Sequoia National Park ⓘ

Giant Forest, one of the largest sequoia groves, was saved from logging by the establishment of Sequoia National Park in 1890. However, national park status did not fully protect the big trees. The road that brought visitors to Giant Forest also brought camping, cabins, commercial development, and congestion. The impacts of this development, both to the giant sequoia ecosystem and to the quality of visitor experience, conflicted with the National Park Service mandate to conserve park resources and values and leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

An early park superintendent, Colonel John Roberts White, recognized these problems over 70 years ago and vigorously toiled to protect natural values. While largely unsuccessful in clearing structures from Giant Forest, he did prevent additional development and set the stage for the eventual restoration of Giant Forest.

Years of planning, design, and construction are now converging into the realization of Colonel White's vision. All commercial activity has been removed from Giant Forest. Overnight accommodations have been relocated outside the grove to Wuksachi Village. Demolition of 282 buildings and ecological restoration of 231 acres in Giant Forest is complete. Visitor facilities in Giant Forest have been converted from overnight to day-use. We have an entire section of our website dedicated to the documentation of the process.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon museum collections represent a significant cultural heritage and research resource. Together they include more than 800,000 objects. The museum collections preserve and reflect the natural and social history of a significant region of the southern Sierra Nevada.

These collections are housed primarily in the Museum Collections Area of the Ash Mountain Headquarters Building. A handful of items are currently on display in Visitor Centers or stored on-site in historic structures.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Digital Archives In this digital archive, researchers will find a wealth of contemporary imagery as well as some important documents relating to the history of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, including electronic copies of the early superintendent's annual reports.

National Park Service (NPS) Online Museum Collections The NPS online museum collection allows you to search across the museum collections from units across the country. It also features a "Park of the Week" and "Collection Highlights of the Week," demonstrating the great wealth and diversity of park collections.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon portion of the NPS Online Museum Collections Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are working toward making its museum collections available to researchers over the worldwide web. To date, some 1,500 cataloged objects have been photographed and their catalog records posted to the park service's web-based museum catalog. For archival collections, an electronic copy of an in-depth finding aid is attached to the catalog record. Follow this link to search or browse some of the parks' collections.

IRMA (Integrated Resource Management Applications) The NPS Data Store is a service-wide repository for documents, reports, publications, and data. Researchers can choose to search across the entire system or can focus on particular parks by using the "Filter by NPS Unit" function. In many cases, electronic copies of the documents are available for download. Many important documents relating to the history of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are available through the data store, many with electronic copies attached.

NPGallery NPGallery is a collection of images and documents relating to the park service. Researchers can search across the entire system or can browse by subject or by park. On this site, researchers will find a wealth of contemporary imagery as well as some important documents relating to the history of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, including electronic copies of the early superintendent's annual reports.

Electronic Technical Information Center (eTIC) The Technical Information Center (TIC) is the oldest and largest information system in the National Park Service ( NPS ). TIC is designated by the Service as the central repository for managing all NPS generated drawings, specifications, scientific, and technical reports. e-TIC (electronic Technical Information Center) provides an internet interface to the database for public access to search the collection and view or download images. eTIC contains more than 100 scanned documents from the parks' history.

Calisphere Calisphere is the University of California online portal to search collections across the University of California system as well as hundreds of museum, library, state parks, and private university partners across California. The database provides another way to search and view over 11,000 images and documents from NPGallery related to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

Online Archive of California (OAC) The OAC provides access to detailed descriptions of archival holdings from over two hundred participating institutions. Researchers can search across all collections or can browse specific holdings. To date, Sequoia and Kings Canyon have posted the finding aids for six archival collections to the OAC.

Consortium of California Herbaria - the Herbarium of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks The Consortium contains searchable records of preserved plant specimens from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley The Bancroft Library contains some digitized historic images, maps, and a historic film.

The Sierra Nevada mountain range contains some of the oldest national parks in the nation. These parks occupy spectacular volcanic and glacial landforms, as well as distinctive subalpine and alpine habitats, setting these parklands apart from the wider landscape of central and southern California. The location’s uniqueness has made it especially important to Native Americans as well. Native peoples have used, tended, occupied, and valued the lands of the high Sierras in many ways, and they still maintain deep connections to the parks today.

The displacement and often forced relocation and reorganization of Native peoples have much affected their relationships with lands in the parks, with the National Park Service itself, and with one another. Nonetheless, these tribes all have numerous descendants living today who continue to steward and tend to the lands now within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Below you will find the parks’ affiliated tribes and tribal organizations.

