For an unforgettable outdoor experience, Sequoia National Park is a must-visit destination. With towering sequoia trees and miles of trails to explore, the park offers something for everyone. If you’re looking to continue your outdoor adventure, Kings Canyon is just next door! With their towering trees and stunning landscapes, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks offer something for everyone. Here are some of the top things to do in these amazing parks.
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How Long To Stay
I worked here for an entire summer so I experienced the nooks and crannies of the parks that most travelers won’t have time for. So I’ve narrowed down my favorites to fit the needs of a shorter trip.
Two days should be plenty of time to see the best of Sequoia National Park and I think one solid day at Kings Canyon would be sufficient, especially if you visit during a time of year when Kings Canyon Scenic Byway isn’t open. But everyone has their own schedule so I’ve included what to do for an extra day if you have the time. Each day’s itinerary provides you with the best opportunity to experience the best these parks have to offer.
Day One Sequoia National Park Itinerary
If driving into the park from Visalia on Hwy 198, you want to stop to enjoy the foothills with a stop at Hospital Rock across from the Hospital Rock picnic area. Here you’ll get a sense of what Native American life might have been like. You’ll see pictographs and bedrock mortars created by the indigenous groups that lived here as far back as 1350 AD.
If you choose to hike in this area be vigilant and look out for rattlesnakes and poison oak. At the time of writing Hospital Rock to Potwisha Trail was closed due to impacts from the 2021 KNP Complex Fire. Always check the website for the latest updates on closures.
Stop at Amphitheater Point for your first views of Moro Rock which gives you a greater sense of the elevation change as you drive into the park.
Drive up to the Giant Forest area to enjoy Crescent Meadow and adjoining trails. You want Moro Rock/Crescent Meadow Road. On weekends the road closes to private vehicles. If you are traveling during the summer there is a free shuttle that runs from the Giant Forest Museum to the Moro Rock parking lot. On weekdays the road remains open, but the parking lot is small so it fills early. It also makes for a beautiful walk. At the end of Moro Rock/Crescent Meadow Road (also closed in the winter due to snow), you will come to the Crescent Meadow parking lot where you can walk to the trailhead. This 1.5-mile loop is one of my favorites in the park. The family-friendly flat trail leads to a group of shorter trails that connect to various sites, including Log Meadow, Trail of the Sequoias, and Tharp’s Log a fallen redwood tree that Tharp turned into his own personal house.
From the same parking lot, you have access to the viewing area atop Moro Rock which should not be missed. The 350 steps of stone stairs lead you to the top. And as you climb, the views (and drop-offs) dominate your focus. If you have small children be sure to keep them close by. There is a slight concern as hand railings are available but bars are widely spaced and open.
The Giant Forest Museum, where you can catch the free Moro Rock/Crescent Meadow shuttle during the summer, is open year-round. But it can be closed in winter due to impacts from snow storms. Normal hours of operation are 10 AM – 4 PM. There are a variety of exhibits here and it makes for an educational experience.
If you are staying in the park at Wuksachi Lodge you may be able to check in now. If not, you can still have lunch at Wuksachi Pizza Deck. Lunch is available from 12 PM to 2 PM. Dinner runs from 5 – 8 PM. Their menu is available here. There is at the time of writing no tableside service but you can enjoy your to-go meal at the available indoor and outdoor seating before you drive back toward Sherman Tree to tackle Congress Trail. This almost three-mile paved loop won’t work off all your calories but it is a great trail that allows you to see General Sherman tree the world’s largest tree at 275 ft tall and 36 ft wide. For accessible parking, there is a small parking area just two miles north of the Giant Forest Museum.
Wrap up your day by taking the Sunset Rock trail, across from the Giant Forest Museum, for amazing sunset views. You can contribute to the Sequoia Park Conservancy and its recovery efforts stemming from the KNP Complex Fire by buying a group tour ticket for the Sequoia Sunset Walk. At $15 per person, this two-hour experience is a small group tour with an expert naturalist who hikes with you and teaches the group about the people that called this place home, as well as plants and animals in the area today.
This is an easy trail with plenty of spots to sit and enjoy the outdoor space even if you don’t make it all the way to Sunset Rock. You may want to enjoy dinner at Peaks Restaurant. Check in with the staff for dinner specials.
Day Two Sequoia National Park Itinerary
On Day Two of your itinerary, if you’re an early riser and you want to beat the crowds, take Beetle Rock Trail and Big Trees Trail a 1.3-mile paved flat loop that can be accessed just a short walk from the Giant Forest Museum parking lot. Exercise caution here as well because there are no paths or stairs onto the rock. Bears are active in the area so if you picnic here later in the day be sure to keep food items in the storage boxes in the parking lot.
This is also an interesting place to come to at sunset. You can, unfortunately, see a bit of the pollution that gets blown up the valley and learn more about its impacts on the area.
Crystal Cave is on the agenda today so be sure to purchase tickets in advance of your trip. You’ll plan for about half a day to experience this including drive time, walking to the entrance, and then the 50-minute guided tour.
The KNP Complex Fire had an unfortunate impact on the Crystal Cave area and at the time of writing the area is scheduled to be closed until May 2023. Assuming you get to have this experience you will enjoy the ranger-led tour to see caverns full of stalagmites and learn about the animals that call this otherworldly space home.
