Admire the trees
By far, the top attraction at both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks is witnessing the sheer grandeur of giant sequoia groves up close and personal. The good news is that the National Park Service has gone to great lengths to ensure that these natural wonders are accessible for many ages and mobility levels, paving wheelchair-friendly trails through some of the best old-growth woodlands in the country. Check out the General Grant Tree Trail, the General Sherman Tree, and the Big Trees Trail for mellow meanders through ancient conifers.
Hiking and backpacking
Adventurous hikers who’d rather rough it in search of less-traveled sequoia groves can find them by hiking the 2.7-mile Congress Trail or the 4.8-mile Atwell Grove Trail in far-flung Mineral King. There’s also the option to grab a backpacking permit, don a pack, and shuffle 13 miles along the Middle Fork Trail to Redwood Meadow to pitch a tent for the night.
Once you’ve had enough of the parks’ enormous shaggy-barked trees, there are still loads of other trails to explore–over 800 miles of them, to be precise. A steep, one-mile trek up the glacially polished granite of Moro Rock features sweeping panoramas of the Great Western Divide, and, closer to Kings Canyon, a 4.4-mile out-and-back takes hikers through a wildflower-speckled forest and up Big Baldy Ridge. Want a real calf-burner? Try the 14-mile (round-trip) route to the jaw-droppingly gorgeous summit of Alta Peak or the eight-mile (round-trip) path to the roaring water of Mist Falls.
If you’re comfortable toting your own gear and pitching a tent in the backcountry, grab a permit and set off on the 12-mile loop past enormous granite fins and verdant forests, all the way to the shimmering alpine tarn of Pear Lake. If you’re interested in staying off-grid for longer, the High Sierra Trail begins in Crescent Meadow and traverses the entirety of the Great Western Divide, from west to east, before ending atop Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48.
Scenic drives
In true American national park fashion, Sequoia and Kings Canyon are also full of cliff-edge engineering marvels that promise great views from the comfort of a vehicle. Generals Highway is the best of the bunch, staying open year-round (just check snow conditions before heading out) and maneuvering from the Foothills, through the Giant Forest, past Lodgepole, all the way to Grant Grove. Make sure to fill your tank beforehand—no gas is sold within park boundaries.
The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is another phenomenal all-day trip, swerving between the craggy canyon cliffs that give the park its name. Be sure to stop off at Grant Grove, Roaring River Falls, and Zumwalt Meadow along the way, scoping out old-growth timberlands and powerful cascades.
Guided tours
Oftentimes, expert-led tours offer the ability to interact with locals, learn more about park history, and venture to places you wouldn’t feel comfortable going alone—or able to visit without a guide. Crystal Cave, for example, is a wonderful marble cavern with loads of dripstone formations, and tour reservations are required to enter. Authentic Adventures Central California provides small group tours in both Sequoia and Kings Canyon for group-loving travelers looking to explore the Giant Forest, Moro Rock, and Grant Grove. For something more private, Sequoia Guides provides a bespoke itinerary led by a naturalist ready to bring you to the parks’ hidden gems.
Considering that over 93% of these parks are designated wilderness, the majority of the best sights are only found when backpacking. Wildland Trekking offers a five-day journey along the iconic High Sierra Trail, which cruises past giant sequoia trees and mind-blowing views of sky-high summits at Bearpaw Meadow. REI Adventures also hosts a stunning six-day circumnavigation of the Rae Lakes Loop, with time to dive into the chilly water against a backdrop of toothy granite spires.
