Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park - hiking and camping among the biggest trees

Sequoia Kings Canyon National Parks California

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park California contains deep canyons, high peaks, streams and rivers, and of course, big trees. Between the elevations and seasons the conditions of the two parks vary greatly, from the dry and low foothills to mid-elevation sequoia groves to spectacular high elevation mountain scenery. Before planning a trip to either Sequoia National Park or Kings Canyon National Park check out specific information for the time of year you will be visiting.

There is no gas available within either national parks. However, there are three gas stations in the national forest areas which you will travel through before reaching either park. It is highly recommended to get fuel before entering either park as one of the gas stations was closed when we were there in early June. I think there was only one station that sold diesel fuel. At each of the three visitors centers there are small markets but the food prices at these national park markets will blow your mind. Visiting these parks prepared to be self-sufficient will save your bank account. There is amble lodging and camping throughout both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Lodgepole is the only campground that accepts reservations but only during the busy months.

The Sequoia trees main cause of death is toppling due to their shallow root system. Sequoias live hundreds to thousands of years because they are resistant to many insects, diseases, and can survive most fires. The reason that Sequoias grow so large is because they grow fast over a long lifetime.

The two main roads through the parks, Generals Highway and Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, go through extreme elevation ranges are steep and constantly curvy. Frequent braking causes overheating and brake failure. Do not take your eyes off the road to fuss with the kids, look at your cell phone or play around the with your music. With no shoulder you need to pay constant attention for oncoming traffic as well as the many road cyclists, especially on the weekends.

With all the pictures of bears breaking into cars, talk from park rangers, flyers, and bear boxes located at campgrounds and even at trailheads it would behoove you to heed all warnings. After getting parked either at a campsite or before you go off on any hike store your food properly and promptly, and picking up all of your trash is a must to keep the wild bears from destroying your car, cooler, and canned goods. We were even told to put away our antibacterial bottle that we keep up front because the local bears see anything as potential food. Although there are several hundred black bears in the park not everybody gets lucky enough to see one. One of the reason is that Bear Management tries to keep them away from the campgrounds by hazing them, which is shooting rubber bullets at them to train them to see campgrounds and roadways as a negative. There are also mountain lion warnings even though sightings or run-ins with one is very uncommon.

Lake Isabella is part of the Kern Valley and Kern River in California, about an hour from Bakersfield. It is practically surrounded by the Sequoia National Forest and is south of Giant Sequoia National Monument and Sequoia National Park. In the area and at Lake Isabella itself there is camping, hiking, water sports, and fishing.

Sequoia National Park Fooothills is in the Sierra's lower elevations. It is comprised of different kinds of plants and animals than the conifer forests or high country. One of the differences is the poison oak on foothills trails which also grows up to the 5000 foot elevation level. Check out the Be Safe! section of the Sequoia & Kings Canyon newspaper that you can get at the visitor centers so that you can recognize this danger and other dangers. Hiking of Paradise Creek Trail and Middle Fork Trail can be easily reach from Buckeye Campground.

Lodgepole Visitor Center and Village has shuttle services that run only in the summer months. It goes to and from the visitor center and village campground to hikes like the Giant Forest, General Sherman Trail, and Crescent Meadow Trail. Keep an eye out for small critters such as rattlesnakes.

Kings Canyon National Park Grant Grove Visitor Center and Village in Kings Canyon National Park is 6600 feet in elevation. It was originally named General Grant National Park and was created to protect sequoias from logging. Azalea Campground is right next to the General Grant Tree Trail and North Grove Loop, as well as the North Boundary Trail which leads to Panoramic Point.

Kings Canyon National Park Cedar Grove Visitor Center and Village sits glaciated between a valley of granite cliffs, waterfalls, and the Kings River. The Sentinel Campground is right next to the small visitor center and just a short walk across the river to the market and showers. Take the drive to Road's End and check out the Roaring River Falls and Zumwalt Meadow Trail. The road to Hume Lake goes through the Giant Sequoia National Monument and Sequoia National Forest.

Jason's thoughts - Poor planning of food/water supply ended up costing me an additional $80 or so over what I would have spent at Wal-Mart over the course of 5-6 days. All stores are VERY expensive, as is fuel and even firewood, which you can gather from the ground if you take the time. Showers cost extra. We hit this campground in our new class b camper van rather than the larger 34 foot Class A and this was a good decision as many twisting roads, sharp turns, steep downgrades, and limited spots for larger rv's are found in these parks &l forests.
Kelly's thoughts - The weather in late Spring was cool and pleasant, day and night, which makes for a more pleasant trip for hiking and sleeping. I especially like the fact that the shady forests of pines and Sequoias did not have a lot of underbrush so the visibility through the forest was pretty deep. And even though we didn't see a black bear we did see other elusive critters and that was exciting.

Visit Sequoia National Park for more information.

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