Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, California

These two parks are adjacent to each other in the Sierra and Inyo National Forests, just a short drive from Death Valley National Park and the California/Nevada state line. Because these parks range drastically in elevations - 1300 to over 14,000 feet in elevation - their activities vary greatly, depending on the season you chose to visit. These parks are a testament to nature’s size, beauty, and diversity; boasting of immense mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, and the world’s largest trees. Recreation and park activities include ranger programs, camping, picnicking, scenic drives, cave tours, skiing and snowshoeing, rock climbing, hikes and nature trails, wildlife watching and birding, horseback riding, kayaking and canoeing, and much more.

Humans have traveled or lived in the Southern Sierra for at least 6-7,000 years. During those days the parks were home to hunters and gatherers - the Monache or Western Mono, and the Yokuts. In the late 1700s and early 1800s the Spanish began exploring the region. Soon after their discovery of this area, trappers, miners, herders, and loggers poured into the region seeking to make a living by exploiting whatever natural resources the mountains had to offer. By the end of the 19th century the surrounding communities exceedingly looked to this area for water and recreation. In this ongoing struggle for the resources and keeping the natural environment intact, the two parks were established and today they protect 265 Native American archeological sites and 69 other historical sites.

The distinct diversity in elevations create a variety of environments, from the hot dry lowlands to the snow covered alpine country, supporting over 1200 species of plant communities and over 250 animal species. Forests feature ponderosa pine, incense-cedar, white fir, sugar pine, Jeffrey pine, red fir, lodgepole pine and scattered groves of giant sequoia and even quaking aspen. Meadows are lush with many kinds of flowers in the summer. Animal species include the gray fox, bobcat, striped and spotted skunks, gray squirrel, golden-mantled ground squirrel, mule deer, black bear, mountain lion woodrat, pocket gopher, white-footed mouse, marmot, pika, and the elusive Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. There are a variety of migratory and resident birds including the western tanager, violet-green swallow, white-throated swift, Wilson's warbler, olive-sided flycatcher, hermit thrush, western bluebird, pileated woodpecker, California quail, scrub jay, lesser goldfinch, wrentit, Clark's nutcracker, mountain bluebird, gray-crowned rosy finch and acorn woodpecker. Reptiles are not that common, but the mountain kingsnake, rubber boa, western fence lizard, and alligator lizard are occasionally seen.

The parks jointly offer 14 campgrounds with more than 800 established campsites, with fees varying by location. Reservations are not required but recommended, depending on the time of year, and there is a camping limit of 14 days straight from June 14 to September 15, with a maximum of 30 days total per year. The parks are open daily and entrance fees apply with 7 day, annual, and a variety of discounted passes available. The Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are with are an approximate driving time of 4 hours from Los Angeles; 6 hours from San Diego; 6 hours from Las Vegas; 3 hours from Yosemite Valley; 4 to 5 hours from San Francisco; an hour from Fresno and 45 minutes form Visalia.

Park & Travel Information
Sequoia Shuttle: Operating Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Sequoia Shuttle travels form Visalia, through Three Rivers and up to the Giant Forest Museum where it connects with tow shuttle routes that travel throughout the park. Tel: (877) BUS-HIKE (287-4453)
The National Park Service: Tel: (559) 565-3341; Web: www.nps.gov/seki/

Visalia Convention & Visitors Bureau: Visalia boasts over 140,000 square feet of meeting space and over 1,100 rooms. We’ll help you plan for your next meeting or convention or trip. Call us or visit website for group travel and meeting information. For details, click here.