Big Sandy Rancheria Band of Western Mono Indians Bridgeport Indian Colony Cold Springs Rancheria Fort Independence Indian Community of Paiute Indians Fort Mojave Indian Tribe North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi-Yokut Tribe Table Mountain Rancheria Tejon Indian Tribe Tule River Tribe Big Pine Band of Owens Valley Paiute Shoshone Indians Bishop Paiute Tribe Paiute-Shoshone Indians of the Lone Pine Community Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe of the Benton Paiute Reservation

Choinumni Tribes Dumna Wo-Wah Tribal Government Dunlap Band of Mono Indians Kawaiisu Tribe of Tejon Kern Valley Indian Community Tribal Council Mono Lake Paiute Indian Community North Fork Mono Tribe (North Fork Band of Mono Indians) Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation (American Indian Council of Mariposa County) Tübatulabal Tribe Wukchumni Tribe Wuksachi Indian Tribe/Eshom Valley Band

If you are seeking information about tribal consultation and/or Native American involvement in park projects, please contact the parks’ tribal liaison: e-mail us Christy Brigham e-mail us Chief of Resource Management (559) 565-3120 Juanita Bonnifield e-mail us Cultural Resources Program Manager (559) 565-3139

When Captain Charles Young, the new military superintendent, arrived in Sequoia and General Grant national parks, he had already faced many challenges. Born into slavery in Kentucky during the Civil War, Young's life took him to places where a Black man was rarely welcome. He was the first African American to graduate from the white high school in Ripley, Ohio. Through competitive examination, he won an appointment to the US Military Academy at West Point in 1884. After years of struggle, he went on to graduate with his commission, only the third Black man to do so. Young’s military career flourished in the cavalry. In 1903, while serving as a Captain of an all-Black regiment at San Francisco’s Presidio, he was asked to take his troops to Sequoia and General Grant national parks (what is now Sequoia National Park and a small portion of Kings Canyon National Park). Here, he became acting superintendent for the summer. On May 20, ninety-six enlisted men of troops I and M of the 9th Cavalry, known as Buffalo Soldiers , departed San Francisco for their new assignments at the parks. At that time, Sequoia and General Grant national parks were thirteen years old but they were still relatively undeveloped and difficult to access. Park management became the responsibility of the US Army beginning in 1891, and for the next ten summers they worked to stop the poaching of wildlife, illegal logging, and sheep grazing. Beginning in 1900, however, Congress authorized $10,000 annually to aid the parks with increasing access. The Army began improving an old wagon road that went to the Giant Forest from what is now Three Rivers, California. Progress on the road prior to 1903 was slow, and after three summers, barely five miles of road had been constructed. Hoping to outpace the progress of previous military administrations, Young asked to begin work early and poured considerable energy into the project. Supervising a construction manager and civilian roadworkers, his crews soon made dirt and rock begin to fly. By mid-August of 1903, wagons traveled to the sequoia groves for the first time. Still not content, Young kept his crews of men working and they soon extended the road to the base of Moro Rock. Young reported that the road was built with less than an 8% grade and that it “should in future insure a thousand tourists where in previous years there have been but a hundred.” And so began an era of tourism in the parks. Today, the path of the original park road follows the modern-day Colony Mill hiking trail from its trailhead at the end of North Fork Road to its intersection with Crystal Cave Road, then up the Crystal Cave Road to its intersection with the Generals Highway, and continuing along the highway to the Giant Forest and Round Meadow. The road to Moro Rock is also part of the original road work completed under Captain Young’s leadership.

Road construction was far from the only notable achievement that Young made while serving as superintendent. During his tenure, the parks reported no poaching violations. His troops stationed on the east side of the Sierra stopped herds of domestic sheep from entering the park and illegally grazing in meadows. Over 18 miles of trail were improved, including a trail connecting the Giant Forest to Mineral King. Young also convinced a majority of private landowners to sign contracts agreeing to sell tracts of land surrounded by the parks, particularly those located in the Giant Forest. While these contracts were not fully executed after he left his post, these early negotiations established the idea that it was critical to both the parks and private landowners to settle contentious property rights issues, paving a foundation for later land acquisition.

The neighboring town of Visalia was so appreciative of Young’s work on the road that they requested that a sequoia tree be named in his honor. He protested, asking them to defer this honor and revisit the idea in twenty years. If after that time they had not changed their minds, he would be comfortable with a tree dedicated in his name. A tree was later named in his honor near the Auto Log, along the Crescent Meadow / Moro Rock Road. Young did indicate that Booker T. Washington was a more worthy candidate for a tree. In his final Superintendent report, he recommended caution and responsibility when naming trees and permitted naming of only three trees, including the Booker T. Washington Tree. To find this tree, follow the Moro Rock Trail. The tree is located directly across the Crescent Meadow / Moro Rock Road from the Charles Young Tree.

