We recently went to Kings Canyon Park and Sequoia National Park. Based on my talks with several people not many people know about these national parks near Fresno. It was an awesome trip. Rivers, waterfall, huge trees, hikes, this place has it all.
You typically would need 2 days to cover both parks. These parks are about 4 hours away from the Bay Area. Both Parks have huge Sequoia trees. By huge I mean Humongous. And they have several giant rocks too. If you love climbing you would love the various mini climbing opportunities that these rocks offer.
Kairavi in the middle of 2 huge trees
This is a place for those people who like to create their own adventures. And there are lot of places to create your own adventures. Do an impromptu hike, climb a rock, etc.
Dimple climbs a rock
We stayed at Fresno the previous night so that we can get to the park early. From Fresno its about 45 mins+ drive. Our second night was inside the park – Montecito Lodge. This Lodge was simply awesome. Will write a separate article just on that.
Sequoia National Park boasts of the World’s largest tree – General Sherman Tree – in terms of volume of wood inside the tree.
We visited the following in Kings Canyon:
General Grant Tree Hike, Hume Lake, Grizzly Falls (in that order)
Grizzly Waterfall
In Sequoia National Park we visited the following:
General Sherman Tree, Moro Rock Hike, Crescent Meadows.
We also stopped at several impromptu places and just hiked short distances or went inside trees or climbed rocks.
There is shuttle bus service in Sequoia National Park. (Not in Kings Canyon though).
Kaweah River
Rock and Tree fused at bottom
Driving under a tree
Website: http://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dimprash/sets/72157624323613401/
Finally off the list of places to visit 🙂
The waterfall seems to have lot of water. We also had gone during the July long weekend, but the year we went it was dry 🙁 As you said it is a nice park to visit and not that far too for a long weekend trip. And seems like you folks did not take the crystal cave tour???
Had been there at both the places in 96…remember the Moro rock hike…my friend commented at that time that it reminds him of the Chimanrao serial (with Moro ryming with Moruu ).
Did camping at Sequoia park. Although at that time it was first come first server – no reservations (not sure whether this is still the case)…we went on a long weekend and first night did not get any camping site…slept in the Van 🙂 but other 2 days we got the site…
We did not have the time to do the Crystal Cave tour. Someone told us it was just ok. We also had to skip the Tokopah Falls hike since the kids were tired.
@Bhavesh – Still most of the campgrounds are First come First server. There are few ground available for reservation.
Moro rock hike with 400 steps carved in stone itself is amazing. There are some meadows & hikes which we had to skip. I would say you atleats need 4 days to cover all those or multiple trips to the park 🙂
At visitor center they also gave Junior ranger activity book to kids. Activity book had age appropriate activity based on age in 3 age groups. Kids finish all the acitivity for their group and take it back to any other visitor center in the park to get Junior ranger badge/pin.