explore sequoia & kings canyon: a weekend guide
These parks are side by side, located in central California. A weekend trip here would be ideal, but you could see the highlights in one day.
We took a road trip from San Diego to visit these parks. This guide begins in Sequoia National Park.
CRESCENT MEADOW
A peaceful meadow is located at the end of Crescent Meadow Road. There is a 2-mile loop trail through the alpine forests and a meadow full of wildflowers in the spring.
TUNNEL LOG
On weekdays, you can drive right through a giant fallen Sequoia tree. The road is closed on weekends, but you can walk there from Moro Rock, which is 0.75 miles away.
MORO ROCK
A short but strenuous climb up 400 steps leads to the summit of a granite dome.
We were here at the end of the winter season, so the access road was closed. However, we could still hike the 2 miles in, which was actually very enjoyable. We also had the place to ourselves.
This was one of my favorite viewpoints in the park.
GENERAL SHERMAN TRAIL
General Sherman is the world’s largest tree by volume.
Be sure to check out the 2-mile Congress Loop for a deeper look inside the forest.
My dad is a hero for these perspective shots.
BIG STUMP TRAIL
It takes about 45 minutes to drive from General Sherman to the Big Stump Trail.
An easy 2-mile trail takes you through a graveyard of massive tree stumps, where you can actually climb on top of (or inside) the stumps.
We were here on an ultra spooky morning. Can you spot me out in the fog?
GENERAL GRANT GROVE
There are two main sections of Kings Canyon: General Grant Grove and Cedar Grove/Zumwalt Meadows.
This grove is about a 10-minute drive from the Big Stump Trail.
General Grant is the second largest tree in the world by volume, also known as the nation’s Christmas tree.
Walk the 0.3-mile loop here.
KINGS CANYON PANORAMIC POINT
You will drive about 30 minutes on a very narrow and curvy road to reach Kings Canyon Panoramic Point. While this spot offers a nice view, the entire drive along the scenic byway is just as good if not better.
KINGS CANYON SCENIC BYWAY
This is a 50-mile stretch of absolute beauty. The moment the fog cleared and we reached this point, we had to pull over and take pictures.
GRIZZLY FALLS
Just off the road is one of the most powerful waterfalls I’ve ever been able to just walk up to. I’m wearing a full ‘frogger’ suit because the mist from the waterfall would have drenched me (shout out to my dad). It was hard to even stand near the waterfall due to all the wind. This was also a perfect place for a picnic lunch.
ROARING RIVER FALLS
Another great waterfall in Kings Canyon. It’s an easy 0.2-mile hike to get here. In early May, the water was FLOWING. This trail is ADA accessible.
ZUMWALT MEADOWS
Located at the end of the scenic byway and about an hour from Grant Grove is this gorgeous, lush meadow. Take the flat walking trail here and enjoy the heart of Kings Canyon.
MIST FALLS
7.8-mile out & back trail, easy to moderate. As of 2022, there is a fee to access this trail. Visit this page for more information.
This trail goes deep into Kings Canyon, and it’s likely you will see bears along the way. You can really feel the mist from this spot. We were here at the beginning of May, so the water was raging.
WHITE WATER RAFTING
On our way back to San Diego, we decided to do some white water rafting in Three Rivers. This was one of the highlights of our trip. We had never done this before, and it is actually quite intense. I do not recommend it if you don’t think you can actively participate while on the raft. I almost fell out a few times! Check out Three Rivers Brewing Co. afterward for a much needed beer!
WITH MORE TIME
There is plenty more to see and do in both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. On my next visit, I would like to take a backpacking trip to Precipice Lake.