After Young’s one-summer tenure in the parks, he was posted as military attaché in Haiti. He later served in the same capacity in Liberia. During the Pershing expedition in Mexico in 1916, Young again saw active combat in the fight against revolutionary leader Pancho Villa. At the beginning of the World War I, Young was considered for a command position, but due to politics and health issues, he wasn’t promoted to lead troops in battle. He was later medically discharged for high blood pressure and a kidney illness. In an effort to prove his fitness for duty, he protested this decision by riding 500 miles on horseback from Ohio to Washington, D.C.. His demonstration eventually succeeded, and he returned to active duty as a full colonel. After the war, he returned to Nigeria as an attaché, where he died unexpectedly of kidney disease in 1922 at the age of 58. He was the fourth soldier in history to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full honors. On November 1, 2021, Charles Young was honorably and posthumously promoted to Brigadier General. General Charles Young’s achievements, both in the parks and beyond, have not been forgotten. The energy and dignity he brought to his career left a strong impression on those that followed in his footsteps. In the parks, the roads he created have been much improved but are still in use today, serving millions of park visitors for more than eighty years. The example he set as a determined Black man overcoming the prejudices of society remains an inspiration to anyone who faces similar adversity and challenges today.

Walter Fry’s life was intertwined with giant sequoias for a half-century. Thirty of those years were in service to Sequoia National Park and General Grant National Park, the predecessor of today’s Kings Canyon National Park. Born in 1859, Fry first heard of giant sequoias as a boy in Kansas in the 1860s. Hard times in the American Midwest led to Fry moving his family to California in the 1880s in search of better fortunes. The first chapter of his life in California was as a farmer near Tulare, California. In 1888 giant sequoias entered Fry’s life when he took a job logging giant sequoias near Grant Grove. After spending five days with a team of five men sawing a single sequoia, he counted the growth rings on the fallen giant. The answer shocked him into changing careers. In just a few days they had ended the life of a 3,266 year old sequoia. Two years later, in 1890, a petition was circulating calling for a new national park to protect the sequoias. The third signature was Walter Fry's. In September of that year the park was established by Congress, and in 1895 Fry relocated to the small community of Three Rivers, California, near the entry points to Sequoia National Park, where he would live for the remainder of his life.

Fry’s career with the parks began in July 1901, when he signed on as road construction foreman for Sequoia National Park. Over the next three summers, working under the direction of army officers, Fry led on-the-ground efforts to repair and re-establish the Colony Mill Road, which was the first road into the Giant Forest.

In July 1905, Fry became a civilian park ranger, one of a handful appointed to assist the cavalry troops then in charge of the parks. From this position, he became the chief park ranger in 1912, a position that made him acting superintendent of the park during the winter months when the troops were not present.

When the Army gave up caretaking the parks in 1914, the choice for civilian superintendent was a clear one. Fry became superintendent of Sequoia and General Grant National Parks, a position he would hold for the next six years. Ranger work in the early 20th Century had a very different character than in more recent times, and Fry’s primary duty was to keep an eye on all corners of the two parks. He later calculated that during the early years of his government employment, he rode over 50,000 miles on horseback on mountain trails. During that time, he observed the natural world carefully andkept extensive notes about the parks’ flora and fauna. These observations laid the foundation for the later phase of his career.

Fry became an employee of the National Park Service when the agency was created in 1916, but it was not until the World War I had ended that the new agency began to make changes in how the parks were run. Sequoia’s moment of change arrived in the summer of 1920, when Director Steven Mather replaced him with a man of his own choosing: John White.

Yet another life chapter began as Fry shifted jobs, becoming a U.S. Commissioner, or federal magistrate judge, in the parks. White recognized his worth immediately: "It would be almost impossible to overstate the affection and esteem in which Judge Fry is held by both Park employees and visitors. He has been able to enforce park regulations with such sympathetic insight into the needs of visitors and residents that the enforcement has won friends for the Park Service." He retained this responsibility for the next 22 years, eventually pre-siding over more than 200 misdemeanor-level court cases within the two parks.

The magistrate job did not weigh heavily on Fry’s time, and he used the resulting opportunity to open another life chapter. In 1922 Fry became involved with what may have been his most enduring contribution, the first Nature Guide Service at Sequoia National Park. He led nature walks, wrote nature bulletins, organized the first public museum in Sequoia National Park (housed in a tent), and spoke often at campfire programs. Although not working directly for the parks, he influenced the park by influencing visitors, passing on his deep appreciation of the place. The Nature Guide Service was the foundation of the ranger programs and talks that millions of visitors have participated in at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks over the decades.

In the late 1920s, Fry worked closely with Superintendent White to draft the book Big Trees , published by Stanford University Press in 1930. The contents of the book reflected Fry’s careful observation of nature. For example, earlier in his career he had caged individual sequoia cones in wire screen and, each year for twenty years, had recorded how many seeds fell out of each cone.

Even after Fry retired in 1930, at age 71, Fry offered walks, wrote nature bulletins and organized visitor centers; the thousands of visitors he touched in turn became ambassadors for the landscape he loved so much. In the 1930s the park published a volume of his “nature notes” that captured important stories of the park’s earliest days.

Fry died in 1941, aged 82 years. He remained active until the end, leaving his home for the hospital only three days before he passed away. Park rangers carried his coffin to the grave.

