Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks have more to see than just big trees. They have imposing canyons, cascading waterfalls, wildflower-filled meadows, and sweeping viewpoints. Make the most of your next trip to Sequoia and Kings Canyon in California with these can’t miss activities.
About Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Kings Canyon and Sequoia are administered jointly as one park (you pay for one, you pay for both) since they share a border.
Sequoia National Park is home to the largest tree in the world (by volume) — General Sherman Tree — as well as thousands of other huge and ancient sequoias. It’s hard to describe the beauty and majesty of these trees until you’re standing in front of them.
Sequoia National Park is the second national park ever established in the United States (technically, it’s the fourth, as two others were established before Sequoia [Mackinac and Rock Creek] but both those parks have since been decommissioned or merged). Basically, it’s been a national park for a long time.
Kings Canyon National Park has two main areas: Cedar Grove and Grant Grove. In Cedar Grove, you’ll find the magnificent canyons that give Kings Canyon its name. In Grant Grove, you’ll find impressive sequoias, including the second largest tree in the world (by volume) — General Grant Tree.
8 Things to Do in Sequoia National Park
1. Visit the General Sherman Tree
Length: 1 mile, round trip
Difficulty: Easy
The General Sherman Tree is the largest tree in the world by volume. It’s 275 feet tall and 36 feet in diameter at the base. It’s a very impressive tree and definitely worth a visit. Pay your respects to the tree — it’s been here a lot longer than us and will continue on long after we’re gone.
The trail to General Sherman Tree is about a half mile. It’s paved and quite popular. We arrived in late afternoon, and there were parking spaces open.
2. Hike the Congress Trail
Length: 2.7 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Continue walking past the General Sherman Tree, along the Congress Trail, which is about 2.7 miles round trip. It passes through more giant sequoias.
3. Climb Moro Rock
Distance: 0.5 miles, including 350 steps
Difficulty: Moderate
Climbing Moro Rock is sure to be a highlight, so definitely don’t miss this. You’ll be treated to incredible 360-degree views.
There are more than 350 steps to the top of Moro Rock, and it’s about a half-mile long. Though it’s short, it can be strenuous with the amount of stairs. Take breaks and enjoy the views going up.
Get to Moro Rock first thing in the morning as the small parking lot fills up fast. I don’t remember exactly what time we arrived, but I’m guessing it was around 9 a.m., and there were still free spaces. By the time we were done with the hike, however, all spaces were full. (The NPS site says that on summer weekends the road to Moro Rock is closed off, and you’ll have to take a free shuttle to reach it.)
4. Drive through Tunnel Log
Tunnel Log is a fallen tree with a car-sized hole in its trunk. It fell on the roadway and was too large to move, so a hole was cut. People have been driving through it since 1935.
Visit Tunnel Log in the morning if you’d like to have a picture without a line of cars behind you. That way you’ll be able to park and get out and take a proper photo.
5. Wander around Crescent Meadow
Length: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
There is a 1.5-mile, flat, loop trail around Crescent Meadow that sounds just magical in the morning sun. The meadow features pretty wildflowers, plants, and trees.
However, bears also enjoy Crescent Meadow. We saw a few during our visit. Even though we were disappointed to have to return to the parking lot, it’s best to respect wildlife and give them their space. Instead, we found a sequoia grove in a different area to explore a bit.
I hope you can experience a bear-free Crescent Meadow, but be on your guard, in any case. Consider bringing bear bells, as well. Read the NPS’s tips for encountering bears in the wild.
6. Visit Hospital Rock
Hospital Rock, which is more toward the foothills of Sequoia, is a historical Native American site. A community of hundreds of people once lived here, and signs of their presence are all around in the form of petroglyphs, pictographs, historic fire pits, and artifacts. There are some informational signs that explain the history here. There are also picnic benches, restrooms, and a nearby river.
7. Hike to Tokopah Falls
Length: 1.7 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Tokopah Falls is an impressive 1,200 feet high waterfall, and the trail to reach it is classified as easy. It’s best to do this hike in early summer when the waterfall is fuller.
8. Visit the Giant Forest Museum
Don’t forget to stop at the Giant Forest Museum. Inside you’ll find information about the sequoia trees and the history of the park.
11 Things to Do in Kings Canyon National Park
1. Visit General Grant Tree and Hike the Grant Grove Loop Trail (Grant Grove)
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 0.70 miles
Elevation gain: 32 feet
The Grant Grove Loop Trail is about half a mile long, and it contains the second-largest tree in the world (by volume) — General Grant Tree. There are also a lot of other cool sights here, such as the Fallen Monarch and some benches to sit and enjoy the trees.