While in the cavern you’ll also have an opportunity to experience total darkness and a moment of deep silence as your guide will turn off all lights and request that everyone remains silent for a moment. It’s a unique experience as the depth of the silence in total darkness is surprising and is a unique part of the adventure that you won’t forget.
Wrap up this second day with a beautiful drive back to Lodgepole for a hike to Tokopah Falls. Before you start the hike you can grab lunch at the Lodgepole Cafe. This grab-and-go service has hot sandwich options such as grilled chicken, and cod, as well as hot dogs and salads. These along with other items can be a great way to build a picnic if you want to enjoy a meal on the trail.
The approximately 4-mile round trip trail to Tokopah Falls starts near the Lodgepole Visitor Center and General Store. Drive a short distance up Lodgepole Road to parking at the Lodgepole Campground. Cross the bridge over the river and start on the Tokopah Falls trail. You’ll pass several meadows, and cross two bridges before you catch your first glimpse of the waterfall. I’d plan about 2 hours for this experience which has a 630 ft gain in elevation that happens gradually as it leads you along the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River. There are a series of switchbacks as you come to the last section of the trail and start walking along the rocks. The trail ends right at the base of the waterfall.
Once you’ve returned, you can celebrate with dinner back at the Wuksachi Lodge.
Kings Canyon Day One Itinerary
Day one at Kings Canyon if you drive from the Wuksachi Village area or at the Montecito Sequoia Lodge, you’ll take the Generals Highway toward the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway. This road is closed during the winter but usually opens toward the end of April. It is an enjoyable 2 to 3-hour round-trip drive.
If you didn’t get a chance to see Crystal Caves you can also enjoy Boyden Cave on this route. this small marble Cavern again needs to be booked in advance because it’s so popular.
Drive all the way to Roads End, the literal end of Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, and you’ll come to Zumwalt Meadow. The trailhead for Zumwalt Meadow Trail begins near the Kings River. It was once a loop trail but natural flooding in 2019 washed away a section. Now you can cross Kings River over a bridge. Just past the meadow, the trail will merge with the Kanawyer Loop trail for .8 miles toward Road’s End and Muir Rock.
Be prepared for gnats if you are taking this trail later in the day. A simple bug net on your hat may help you avoid the annoyance of all that extra protein flying straight into your mouth. You can also bring bug repellant.
Take a chance at seeing the Roaring River Falls by starting at the parking area 3 miles east of Village Road. The trail is paved and relatively easy.
Mist Falls is a great day hike option as well. This trailhead starts just past the Road’s End Permit Station and connects to Paradise Valley so you may share it with backpackers who are doing an overnight hike. For day hikers it is a noteworthy approximately 8-mile round-trip. Or 11 miles round trip if you want to include the Kanawyer Loop trail. The route gains 800 feet in elevation, mostly toward the last section of the hike where it is more steep and rocky. There are of course great views of Mist Falls but you can also continue past that area for more dramatic views of the canyon below.
You can travel back to enjoy Cedar Grove Visitor Center and have lunch at Cedar Grove Grill
To wrap up your day in Kings Canyon, you’ll have a chance to visit Grants Grove Village. Be sure to check out the Kings Canyon Visitor Center for updates on the latest trail closures in the area. Just 1 mile from the Visitor Center, you’ll park at the General Grant Tree Parking area and catch a paved loop trail to the General Grant tree. This is America’s Christmas Tree as named by President Coolidge in 1926. Park staff still host special guided walks to the tree during the winter.
From this same parking lot, you can also enjoy the 1.5-mile North Grove Loop for beautiful meadows, giant trees, and creeks. You might also want to catch the Big Stump Basin area on your way out of the park. There is a 2-mile loop trail that meanders along more glorious meadows and past large sequoia stumps that were logged in the late 19th century.
Kings Canyon Day Two Itinerary
If you have a second day to spend in Kings Canyon you might want to consider enjoying a relaxing day at Hume Lake where you’ll have sandy shores where you can relax after all that hiking. This beautiful lake used to be a millpond for local logging companies. But now it is a beautiful location that can be enjoyed by everyone in your group. You can fish, rent row boats or kayaks, or just swim and relax on the beach. This is also one of the few dog-friendly spots in the two national parks. And there is a gas station in case you need to fill up.
If you’re not done with hiking yet, there are numerous trails that are good for short hikes or longer day hikes. You can even bring your bike and bike along some of the longer trails.
Where to Stay
If you plan to explore both Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks then a stay at the Montecito Sequoia Lodge makes the most sense as it is centrally located. If you stay in Montecito Sequoia Lodge it will be an all-inclusive stay and includes cafeteria-style meals. There are no TVs or phones in the rooms or cabins but they do offer guests free wi-fi.
If you are entering the parks when Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is closed or if you’re just visiting Sequoia National Park then consider a stay at Wuksachi Lodge to keep you close to trails and locations you want to explore.
There are also numerous campgrounds available if you are interested in maximizing your time outdoors. You can check general information and get a link to availability here.
If you’re looking for an unforgettable outdoor adventure, look no further than Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. With their pristine wilderness spaces and crystal-clear lakes and rivers, there’s something for everyone in these beautiful parks.
When you are ready to explore other California national parks grab our detailed post on nearby Yosemite. Or continue north on an epic Pacific Coast Hwy road trip to explore Redwood State and National Parks. For a California central coast adventure dive into our detailed post on California’s newest addition, Pinnacles National Park.