By the late 1920’s, the first voices decried this already disturbing human impact on the Giant Forest. These voices came from two different sources, each of which were to play major roles in the restoration of the grove. The first of these sources was Emilio Meinecke, an eminent forest pathologist. He was commissioned by NPS Director Stephen Mather to study the "effects of tourist traffic on plant life, particularly big trees" in Sequoia National Park. In 1926, Meinecke reported that humans were heavily impacting the Giant Forest. The second voice was that of Colonel John White, superintendent of Sequoia National Park. He was appalled by the congestion and over-development of the grove. In 1927, he suggested that the Giant Forest Lodge cabins be removed. The efforts of these two groups, science and NPS management, were to gain power fitfully during ensuing decades.

Another voice to arise in the late 1920’s was that of the park concessioner, the Sequoia and General Grant National Parks Company (subsequently, the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Company). This fledgling company immediately recognized the commercial value of the Giant Forest. Indeed, by 1941, the company owned 180 buildings in the grove. The outspoken Colonel White was to be Superintendent of the parks for two decades, beginning in the late-1920’s. During that time, his conviction regarding the restoration of the Giant Forest would grow in nearly equal measure to the power of the Sequoia and General Grant National Parks Company. The latter won out in almost every regard during Colonel White’s tenure as park superintendent. In 1931 Colonel White stepped up his battle against development in Giant Forest by refusing the concessioner’s proposed addition of five new cabins to the Giant Forest Lodge. He refused on the grounds that "the company should not be in the sequoia grove in the first place." The Director of the National Park Service overruled White’s decision. While Colonel White was not successful in gaining the Director’s support for removal of development from the grove, he did institute limits on guest capacity; this was the first NPS limit on tourism development in any of its parks. The concessioner was able to construct additional development before hitting this limit, and within a few years of Colonel White’s retirement, the grove was to contain more than 400 structures.

In 1962 and 1965 Richard Hartesveldt submitted a pair of influential reports to the National Park Service. In these reports, Hartesveldt concluded that humans were adversely affecting the sequoias of the Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park and the Giant Forest Grove in Sequoia National Park, but in ways not previously suspected. Hartesveldt found that altered hydrology in the Mariposa Grove and increasingly dense competing vegetation in the absence of natural fire in both groves were causing the most severe impacts to sequoias. Impacts of development on sequoias were most damaging where major roots had been cut for road construction. Although Hartesveldt did not find other results of development - covering of roots by asphalt, soil compaction, or soil erosion - to cause profound impacts to sequoia survival or growth, he suggested that their probable effects on future sequoia health warranted action by the National Park Service. In 1963 came the Leopold Report, which had an enormous influence on science in the parks, from both research and management standpoints. The Leopold Report was the product of an advisory panel headed by Dr. Starker Leopold, appointed by the Secretary of the Interior. In essence, the report called for maintenance or restoration of natural systems to the greatest extent possible. This had direct implications for the Giant Forest, which was specifically mentioned in the report. The Secretary of the Interior issued an order that the report's recommendations be followed. This gave tremendous backing to the movement to restore the Giant Forest. Additionally, the report resulted in the establishment or expansion of numerous park research programs.

The Golden Twenties rejuvenated the spirit of the United States - it was an era marked by economic prosperity, the rise of commercialism, and the emergence of jazz and social dancing. Perhaps the most significant of all were the advancements made towards women's rights. Women's suffrage, the proposal of the Equal Rights Amendment, fashion, and large-scale entrance into the workforce brought about a newly found liberation for women.

Susan Priscilla Thew embodied this newly-found liberation and her enthusiasm and energy left a lasting impact on Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. With little experience but great motivation, 40-year-old Susan Thew left Giant Forest in August of 1923 to explore the rugged terrain of the Sierra. Thew hoped to capture a still untouched landscape in images and words that would make clear the need for its preservation. Little did Thew know that her work would succeed in nearly tripling the park's acreage - making her one of the most prominent female figures in the history of these parks.

Susan had originally come to California to escape the harsh Ohio winters with her father, Richard Thew, a wealthy industrialist and inventor. In the summer of 1918, having determined to stay year-round, she drove the rough dirt road to Giant Forest and encountered the beauty and serenity of the sequoias for the first time. Although she only spent a limited amount of time within the park, she was instantly captivated.

She soon acquainted herself with the superintendent of the park, Colonel John R. White, and learned of the various efforts to create a greater Sequoia National Park. It was then that the idea of promoting for park expansion began to take hold of Susan Thew and she began her travels into the high country east of Sequoia - the High Sierra.

For the next several years, with determination and ambition, Susan applied herself to the campaign to preserve the grand wilderness of the Southern Sierra. She spent several summers traversing some of the most rugged terrain in the continental United States. With one companion and small packtrain, she covered hundreds of miles, photographing the landscape in hopes of conveying something of its beauty.