It’s the most popular part of the park, so try to visit during non-peak hours — early morning or late afternoon. We visited in late afternoon and there were plenty of parking spaces.
2. Walk Inside the Fallen Monarch, a Hollow Tree (Grant Grove)
How many times in your life will you get to walk INSIDE a tree? You’ll get the opportunity while walking on the Grant Grove Loop Trail.
The Fallen Monarch is a fallen redwood tree that was hollowed out by fire over 300 years ago.
It resides near the Robert E. Lee tree on the Grant Grove Loop Trail.
The Fallen Monarch is an impressive sight, definitely worthy of a photo. We walked through it a few times!
3. Watch the Sunset at Panoramic Point Overlook (Grant Grove)
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 0.50 miles
Elevation gain: 98 feet
The hike to Panoramic Point Overlook in Kings Canyon National Park is best done at sunset. The sunlight against the trees, the colors in the sky — so, so beautiful. This hike was the highlight of our trip to Kings Canyon, so be sure to time it right.
It’s about a half-mile, easy climb to Panoramic Point Overlook from the parking lot. The parking lot is about a 5-minute drive from John Muir Lodge (and the road is right behind the lodge).
On the way, we saw a deer peacefully eating moss. The whole experience was magical. Definitely come at sunset, the views are magnificent.
4. Hike to the Big Stump Grove (Grant Grove)
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 1.8 miles
Elevation gain: 193 feet
The Big Stump Grove Loop Trail is about 1.8 miles long and is exactly what it sounds like — a trail that goes by very big sequoia tree stumps. This area was used for logging many years ago (back in the late 1800s), so several huge sequoias were chopped down, leaving their stumps. It’s a beautiful and fascinating trail.
You don’t need to walk the whole trail if you’re just looking to see the big stumps — they are littered all along, so you can turn around any time. Feel free to make the trail as long or as short as you’d like.
If you’re brave, like my friend, you can even try climbing atop the stumps.
You’ll find the trailhead at the Big Stump Picnic Area, which is near the entrance to the park.
5. See Roaring River Falls (Cedar Grove)
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 0.25 miles
Elevation gain: 26 feet
Trail condition: Paved trail with lots of flying bugs (seasonally)
It’s a quarter-mile walk to reach Roaring River Falls from the parking lot, so not a long walk.
Beware the bugs: There were a lot of flying bugs here, surrounding us, which perhaps had to do with the time of year (early September, summer). This was the only place we found these flying bugs (gnats? I’m not sure what they were) as they weren’t in Grant Grove. Take a can of woodsy bug repellent with you because you may need it! (You can purchase bug repellent in the Cedar Grove Lodge store.)
It was still a really nice, peaceful walk, and a beautiful waterfall. Not many other people here at this time of day (early morning), either, which was nice.
6. Hike the Zumwalt Meadow Trail (Cedar Grove)
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 1.5 miles
Elevation gain: 157 feet
There is a 1.5-mile trail at Zumwalt Meadow that is supposed to be very lovely with wildflowers and greenery. It was once a loop but flooding has washed away part of the trail, making it an out-and-back trail now. You’ll also pass by the river on this trail and see the imposing canyons.
7. See Grizzly Falls (Cedar Grove)
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 0.10 miles
Elevation gain: 32 feet
Grizzly Falls is right off the road, so not really any hiking involved. It’s a quick photo stop. There are picnic benches here in case you’d like to sit and have a snack or something. There weren’t any flying bugs, thankfully, and it was a pretty waterfall.
8. Hike an Advanced Trail in Cedar Grove (Cedar Grove)
There are plenty of other more advanced hikes in the Cedar Grove area, which you can do instead of these easy ones mentioned. Here are a few to consider:
- Cedar Grove Overlook (5 miles)
- Mist Falls (8 miles)
- Lookout Peak (13 miles, strenuous)
9. Explore South Fork Kings River near Cedar Grove Lodge (Cedar Grove)
The South Fork Kings River winds its way through Kings Canyon and is most accessible near Cedar Grove Lodge and the Cedar Grove Visitors Center, where there is ample parking. You can wade into the waters or walk atop the nearby rocks.
10. Go Horseback Riding in Either Cedar Grove or Grant Grove
Take a guided horseback ride through the sequoia forest. There is a stable at both areas of Kings Canyon National Park, offering guided rides. It’s by a walk-in basis only, so no advanced reservations are taken. And it’s cash or check only. Try stopping by to see if you could schedule a horseback ride!
