National Park Guide

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

California, US

Home to the world's largest trees and the deepest canyon in North America, hidden in the southern Sierra Nevada.

865,964
Acres
800
Trails
1890
Established
1.88 million
Annual Visitors

Quick Info

Season
Year-round (Generals Highway and Kings Canyon Scenic Byway close in winter)
Entrance Fee
$35 per vehicle
Nearest Airport
Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), 1 hour 30 minutes
Best Months
June, July, August, September

Highlights

  • Standing beside General Sherman, the world's largest tree by volume
  • Driving the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway into the canyon depths
  • Hiking through the Giant Forest among thousands of sequoias
  • Crystal Cave tour through marble caverns with stalactites
  • Moro Rock stairway climb for panoramic Great Western Divide views
  • Backpacking the Rae Lakes Loop through alpine wilderness

Park Map

Explore trailheads, hotels, and points of interest

About Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

These jointly managed parks protect groves of the world's largest trees by volume -- the giant sequoias -- including General Sherman, the largest living tree on Earth. Kings Canyon plunges deeper than even the Grand Canyon, carved by glaciers and the Kings River through granite walls. Together, the parks encompass over 865,000 acres of Sierra Nevada wilderness, from foothills chaparral to the 14,505-foot summit of Mount Whitney, the tallest peak in the contiguous United States.

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Where to Stay

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Wuksachi Lodge

$$$

The premier lodge in Sequoia National Park, set at 7,200 feet among the sequoia groves. The cedar-and-stone lodge offers modern rooms with forest views and an excellent dining room featuring locally sourced cuisine.

Inside park$250-400/night
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John Muir Lodge

$$

A timber-and-stone lodge in Grant Grove Village within Kings Canyon, offering comfortable rooms with a cozy lobby fireplace. Centrally located between the two parks' major attractions.

Inside park$180-290/night
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Montecito Sequoia Lodge

$$

A year-round family lodge nestled between the two parks, offering an all-inclusive camp experience in summer with meals, activities, and a private lake. In winter, it serves as a cross-country ski and snowshoe center.

Inside park (between Sequoia and Kings Canyon)$170-280/night
Check on Hotels.com

Park Details

Highest Point
Mount Whitney, 14,505 ft
Camping
Available
Wilderness Areas
Yes
Pet Friendly
Limited (developed areas only)
Region
Pacific
Established
1890