With these images, the largest and most complete photographic record of the region to date, Thew produced a publication for distribution to members of Congress promoting the park idea. Entitled "The Proposed Roosevelt-Sequoia National Park," her gazetteer gave a vivid sense of the grandeur of the land needing protection.

Since the founding of Sequoia National Park in 1890, numerous bills to enlarge the park had been introduced, but none had succeeded. Not until the 1926 proposal, when Susan Thew submitted her gazetteer, did an enlargement bill succeed: The park boundaries were extended to include the Great Western Divide, the Kaweah Peaks, the Kern Canyon, and the Sierra Crest. After passage of the bill, the director of the National Park Service sent a telegram to Susan in recognition of her efforts. Although many factors were included in the passing of the bill, her persuasiveness and ardor were undoubtedly the deciding factor in the push for park expansion. Her dedication had paid off.

During the campaign to create Kings Canyon National Park in 1940, Thew's approach was used again. Photographer Ansel Adams created a portfolio of stunning images for distribution among members of Congress and, like Thew, his efforts contributed to success in passing an expansion bill.

Throughout her life, Susan Thew remained an advocate for preservation and understanding, but never more so than in her role in the expansion of Sequoia National Park. It was here that Susan found inspiration:

"If you are weary with the battle, either of business or the greater game of life, and would like to find your way back to sound nerves and a new interest in life, I know of no better place than the wild loveliness of some chosen spot in the High Sierra in which, when you have lost your physical self, you have found your mental and spiritual re-awakening."

In 1918, Susan Thew discovered something she loved and devoted all her efforts to making a change. She not only found a new source of personal energy in the parks, she ensured that generations to come would have the same opportunity. To honor her efforts on behalf of Sequoia National Park and her love of the High Sierra, in 2023 the newly-renovated theater inside the parks' Lodgepole Visitor Center was dedicated as the Susan Thew Wilderness Theater.

Norman Clyde was attracted to the Sierra Nevada Mountains sometime after 1911 while in his mid-20s. The High Sierra was to become for him, as Walt Wheelock writes, "as familiar as one's own backyard." Clyde spent more than 50 years perfecting his mental maps, locating crashed airplanes, and rescuing lost souls and climbers in trouble - or retrieving their bodies.

Clyde's name was legendary. Many climbers would rank him second only to John Muir as an intimate pioneer of places inaccessible and second to none as a climber. Apart from legend, few people knew much about this quiet man who minimized his achievements. Asked about his climbing feats, Clyde might downplay them by saying they weren't really so many when you considered that he was 350 years old.

Recollecting Clyde's feats, Wheelock wrote in 1961: "A strong team of skilled rockclimbers will conquer a lonely spire, using the most modern of climbing gear and techniques and win through with well-coordinated teamwork only to find on a faded Kodak box the record of a solo climb of three decades ago. Or, at the high point of a distant ridge will be found a small cairn, but no written record. Obviously the work of man, and one mountaineer will turn to his companion with, 'Well, it looks like a first ascent, except for Norman Clyde.' Later, discussing the route with him, Clyde will ponder a bit, ask a couple of questions about some difficult pitch encountered on the ascent, then admit he had been there a score of years ago."

Clyde climbed Mt. Whitney at least 50 times. Between 1914 and about 1940, he became the first climber to reach the tops of at least 126 peaks. Clyde Minaret (first ascent June 1928) near today's Devils Postpile National Monument and Clyde Spires (first ascents north and south peaks July 1933) on the northeast boundary of Kings Canyon National Park are named for him.

Other than his carefully crafted newspaper and magazine accounts of climbs and the few recorded recollections of fellow mountaineers, Norman Clyde's long High Sierra tenure passed with sparse biographical record. Not so Clyde's backpacks. Heading for the mountain backcountry one day, Clyde, weighing 140 pounds then, weighed his pack: 75 pounds. He spent that night with a survey crew who were amazed at the size of his pack. In the morning, the crewmen as a prank badgered Clyde about the dangers of running out of food in the wilderness. First one survey crewman and then another urged "extra" cans of their food on Clyde. Never one to turn down free supplies, Clyde set out that day with a pack that had grown to 95 pounds!

"I can still remember my awe at the collection of gear Norman drew out of his duffle bag," recollects climbing companion Smoke Blanchard. "There's part of the weight right there. The duffle bag was lashed to a six-pound Yukon pack frame, which also supported a full-length Hudson Bay axe. But perhaps the kitchen bag was the most surprising.... Norman's six large kettles, the cups and spoons, the dishes and bowls, the salt shakers, condiments, servers, and graters, and for all I know, cookie cutters.... Boots? He carried several: ski boots, tricouni boots, rubber-soled boots for the rocks, camp slippers."

"I think many people might find his way of travel in the mountains quite strange, especially with today's gear," Blanchard comments. "But you see, Norman was not just visiting the mountains or passing through the peaks. He lived there...."