Grant Grove Stables charges $65 per person for a one-hour guided ride.
Cedar Grove Pack Station charges $60 per person for a one-hour guided ride.
11. Visit Hume Lake (for Gas, Views, and Food)
If you need to refill your gas tank, there’s only one gas station near the park without having to drive all the way down the mountain. It’s at Hume Lake, which is a man-made lake and camp on national forest grounds, about 11 miles from Grant Grove.
Its gas station, general store, picnic areas, and cafe are open to the public. Other parts of the camp are exclusive to guests. There’s only one gas pump, so it’s a small station that kinda blends into the camp. It’s right at the front of the camp, near the store.
After we filled up the gas tank, we got coffee from the general store and had lunch at their pizza restaurant. We stopped here after leaving Cedar Grove, before arriving at Grant Grove, as it’s a good mid-stop if you don’t want to back-track later.
The lake is very beautiful, so feel free to walk around and enjoy it before heading out on the road again.
Map of Things to Do in Sequoia and Kings Canyon
How to Get to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
For California or local visitors: It can take a few hours to reach Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, which are up in the Sierra Nevada mountains, depending on where you’re coming from. California is a huge state.
I live in the LA area, so it took about 7 hours for me, not including all the stops for gas and lunch. (I also had to stop in Fresno first to meet up with friends who were coming along from NorCal.)
For out-of-state or international visitors: The closest international airport to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks is Fresno Yosemite International Airport. It’s about a one-hour drive from there to reach Grant Grove.
It’s a windy, mountain road, so be careful. I’d suggest downloading directions to your phone so you can use it without service. YES, you will need a rental car. Public transportation is nearly non-existent here, unfortunately.
Before You Go: Check Current Conditions
Check for any road closures on the official NPS website. Roads are often closed during winter due to snow, and sometimes, in summer, roads can be closed due to fire. Always check current conditions before setting out.
Entry Fees
It costs $35 per vehicle to enter both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and your entry is valid for one week.
If you plan to visit more than three national parks in a year, definitely get an America the Beautiful pass to save money.
Where to Stay
While in Sequoia National Park: I’d highly recommend staying at Wuksachi Lodge, which is the only lodging in Sequoia National Park. There are 102 guest rooms, and they book up quickly, especially during summer months. It’s very convenient staying here as the park is right at your doorstep.You don’t have to drive an hour down the mountain and an hour back up in the morning to keep exploring.
While in Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon: I recommend staying at Cedar Grove Lodge. It’s actually very bare bones in terms of accommodations, but it’s the only lodging in the Cedar Grove part of the park. The toilets don’t work too well, the bedding and carpet are outdated. You’ll stay for only one night, so it should be okay.
While in Grant Grove in Kings Canyon: I recommend staying at John Muir Lodge. It’s a much nicer accommodation than Cedar Grove Lodge — the toilets work and it’s much more up to date. There’s also a nice fireplace in the lobby area and a porch with rocking chairs at the other end of the building.
For the campers: There are several campgrounds in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Check the NPS website for more information on camping.
Where to Eat
Dining Options at Kings Canyon National Park:
When in Cedar Grove, your only option (aside from any food you brought with you) is the Cedar Grove Grill. The food was actually pretty good, and all the tables have great views of the outside scenery, including the nearby river. There is also a small convenient store at Cedar Grove Lodge (for microwave foods and snacks).
When in Grant Grove, eat at Grant Grove Restaurant! It’s a quick walk from John Muir Lodge, and they have a large, beautiful dining room and great food options.
Dining Options at Sequoia National Park:
In Sequoia National Park, you have a few options of where to dine — Lodgepole Cafe, Lodgepole Market, the Wuksachi Pizza Deck, and/or The Peaks Restaurant.
Frequently Asked Questions about Visiting Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Should you visit both Sequoia and Kings Canyon in one weekend?
Sequoia and Kings Canyon are administered jointly as one park (you pay for one, you pay for both) since they share a border — but I’d recommend visiting them on separate weekends if you’re local or spending an extra 1-2 days to visit both (so 3-4 days total).
Trying to see both in one weekend means you’ll miss out on a lot or else really rush through the experience.
Can you see Kings Canyon and Sequoia in one day?
I think visiting both Kings Canyon and Sequoia in one day would mean spreading yourself too thin. There’s a lot to see and do, and there’s also a lot of driving involved.
It’s about 30 miles, or an hour’s drive, between the two parks. It’s also about an hour’s drive to get up the mountain.
