Hey their adventurer! I’m glad to hear you’ll be heading to Kings Canyon & Sequoia soon! I guarantee you’ll be amazed by the beautiful trees and stunning mountain tops that are available to explore all over the park.
Because I’m a huge fan of America’s National Parks, I decided to compile for you some tips to help make your stay in this stunning spot even a little more enjoyable.
Here we go!
Tip #1: Where to stay
Where you decide to stay in the park will determine what you have time for and what you won’t have time for. Due to the vastness of these parks, driving will prohibit some of your exploration time (if you aren’t centrally located).
My advice is to stay at the John Muir Lodge within King’s Canyon or Wuksachi within Sequoia. They are both hotels with a woodsy theme and flavor–and an additional layer of hospitality.
Tip #2: What to see
Now that you’re staying at a more central location, let’s get sightseeing!
In my opinion, I think it’s easiest to section off the parks and focus on one at a time. Two days should be plenty to cover the highlights in both parks. But three days will give you a more thorough experience.
Here’s a link to my favorite map on the NPS website that should help you get your bearings.
**Special note: I overheard some guests at my hotel saying they were going to skip the sights in Kings Canyon altogether because they thought Sequoia had more to offer. WRONG! SO WRONG! Do NOT skip Kings Canyon. It is stunningly gorgeous and deserves your precious time.
Take a swipe through this gallery to see my favorite spots and I’ll put in the details below.
Here’s a quick list of the highlights that I felt were worth noting. There are MANY more hikes, camping sites and things to do but these were a few of my favorites. 😉
Sequoia’s Highlights:
- Moro Rock Hike: The best hike in Sequoia!
- Beetle Rock: Great overlook!
- Giant Forest Museum: Learn about the amazing sequoias!
- Big Trees Trail: This is where all your HUGE honcho trees are, including the General Sherman!
- General Sherman: The biggest tree in the world.
- The Generals Highway: A gorgeous scenic drive with many overlooks to stop at. It connects Kings Canyon and Sequoia together.
- Mt. Whitney: Only if you’re a serious hiker in for a 10 mile hike
Kings Canyon’s Highlights:
- Hume Lake: Stunning lake surrounded by mountain peaks
- Kings Canyon Scenic Byway: DO NOT MISS THIS! >>>This is incredible.
- Panoramic Point Hike: The best hike in Kings Canyon!
- Grizzly Falls: A great little picnic area to stop at for lunch —> with the view of a waterfall!
- Roaring River Falls: A short hike that leads to a tremendous waterfall.
- General Grant Tree: America’s Christmas Tree!
- The Fallen Monarch: A fallen sequoia that early settlers once lived in. You can still walk through it today!
- Zumwalt Meadows: A beautiful little meadow and fantastic spot to see wildlife.
- The Generals Highway: A gorgeous scenic drive with many overlooks to stop at. It connects Kings Canyon and Sequoia together.
Tip #3: Where to Eat.
Ok, so I’m not a huge foodie, but I do like to make sure there are a few good options wherever we go. Grant Grove Village (in Kings Canyon) had a nice little grocery store, post office, visitors center, gift shop and a decent little takeout restaurant. The food was good and decently priced so we at there a few times since it was so close to where we were staying—John Muir Lodge.
Cedar Grove is a small village at the very end of Kings Canyon Scenic Byway. Within the lodge there’s a small grocery store and restaurant. We enjoyed some great burgers and chicken sandwiches right along the riverbank there. Our little girls were fascinated by all the squirrels trying to snatch their dinner.
Within Sequoia, I would recommend Lodgepole Market & Grill. This was a great little lunch spot that allowed us to spend more time within Sequoia, instead of backtracking back to our hotel for food. This market is a more extensive market than Cedar Grove or Grant Grove, so the selection of groceries was also better.
Inside of Wuksachi Lodge (Sequoia) is a restaurant known as The Peaks. My family and I didn’t get a chance to eat there, but from what I have heard this is more of a sit-down and eat a fancier meal kind of place. A great place to end a long day of hiking with a cold glass of sweet tea 😉
Although all of these restaurant options are great, if you’re trying to have a more budget friendly vacation I would recommend buying groceries and gas in Fresno before you enter the park. Things are much more expensive once you climb the mountains and enter into the national park.
Thanks for taking the time to read my tips on Kings Canyon & Sequoia! I know you will be blown away by the beauty of these parks when you get the chance to visit. They are exquisite and truly one of a kind!
