we skipped the Twin Cities route, which is said to be even worse. The National Park Service does not tow or repair vehicles. I wouldnt think you would have any problems getting from park to park, with the exception of traveling from Yosemite to Death Valley (depending on the route and the order you plan to visit the parks). Then youll reach Kings Canyon Overlook, a breathtaking first look at the canyon from afar. Stroll a lovely meadow trail and hear how it got its name. Saw a very unique and beautiful red colored sunset over city lights on our way down on 180, leaving Kings Canyon though. You definitely need a full tank of gas and your own water before heading out. Regular Tour: 47050 Generals Hwy # 10, Three Rivers, CA 93271. Driving Directions - Sequoia & Kings Canyon - National Park Service The General Grant tree is the worlds second largest tree. This is one of the roads that runs through the two parks, you have to take this road to see any of the vistas, hikes, attractions. We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location. I would not recommend this one for first time snowshoers or snow hikers. The parks and Sequoia Natl Monument are next to each other. Moro Rock rises 6,725 feet above sea level, but hikers only have to climb the last 300 feet of that elevation to enjoy the vast panoramic views. The Generals Highway is a highway that connects State Route 180 and State Route 198 through Sequoia National Park, Giant Sequoia National Monument, and Kings Canyon National Park in the Sierra Nevada of California. They stop at Lodgepole, General Sherman, and the Giant Forest Museum. If you are entering the park from the Sequoia side one of the first places with a lot of snow that you will come upon is probably the Big Trees Loop. Or share this post with others by pinning on Pinterest! Snowshoes: Depending on the snow conditions during your visit, you may want/need snowshoes. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. The spires to the south, and across the Kaweah Canyon, stood out in bold relief, too. Use a NPS map to note points of interest along the highway and group according to location and time. This is not an entry ticket to any of the attractions along the way. Visalia The actual park entrance is about 4 hours away, but it takes about 1 hour of driving through the park to get to the central area where most of the campgrounds/sites are. DEATH VALLEY: Here are 5 reasons why Death Valley should be the next national park you visit. Studying the view with awe, I suddenly realized that I was looking right at the top half of Moro Rock, in full sun, just beyond a ridge that was in the shadow of a lone cloud! Plan Your Trip | Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks The one-mile Big Trees Trail, which starts at the Trail Center shelter by the museum, is a great introduction.Past the Crescent Meadow turnoff, the Generals Highway begins to lose elevation. There are over 400 hundred steps.The views from the rest area along the trail and top are outstanding. Helpful hint just in case: My family had seasick bands that we wore so we didn't get car sick with all the winding. Long, winding, stomach churning road with a few nice vistas. A true international family a Texan bred Mom, Irish bred Dad and a son born in India exploring the world one trip at a time. Although guide books will tell you there is no gasoline in the park, the National Forest Service operates Sony Creek Lodge on Generals Highway, about midway between Grant Grove and Wuksachi and there is gasoline, a restaurant and store there. North of this spot the road deteriorates significantly. There are interactive sign boards along the walk that explain the area during the summer (its a marsh!). Tip: If you have space, carry a pair of small binoculars during your visit. An audio guide, map, and tour book all in one! Would we be able to take this drive? | Hobie Surf Shop l BLOG, Climbing Moro Rock, Sequoia National Park | The Wherever Writer, Red Rock Canyon to Zion, and back again | AlpineMonkeys, West Coast road trip: the USA's true beauty - Live Recklessly, A guide to visiting Sequoia National Park - Road Trippin' The States, Sequoia National Park, CA Town Traveller, https://www.hikespeak.com/trails/moro-rock-sequoia/, Crescent Meadow Loop to Chimney Tree and Tharps Log in Sequoia National Park, Giant Forest Museum in Sequoia National Park. This trail is also easily accessible even for those without proper snow gear. Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks are open 24 hours a day 365 days per year. Overall, this drive must be completed on any trip to Sequoia National Park. Elizabeth | Adventure + Travel Blog on Instagram: "Planning to visit Even though we didnt do it, I still wanted to include Crystal Cave in this post since this is a popular spot to visit in Sequoia National Park. Granted this was my first concern too. Since travel times to the two areas are increased during winter it is advised to pick a section for each day of your visit. To get here, it is one hour of driving round trip from the Giant Forest Museum. His snow boots werent quite as great as we had hoped! The clearlier the air day the farther you can see. Driving in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks Roads here are steep, winding, and narrow. Driving Mountain Roads - Sequoia & Kings Canyon - National Park Service The park newspaper says that the trail is a bit scary in some sections when the trail is icy and covered in snow, but overall this 3.74 mile trail is beautiful to hike in the winter. The museum is fairly small, with a few interactive exhibits. Its $15 round trip per person which includes your entry fee into the park. These are great if you plan to hike on packed down trails that are still covered in snow. Distance: 217 mi/349 km PRO TRAVEL TIP #1: This is a very, very windy road. I didn't see anywhere to stop for food, so pack a picnic as well. If you cannot get a reservation inside the park or prefer to stay outside, we highly recommend staying in Three Rivers. The Generals Highway is the main (and only) paved road running through Sequoia National Park from the north to south entrances. In order to submit a comment to this post, please write this code along with your comment: c37d82d7d1a146ac1c278da8de72a3ca. Fresno to Sequoia National Park - Sequoia Shuttle PRO TRAVEL TIP #2: The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is only open from mid-May through mid-October. Hi, I am looking for a road trip from San Jose, CA for about 4 days during Feb 20- Feb 24. However, we suggest you download the tour on WiFi at your home, hotel, visitor center, etc., before heading out for a completely immersive experience. Hike the Congress Trail. Distance: 310 mi/499 km We definitely hope to camp at Sequoia eventually though! Do the road gradient increase drastically ? There are cheaper options, but I have used these for more than 5 years from hiking the Narrows in Zion to the Andes in Ecuador. You can experience ourdrivingandwalkingtours at your own pace and literally at any time of the day! Take exit 96 onto CA-198 E towards Visalia. Overall, we had the best time at Sequoia National Park. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: The Complete Guide - TripSavvy Scenic highway highlights are listed below. There is an additional fee to tour this cave. Does anyone know if there are restrictions on when you can be up there? Learn more about the shuttle service here. I learned the hard way by sinking in several feet of snow at every step off trail! We have not used it, so I dont know how it lines up with our itinerary, but for $10 it sounds like a good deal if you like to learn more about what you are seeing. Moro Rock Trail | Sequoia | Hikespeak.com problems. Would it be possible to drive a 12 or 15 seater Van like ford transit through this? The main campgrounds open year round include: Potwisha Campground in the Foothills of Sequoia and Azalea Campground in Grant Grove. Its extremely popular for a good reason! Box 89, Sequoia Continuing southward, the highway enters Giant Forest. Los Angeles Area Need recommendation for housing for 3 nights near Sequoia NP in early October; not to break the bank. Regulations restrict the length of vehiclesthey must not exceed 40 feet (12 m), although vehicles longer than 22 feet (6.7 m) are not recommended to use the road between Potwisha Campground and Giant Forest Museum.The scenic 50-mile Generals Highway was built in 1935 to connect the General Grant Tree in Kings Canyon to the General Sherman Tree in Sequoia National Park. Rentals of chains are available in Three Rivers if you are arriving from that area. Driving: The drive to Sequoia National Park from Los Angeles is about 5 hours without traffic. n audio guide, map, and tour book all in one app! Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes 7 Things to Do in Sequoia National Park in Winter. Sequoia National Park Itinerary: 1-2 Days in Sequoia & Kings Canyon There is a brewery and a pizza place so it looks to be a decent place to stay a few nights. Find out how people traversed these parks as you make your way to Kings Canyon. When you are ready to return to Visalia after your park visit, take the 2:30 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. departure from the park and catch the 6:30 p.m. V-LINE to Fresno. Here is an affiliate link to Booking.com to look at properties in Three Rivers. For the latest road and weather conditions within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, please call the 24-Hour Park Information Hotline at 559-565-3341, then press 1-1-1. Pause at the turnout at Amphitheater Point to look back uphill at precipitous Moro Rock, which seems to cling to the mountainside, and then stop at Hospital Rock to see the Native American pictographs and morteros (rock holes) once used for grinding seeds.After passing two campgrounds, Buckeye and Potwisha, the Generals Highway finally winds downward to pass underneath Tunnel Rock and before it reaches the Foothills Visitor Center.Please support my channel guys. Our website uses cookies. Julie Last updated: December 22, 2022 United States 73 Comments. No Access to Giant Sequoias in Sequoia