Regardless, this record holding tree is spectacular and worth waiting in line to see. 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. 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. De Su Mama is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. Depending on the snow levels, you can either snowshoe or hike with or without crampons. Be sure to use paved turnouts only, as hot brakes and mufflers can start fires in dry grass. To avoid the worst of the crowds, especially during the summer months, it helps to get an early start to the day (7 am is ideal). In the morning, we drove south to Kings Canyon, spent the day exploring both parks, and ended in a small, nearby town. - pickup at Anne Frank. Winter conditions may exist at higher elevations between November and June; roads occasionally close for plowing and chains may be required at any time. If you are looking for a magical getaway, consider visiting Sequoia National Park in winter. Long, winding, stomach churning road with a few nice vistas. Explore Kings Canyon. Visitors call it breathtaking and beautiful, but they also caution that. 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. You can buy online or at the entrance. On the second Sunday of December, you can Trek to the Tree, an annual Christmas celebration in the park. 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. Take exit 179 onto CA-58 W towards Bakersfield. This is a great time to visit California! The main trails tend to get packed down relatively quickly, but if you plan to be off trail at all, snowshoes will come in handy. I used these snow boots during our visit and they worked well. The Giant Forest is a must-do trail and where people go to truly experience Sequoia National Park. Subscribe to our newsletter belowcoupon code on the next screen. The 1.7-mile (2.7 km) trail to the water is a gentle and scenic route, passing along the Kaweah River. We aim to inspire families to explore where and when they can even if its in their own city! Layers, layers, layers is what everyone always says for any winter destination and Sequoia is no different. Consider taking the free shuttle from the Giant Forest Museum. Cheers, Julie. The 50-mile route, which is full of twists and turns, takes visitors into one of the deepest canyons in North America. Yes, as long as you dont smash your kids head on a overhanging rock. Visit the famous Mark Twain stump and learn why it was named after the iconic author. Scenic highway highlights are listed below. Park rangers will turn guests away once the park reaches capacity, so it is advised to go early especially on weekends or holidays. Our day started in Mariposa, located just outside of Yosemite National Park. Weather in Sequoia National Park in Winter. Learn about Captain James Parker and his family as you admire these towering trees. After you read the following, check current park conditions. In this itinerary, the most crowded spots will be the General Sherman Tree, the General Grant Tree, and Moro Rock. I felt secure with the anti-slipping soles, my feet were mostly dry (except when snow slid down from the top!) This is well worth the effort. Plan accordingly if you tend to get car sick. My friend traveling with us suffered from altitude sickness and had to skip the entire day. 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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. As you noted, well miss things in Kings Canyon/Sequoia (and Yosemite) due to the weather. To the south, explore the Giant Forest Museum, Visitor Center and Moro Rock. We took the tram to base of Moro Rock first thing in the morning. If you are coming from the north or west on CA 180 do not be discouraged by Fresno and the smog. Finally, youll head to Panoramic Point, offering picture-perfect views of Kings Canyon. When you drive into Sequoia take highway 180 instead of 3 Rivers (that road to 3 Rivers has many switchbacks and last time we did it was in the fog.). Witness the giant sequoias in all their majesty, including General Sherman, the most massive living thing on the planet. The General Sherman Tree is the worlds largest tree, by volume. General Grant Grove is located just beyond the entrance to Kings Canyon. Sacramento Heres our complete guide, all the things to do in Sequoia National Park, as well as our best tips to making your own family travels seamless and fun. Please drive slowly and cautiously and use paved turnouts to view wildlife. If your friends dont believe how big these trees are, show them a picture of your vehicle dwarfed by that wooden tunnel! But youre not in King Canyon National Park yetfirst, youll pay a visit to the General Grant Tree, the second largest in the world. Generals Highway (Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. Your Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks tour begins at the southern end of Sequoia National Park, near the visitor center. Cheers, Julie. Or where I should depart from at the end