Sequoia National Park
The southern entry to Sequoia lies near the town of Three Rivers about 35 miles east of Visalia on highway 198. Three Rivers, California has about a half dozen motels plus several stores, gas stations and restaurants. You should definitely fill your tank here, as there is no fuel available in the park. These are the closest accommodations to the park unless you camp or stay at one of the lodges within the park boundaries.
The park entrance lies just a few miles east of town. It costs $10 for a 7-day pass to enter both Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. From the entrance, the road climbs nearly 2,000 meters in 26 miles of switchbacks to the 2,500-meter summits of the first Sierra peaks.
Several groves of Sequoia trees are located close to the summit. Nearby park facilities include toilets, camping, a snack bar and a store. A few lodges are located throughout the park with overnight and longer-term accommodations. These usually require advanced reservations, but they are not as difficult to secure as the lodgings in Yosemite.
Sequoia trees, also known as giant California redwoods, are the largest trees in the world. They grow to a height of nearly 100 meters, which is not much higher than the Sugar pines and Ponderosa pines growing around them. The Sequoia, however, develops immense bulk. The trunks are often 4 to 6 meters in diameter. Even at 100 meter above the ground the trunk can be 4 or 5 meters in diameter.
Many of the Sequoia trees have survived for over one thousand years. Ancient forest fires have hollowed some, and you can walk through their cavernous interiors. You can even drive through a few. Others have fallen and lie on the forest floor. Early settlers in the Sierra Mountains even constructed houses and stables within the hollowed trees. The Sequoia groves are magical places in the land of the giant trees.
Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon National Park is adjacent to Sequoia, and you can enter it directly from Sequoia NP via route 198. The main, northern entrance lies about 50 miles east of Fresno along highway 180. There are only a few small villages along this route with a meager assortment of accommodations and services. Within Kings Canyon are camping facilities, toilets, restaurants, convenience stores and several lodges. There is also one privately owned business that is a combination motel, service station, bar and convenience store.
From the park entrance, route 180 climbs through about 20 miles of switchbacks to the summit of the first mountain range at about 2,000 meters. There are camping and lodging facilities at the summit near some spectacular groves of Sequoia trees. Along this road are some great views and a wide variety of hiking, mountain biking and riding trails. Riding horses and pack animals are available to rent at several stables in the park. Lodging is available at the mountaintop, but advanced reservations are necessary.
From the summit, route 180 drops 1000 meters down into the canyon through a series of switchbacks with spectacular views. At the bottom, it follows the raging Kings River up this narrow defile for about 10 miles to Cedar Grove Village and Roads End. The scenery is fantastic. Canyon walls rise 1000 meters on each side with sheer granite cliffs and beautiful waterfalls. Kings Canyon resembles Yosemite valley without the thousands of tourists.
There are camping facilities, a lodge, restaurant, store and horse rental stables at Cedar Grove Village. Many hiking and riding trails lead into the mountain wilderness from points around Cedar Grove Village and Roads End. It is possible to hike into these mountains and not see another person for weeks. Kings Canyon is a great place to appreciate the unspoiled wilderness of the USA without crowds of tourists.
