Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are two adjacent U.S. national parks in the southern Sierra Nevada of California. Sequoia National Park was established in 1890 and Kings Canyon National Park was established in 1940; they are managed jointly by the National Park Service.

The parks are best known for extensive groves of giant sequoia trees, including some of the largest trees on Earth by trunk volume. The Giant Forest hosts the largest living single-stem tree by volume, and Grant Grove in Kings Canyon contains another of the largest specimens. The parks also offer deep glacial valleys, granite cliffs and high-elevation backcountry terrain with alpine lakes and peaks.

Protection was established to preserve the groves of giant sequoias and the dramatic Sierra landscapes; conservation and visitor infrastructure expanded under federal management in the early 20th century. Kings Canyon’s designation followed to protect the deep canyon and surrounding high country and the two parks have been administered together since the mid-20th century.

Geographically the parks sit in the southern Sierra Nevada east of the San Joaquin Valley in central California. Major visitor areas are connected by the Generals Highway and the parks span large elevation ranges from lower foothills to high Sierra peaks and alpine zones.

• General Sherman: Located in the Giant Forest, it is the largest known living single-stem tree by trunk volume and stands about 83.8 m (275 ft) tall.
• Establishment and management: The two parks are administered together by the U.S. National Park Service; Sequoia National Park was established in 1890 and Kings Canyon National Park in 1940.
• Access and seasonality: Generals Highway links major visitor areas but sections are often closed in winter and many high-elevation trails hold snow into early summer.

What to See#

• Giant Forest: Located in the southern Sierra Nevada, this large grove contains many of the park’s biggest giant sequoias and is the site of the General Sherman Tree.
• Grant Grove: A separate grove in Kings Canyon National Park that contains the General Grant Tree and a concentration of mature sequoias accessible by paved road.
• Kings Canyon (Cedar Grove): A deep, glacially carved canyon with steep granite walls and the Kings River running through it, offering hiking and river access inside Kings Canyon National Park.
• High Sierra backcountry: Alpine high country above the treeline with lakes, granite peaks and extensive backcountry routes; used for backpacking and mountaineering.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon are best reached by car. From Fresno, take CA-180 east to the park’s northern entrances (about 1.5-2 hours to Grant Grove/Kings Canyon). The most direct drive to the Giant Forest and General Sherman Tree is via CA-198 from the town of Three Rivers (about 1-1.5 hours from Visalia). There is limited public transit; the nearest major airport is Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), ~1.5-2 hours’ drive. Roads can close seasonally-check NPS alerts before departure.

• Arrive at the Giant Forest before 9am to see General Sherman with fewer tour buses and late-afternoon light for photos.
• Drive Generals Highway slowly - there are sharp corners, narrow shoulders, and pullouts with views; don't rely on cell service for navigation.
• If visiting in winter, carry tire chains and check road closures on the National Park Service site; some roads close seasonally (notably parts of Generals Highway).
• Consider hiking the Congress Trail (a 2-mile loop) instead of the paved, busier Sherman Tree path to feel the scale of these trees without the crush.