of my trip so I am not backtracking. CA-190 W to US-395 S and turn left. Take I-805 N or I-5 N to CA-99N toward Bakersfield/Fresno. We found so many creeks and swimming holes while adventuring around the national park and I was glad the kids had dry clothes to change into. USA ROAD TRIPS: Planning your next big adventure in the USA? This is a gorgeous place to visit and for those who want to explore the backcountry of Kings Canyon, this area is the jumping off point. This self-guided driving tour takes you through enormous, ancient groves at Sequoia National Park. Additional information can be found on our Directions & Transportation page. We have a 25.5ft Class C RV. We started on the highway with sun and blue skies and ended it about 20 degrees cooler with grey skies in snow! My tip: start your day as early as possible! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. Oh, thats super, super helpful to know THANK YOU! This is one of the few trails open at Sequoia National Park in winter and is beautiful! DEATH VALLEY: Here are 5 reasons why Death Valley should be the next national park you visit. Look for the huge fallen sequoia to climb through and even a small tree slide! A number of popular hiking trailheads are located at selected turnouts along the way, as are overlooks to rocky ridges and sequoia groves. Distance: 36 mi/58 km Get to know the music of the tribes who once populated this region. Highway 180 is a good road (vista views is the only issue you will have). Changing travel date? Here you can visit the General Grant tree. Here is an affiliate link to Booking.com to look at properties in Three Rivers. Find out how the Park Service protects this unique, surprisingly delicate ecosystem. Our website uses cookies. CA Take in stunning views of valleys, foothills, and granite peaks from this fabulous overlook. Note that navigation systems may not give accurate directions to the park. Distance: 240 mi/386 km One of the first questions I am asked about visiting Sequoia National Park in winter is where to stay. The park is divided into three general zones: low-elevation foothills, mid-elevation montane forests nad high-elevation alpine mountains. Seems to me the best time would be in the morning before the heat begins to create the haze that sometimes comes in. Although summer is the best time to . Big trees, impressive peaks, cartwheeling canyons and whitewater rivers will fill your windshield with Sierra splendor. Map and Directions | Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks Any suggestion for planning an out west trip would be appreciated. For this trip, we decided to splurge on a little house in Three Rivers, the gateway town to the park, through Airbnb. (Note: snowshoes are not snow boots these are different than regular boots and something you add onto your existing waterproof boots). No gasoline is available in the national parks, though nearby national forests have gas stations. You can experience ourdrivingandwalkingtours at your own pace and literally at any time of the day! Plan Your Trip | Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks Cross-Country Skiing Scenic Drives Where to Camp Where to Stay Nearby How to Get There Accessibility Tips for Your Visit Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks - Headquarters Address 47050 Generals Hwy, Three Rivers, CA 93271, USA Phone +1 559-565-3341 Web Visit website There are two main sections to Kings Canyon: General Grant Grove and Cedar Grove/Zumwalt Meadows. No gas in the Parks North of this spot the road deteriorates significantly. This self-guided driving tour takes you through enormous, ancient groves at Sequoia National Park. Get acquainted with Kings Canyon, the sister park to Sequoia. Snow Boots: One of the most important things to have during any winter visit to Sequoia is decent winter boots. The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway (Highway 180) is carved into granite and winds down into Kings Canyon, with the walls closing in at some junctions and bends - in a good way. It may seem obvious, but make sure your car is filled up before entering the park as youll be doing a lot of mountain driving. Visitors to the park can drive through this tunnel, but only on weekdays when Crescent Meadow Road is open. Wrapped in the gorgeous trees of California, my little family bonded while we conquered fears, explored new lands and learned so much about the state we call home. More than 1 million visitors come to take in the sights and experience the sequoia groves each year. Below are our top things to do in Sequoia and Kings Canyon in winter, however most items on the list fall more on the Sequoia side If you have limited time in the park, we highly recommend the Sequoia section of the park which has more available during the winter months. 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. Hello do you need a wilderness permit to hike to Moro Rock? Lake Tahoe Snowshoe the Road to Auto Log & Moro Rock.