On September 25th, 1890, President Benjamin Harrison signed legislation establishing the second national park in America – Sequoia National Park. Created to protect giant sequoia trees from logging, this national park was the first formed specifically to protect a living organism. Only one week later, Sequoia gained a neighbor: four square miles of parkland that became General Grant National Park. Although small, General Grant National Park remained on the map of California until 1940, when it became a part of the newly established Kings Canyon National Park.

With the creation of America's national parks in the late 19th century, the need for protection became evident after people began exploiting park resources for commercial gain. At this time, there was no agency in charge of the nation's park lands, so the Army was designated to oversee these federal public lands instead. From 1891 through 1913, U.S. Army Cavalry troops were detailed from the Presidio of San Francisco and sent to the Sierra Nevada to protect the new parks. These Buffalo Soldiers were led by Charles Young , who would become the first Black military superintendent in 1903. While in the parks, the soldiers’ duties included fighting wildfires, curbing poaching of the parks' wildlife, ending illegal livestock grazing on federal lands, and constructing roads, trails, and other infrastructure. During this time, the pack road to the Giant Forest was expanded and completed in Sequoia National Park. This meant that for the first time, the “big trees” were accessible by wagon to the general public.

In July 1905, Walter Fry became a civilian park ranger, one of a handful appointed to assist the Army cavalry troops in charge of the parks. Then, in the summer of 1914, World War I began, and the troops left the park to civilian management. Walter Fry became the first civilian superintendent of Sequoia and General Grant National Parks, a position he would hold for the next six years.

In 1916, the National Park Service was created, and the responsibility of protecting public lands was officially transferred from army soldiers to civilians. This plus the growing popularity of automobile travel led to the building of the Generals Highway in 1926. The Ash Mountain entrance, which can be accessed via Highway 198 through Visalia, became the main gateway to Sequoia. In 1927, park visitors sometimes even experienced traffic at the check-in station! Better access to the Giant Forest led to more visitors, which led to a need for more visitor amenities. During the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps worked in the parks to build and improve campgrounds, trails, buildings, and other facilities. One of the first projects was the construction of the first steps to the summit of Moro Rock. Backcountry trail construction also became a priority. In 1932, the new High Sierra Trail was completed- connecting the Giant Forest and Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the contiguous United States.

In 1940, Congress and President Franklin D. Roosevelt created a new national park to include the glacially formed splendor of Kings Canyon. The newly established Kings Canyon National Park absorbed the four miles that made up General Grant National Park. Since then, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks have been overseen by one administration.

Over the past 125 years, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks have grown to encompass 1,353 square miles of land, 97% of which is designated and managed as wilderness. Today, more than 1.5 million people enjoy these special places each year. After all these years of time and history, the parks' purpose remains: to protect and preserve these public lands for future generations. This timeline is just a drop in the ocean of history and culture surrounding our parks. For a deeper dive, check out our StoryMap , which covers over 100 different aspects of the whos, whats, wheres, and hows of southern Sierra Nevada. For those who would like to enjoy reading more about history, the Challenge of the Big Trees by Larry Dilsaver and William C. Tweed is available online through the National Park Services's Park History program.

Awe-inspiring giant sequoia trees are among the largest living things on earth, but the opportunity to experience them is rare. Approximately 75 groves exist, and only along the southern Sierra's western slope on moist sites between about 5,000 and 7,000 feet in elevation. Giant Forest, one of the largest groves, was saved from logging by the establishment of Sequoia National Park in 1890. However, national park status did not fully protect the big trees. The road that brought visitors to Giant Forest also brought camping, cabins, commercial development, and congestion. The impacts of this development, both to the giant sequoia ecosystem and to the quality of visitor experience, conflicted with the National Park Service mandate to conserve park resources and values and leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of present and future generations. An early park superintendent, Colonel John Roberts White, recognized these problems over 70 years ago and vigorously toiled to protect natural values. While largely unsuccessful in clearing structures from Giant Forest, he did prevent additional development and set the stage for the eventual restoration of Giant Forest.

In the late 1990s, years of planning, design, and construction converged into the realization of Colonel White's vision. Between 1997 and 2005, all commercial activity was removed from Giant Forest. Overnight accommodations were relocated outside the grove to Wuksachi Village. Demolition of 282 buildings and ecological restoration of 231 acres in Giant Forest was completed. Visitor facilities in Giant Forest were converted from overnight to day-use. The goal of the Giant Forest restoration project was to restore the ecological health of the Giant Forest sequoia grove, home of the world's largest trees, and create opportunities for outstanding national park experiences. Specific objectives included:

Provide cost effective, environmentally responsible and otherwise beneficial development for the National Park Service. Establish precedent for removing development from key national park landscapes.