National Park The Generals Highway is currently closed 6 miles from the entrance at Hospital Rock. In Bakersfield, continue onto CA-99 N toward Fresno. Click like comment and subscribe for more videos:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjTBBaWcz5zNKVPf4nDYhTA/videos?disable_polymer=1If you think i made a difference in your life, please consider supporting me in my endeavors by donating so that i can continue to upload quality videos. Take US-50 E/CA-99 S towards Fresno. You can buy online or at the entrance. My tip: start your day as early as possible! However, the rangers told us there have been years when there is little snow that the road re-opens mid season. This is especially common in the Foothills area of Sequoia National Park. During our visit, we managed to walk about 3.7 miles total. Walk the General Sherman Trail, a short walking trail that wanders through this grove of giant trees. Changing travel date? Avoid routes that direct you onto unpaved roads, which may be rugged, gated, closed seasonally, or only suitable for 4WD or AWD vehicles. Tunnel Log is a passageway that was carved into a fallen sequoia tree. This is the only way to drive from Sequoia to Kings canyon, no matter it's good or not, you have to drive thru' it unless you just go to either one park, not both of them. You will cross the mountains and if there is a spring snowstorm, it could impact your travel. Eshom Road is rugged and may not be passable, especially during storms or when snow is melting. You must arrange for a car yourself. Be sure to check information on vehicle length limits and advisories. I did, with several of my stupid friends! Extreme elevation changes over short distances means park roads are steep, narrow, and winding. Witness the giant sequoias in all their majesty, including General Sherman, the most massive living thing on the planet. This section also consists of numerous switchbacks, and has a speed limit of 10 MPH. Oh, thats super, super helpful to know THANK YOU! If there is snow falling or fresh powder, considering bringing ski goggles as well to keep your eyes clear during sledding! All tours are valid for a lifetime. From here, you need to climb 350 steep steps to reach the summit with the panoramic views of the park. Check our our USA Road Trip Guide for travel ideas and sample itineraries. As you noted, well miss things in Kings Canyon/Sequoia (and Yosemite) due to the weather. Beyond them is the Giant Forest Museum, where youll find a short hiking trail through some of the parks enormous residents. The National Park Service charges $35 for a vehicle pass. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. Most of these visitors choose to go in the summer, when temperatures are warm, but is summer the best time to visit Sequoia National Park? This is one of the few trails open at Sequoia National Park in winter and is beautiful! Find out how giant sequoias survive in a harsh mountain climate and how that might be changing as years go by. In normal years I might suggest staying inside the park so you can avoid driving on the windy curvy roads every day, however during COVID I highly recommend staying outside of the park where you have more flexibility in cooking your meals and keeping socially distant. Waterproof Outer Layers: If you plan on doing any winter hiking, or snow play, you will want waterproof hiking pants (these are also great) and a waterproof jacket. This tree used to hold the record for the second largest tree in the world by width, but I believe that has been overtaken by The President which can be found on the Congress Trail mentioned above. From there, youll head north toward the Marble Falls trail, learning about the park and the giant sequoias along the way. Drink plenty of water the day before your visit and stay well hydrated while there too. In the morning, we drove south to Kings Canyon, spent the day exploring both parks, and ended in a small, nearby town. What restaurants are near Generals Highway? Time: 6 hours, 30 minutes 15 Best National Parks to Visit in August 2023 (USA), 15 Best National Parks to Visit in June 2023 (USA), Ultimate US National Parks List for 2023 (+ Printable Checklist), 15 Best National Parks to Visit in July 2023 (USA). That's not how you get to Sequoia park lol. Vehicles that exceed lengths limits cannot navigate tight curves without crossing the double yellow line. Learn how your comment data is processed. Gasoline is available at two locations within the surrounding Sequoia National Forest at Hume Lake and Stony Creek. See the impressive sequoias which serve as an unofficial "gateway" into the national park. Up next on the Sequoia National Park, youll find one of the parks main attractions: the General Sherman Tree. Once you arrive, youll see why this park is a state treasure! The 1.7-mile (2.7 km) trail to the water is a gentle and scenic route, passing along the Kaweah River. The cost per vehicle is $35. Subscribe to our newsletter belowcoupon code on the next screen. No gasoline is available in the national parks, though nearby national forests have gas stations.