Is your goal to drive by everything and not get out, explore, hike, or enjoy the nature?
Which is better — Sequoia or Kings Canyon?
I personally liked Sequoia better, but it is the more crowded park.
What should you not miss in Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park?
In Sequoia, don’t miss the General Sherman Tree, Moro Rock, and the tunnel log!
In Kings Canyon, don’t miss the General Grant Tree and sunset hike to Panoramic Point Overlook.
Do you need reservations for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks?
You do not need a reservation to enter Sequoia National Park or Kings Canyon National Park.
How crowded are Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks?
Crowds in Kings Canyon
The only part of Kings Canyon National Park that feels a little crowded is the area where General Grant Tree resides. Otherwise, I would say, it didn’t seem to get half the visitors as its neighbor, Sequoia National Park.
Crowds in Sequoia
If you’re visiting on a weekend or holiday, be aware that there could be traffic or limited parking. In summer months, the park may operate a shuttle system to help lessen congestion.
We found that mornings are the best times to explore the park as the traffic is minimal. Definitely plan on spending the night in the park so that you can have the park virtually to yourself in the early morning the next day.
Are Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks worth visiting?
Yes, absolutely. The Sequoias are one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. These big, beautiful trees will stay in your memories long after you leave.
What’s the difference between Sequoia and Kings Canyon?
Both have tall Sequoia trees. Both are in the Sierra Nevada mountains. They share a border and are even administered jointly, like some kind of conjoined twins.
Despite their similarities, Sequoia and Kings Canyon are separate national parks.
Here are some differences between Sequoia and Kings Canyon:
Sequoia is more popular. You’ll find more crowds in Sequoia National Park.
Sequoia has a shuttle system. All of the crowds have led Sequoia to start utilizing a shuttle system in the summer. There is no shuttle system in Kings Canyon.
Kings Canyon has one of the deepest canyons in the United States. It’s even deeper than the Grand Canyon.
Kings Canyon is slightly bigger. Sequoia is roughly 631 square miles while Kings Canyon is 722 square miles.
How big are Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks?
Together, the parks are roughly 1,353 square miles.
How far apart are Sequoia and Kings Canyon?
The parks share a border, so technically, they are right next to each other. However, it takes about an hour to drive the 30 miles between the main parts of either park (General Grant Tree in Kings Canyon to General Sherman Tree in Sequoia).
Where are Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks?
The parks are in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, in the middle of the state, but more towards the Nevada border. The closest major city is Fresno, CA.
What should I pack when visiting Sequoia National Park?
For hiking
- My mom swears by hiking poles to help her walk up or downhill on hiking trails. Research shows trekking poles really do reduce up to 25 percent of pressure on knees.
- Compression knee sleeves to help provide more support while hiking.
Favorite travel essentials
- I really recommend these compression packing cubes. They’re very thick and durable and allow you to pack more than you expect.
- I also love this travel backpack that opens like a suitcase, fits almost as much as a carry-on, and has tons of pockets as well as a strap to attach to your luggage handle. It makes traveling so much easier and more organized. It also fits nicely under the airplane seats.
- I bring this AirFly receiver for AirPods with me on long-haul flights, so I can connect to the plane’s video screen with my own AirPods.
- I no longer hop on a flight without wearing my Sockwell compression socks because they really do help relieve/prevent leg cramps from sitting so long in one place. I have the lotus pattern, but there are other patterns to choose from, such as this cat pattern or this flower pattern. See all sock patterns in the Sockwell storefront.
- For Americans, I recommend getting the Capital One Venture X credit card to relax and eat free food in select airport lounges. I’ve had my Capital One Venture X credit card for a few years now, and accessing airport lounges is my absolute favorite perk of the card. Every lounge is different, but most have a buffet available where you can eat and drink to your heart’s content. The annual fee of this card is high, but it evens out with the $300 annual travel credit and 10,000 anniversary miles you get (on top of lounge access and free TSA PreCheck or Global Entry)!
Other Posts to Help You Plan Your Trip to California
Best National Parks in California (From Someone Who’s Visited All 9)
Perfect 1 to 3 Day Itinerary for Kings Canyon National Park
4 Day Itinerary for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
1 to 2 Days in Sequoia National Park Itinerary
Visiting Redwood National Park: 3 Day Itinerary
One Day in Lassen Volcanic National Park
Bear Gulch Cave and Reservoir: The Best Hike in Pinnacles National Park
Day Trip to Channel Islands National Park
One Day in Joshua Tree National Park
One Day in Death Valley National Park (Itinerary Using Paved Roads ONLY)
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