A key goal of the Giant Forest restoration was to provide visitors with opportunities to experience giant sequoias on foot rather than from vehicles. A crucial component of this goal is the shuttle, enabling visitors to park their vehicles once during the day and experience Giant Forest's key features by foot, avoiding the prolonged parking congestion that was prevalent at many sites in the grove before restoration.

In May 2007, the Sequoia Shuttle began operating in Giant Forest. A cooperative effort with the City of Visalia, the shuttle provides service from Visalia and Three Rivers to Giant Forest in addition to transportation within Giant Forest.

Today's restored Giant Forest results from the efforts of many dedicated personnel, from biologists to heavy equipment operators. But the monumental accomplishments of this project stem from the unwavering ideals of managers and planners beginning with Colonel White. Truly we could not have achieved what we have without standing on the shoulders of giants. On these pages you will witness the dramatic transformation of the Giant Forest from city to forest. You will learn why and how the National Park Service is carrying out this transformation. You will realize that a similar transformation in our commitment to correcting mistakes of the past was necessary before Colonel White's dream of restoration could be pursued in earnest.

Many of the buildings to be removed dated from the 1930s and contained lead-based paint and asbestos in floor coverings, wall board, pipe insulation, roofing, and other building materials. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and mercury were present in some light fixtures. Removal and disposal of these materials had to conform to strict federal, state, and local regulations.

Smaller cabins were removed by lifting the intact building off its piers with a long set of forks attached to a loader bucket. This was the preferred method, resulting in little additional soil disturbance. Heavier cabins that could not be removed by lifting with forks were often dragged with a chain fastened around the base of the building. Because equipment travel was constrained to designated routes where soils were already compact, this method also resulted in minimal soil disturbance. Sometimes chains were run through doors and windows and the building lifted with the excavator. The largest buildings were demolished in place. Buildings were moved to a central area to be broken up, and the debris either loaded directly into containers or ground into chips using a large tub grinder for transport out of the park.

By the 1990s, the sewage treatment facility in Giant Forest, known as the "Imhoff" plant (dating from the 1930s), no longer met federal and state standards for wastewater treatment. The level of treatment was substandard - "partial primary" only, with solids skimmed off and the remaining effluent heavily chlorinated and sprayed over a steep slope below the Giant Forest. The Imhoff plant had been operating on a temporary, ten-year discharge permit since 1978, and was issued a five-year extension until 1993. In 1993, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board denied renewal of the discharge permit, which would force closure of the treatment plant. The Park was required to submit a plan to comply with wastewater treatment standards by either rebuilding the plant, or providing a firm schedule for closure, with reduction of wastewater flow from the plant each year until closure.

Because the National Park Service had committed in 1980 to removing lodging and associated infrastructure from Giant Forest, the decision was made not to rebuild the sewage treatment plant in or immediately adjacent to Giant Forest. Construction of replacement infrastructure at Wuksachi Village had been underway since 1983, but a firm schedule for closure and removal of facilities was not in place until this denial of a discharge permit by the State of California forced the issue. Many of the nearly 300 lodging and commercial buildings in Giant Forest, built between 1920 and 1950, were poorly built and aging rapidly. Maintaining and servicing these old and widely dispersed facilities was difficult and costly. Deteriorated sewer lines had reached their limit for repair. Because replacement would harm the giant sequoias the National Park Service is mandated to protect, removal of the facilities remained the only option.

Asphalt pavement in roads, parking lots, and walkways was usually removed by lifting the pavement edges using the claw of an excavator or backhoe. In locations where close spacing of trees prevented use of large equipment, contractors often made use of small equipment such as Bobcats and "mini-excavators."

Concrete manholes, vaults, lift stations, footings, foundations, and sewage treatment facilities were removed completely, if possible. If unacceptable vegetation or soil damage would result from complete removal, or if complete removal was prohibitively expensive, the concrete was removed to at least 2 feet below the surface. Any remaining concrete was fractured prior to backfilling to allow water to drain through. Concrete utilities were removed by excavators and backhoes, but in locations not accessible to this equipment, such as the sewer line running beside Deer Creek, concrete was broken up using a jackhammer and hauled away by mules. All asphalt and concrete debris was recycled by crushing into ¾ inch chunks for use as road base in future construction projects.

To protect shallow roots, underground water and sewer lines were left in place unless portions were exposed during demolition. In such cases, pipes were removed until remaining portions were 2 feet below the surface. Pipes were removed by pulling horizontally rather than by digging and lifting. Ends of pipes to be left in place were plugged with concrete to prevent channeling of groundwater.

Where telephone lines, electric lines, or light fixtures were attached to live trees, the connecting brackets were removed completely, if possible. If the tree had grown around the bracket to such an extent that removal would injure the tree, protruding parts were cut flush with the tree and the remainder left in place. In most cases contractors were able to remove the entire fixture.

To protect soils and vegetation, contractors were required to install fencing around sensitive sites and residual vegetation before beginning demolition. Eight-foot tall lumber barricades were placed around mature sequoias to protect the soft bark from damage and to keep equipment from disturbing roots or compacting soils close to the base of the trees. Four-foot tall orange fencing was installed around groupings of trees, shallow root zones, or other sensitive areas. -->Lath snow fence --> was wrapped around boles of trees in close proximity to buildings to prevent mechanical damage to bark during removal. Metal sheeting was placed over exposed or shallow sequoia root zones to disperse equipment weight and prevent wheel damage to roots. -->Travel routes --> were designated on contract drawings to constrain equipment travel and minimize soil compaction. Incentive for protecting natural resources was supplied by a contract provision by which the contractor could be assessed monetary damages for causing injury to trees, soils, or vegetation. NPS inspectors and a restoration ecologist provided daily oversight of operations. Also prior to demolition, silt fence or excelsior (curled aspen fiber) filter logs were installed in locations where water runoff exits the project site to prevent silt input to streams or wetlands.

Large, old trees may contain rot at their bases or other defects that increase their probability of falling and endangering human safety and property. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks conduct a hazard tree surveillance and mitigation program to protect human safety and property in developed areas. Today, removing monarch giant sequoias that pose a safety hazard isn’t acceptable. This wasn’t always the case. In 1950, an 18-foot-diameter, 240-foot-tall sequoia leaning over cabins in the Lodge area was felled to protect human safety; in 1966, a second leaning, mature sequoia was felled near Beetle Rock. In more recent years, leaning sequoias located in pockets where root rot was present in surrounding trees were identified as hazards, but threatened structures were closed rather than felling the tree. Hazards to human safety are still present despite efforts to identify hazards. In 1969 an elderly woman died while picnicking in the Hazelwood area when a 240-foot-tall sequoia tree fell against another sequoia, toppling the upper 130 feet of the second tree onto her picnic table. The Hazelwood Picnic Area was closed after this incident.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks' elevation gradient of over 13,000 feet (nearly 4,000 m) from the Sierra Nevada foothills to the high peaks provides a landscape of varied habitats for plants, animals, and other organisms. These parks are both recognized as International Biosphere Reserves for their important role in conserving biodiversity (a rich assemblage of organisms).

More than 1300 native plant species live in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, including the Kaweah monkeyflower.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon are home to nearly 300 native animal species, including the alpine chipmunk. Photo: Leslie Chow.

Park staff are restoring populations of endangered mountain yellow-legged frogs to high-elevation lakes.

Change is a constant in natural landscapes, and it occurs at both large and small scales in these parks. Climate and fire are drivers of large-scale change, while the life cycle of a butterfly or a rockfall from a cliff are examples of change over a shorter time span or a smaller space. Change in these parks may be part of long-term natural cycles, or driven by human impacts such as air pollution, altered fire regimes, invasive non-native species, and climate change. Learn more about the diverse ecosystems and environment of these parks, and processes of change that affect them.

Learn about the soundscapes of these parks and experience natural sounds from low to high elevations via a story map.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are fire-adapted ecosystems. Photo of 2014 prescribed burn: Tony Caprio.

These parks protect more than 200 caves, containing rare minerals, Pleistocene-era fossils, and unique animals.

Over 200 species of birds use the diverse habitats found in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. These habitats range from gently-sloping foothill grasslands, to conifer forests, and windswept alpine tundra and peaks. While some bird species live in the parks year-round, others only use the parks for breeding or as a stopover during migration. In recognition of our bird diversity and critical habitats for breeding, stopover, and wintering, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are designated as Globally Important Bird Areas .

Visit the photo gallery below to enjoy some examples of the wide diversity of birds in these parks.

For information on bird monitoring in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and other Sierra Nevada parks (Yosemite National Park and Devils Postpile National Monument), visit the Sierra Nevada Network Inventory & Monitoring Program bird project web page . See the articles below to learn more about bird monitoring in these parks and what we are learning.

Get a bird checklist for the parks by selecting birds in the search box below. Be aware that National Park Service staff are in-process of updating species lists to be consistent with current information.

Extreme topographic differences and a striking elevation gradient (ranging from 1,360 feet (412 m) in the foothills to 14,494 feet (4,417 m) along the Sierran crest) create a rich tapestry of environments, from the hot, dry lowlands along the western boundary to the stark and snow-covered alpine high country. This topographic diversity in turn supports over 1,200 species (and more than 1,550 taxa, including subspecies and varieties) of vascular plants, which make up dozens of unique plant communities. These include not only the renowned groves of massive giant sequoia, but also vast tracts of montane forests, spectacular alpine habitats, and oak woodlands and chaparral. The richness of the Sierran flora mirrors that of the state as a whole--of the nearly 6,000 species of vascular plants known to occur in California, over 20% of them can be found within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

Vegetation changes dramatically along a west-east elevation gradient from the lowest elevation oak woodlands up to ancient foxtail pines, stunted whitebark pine, and alpine perennial herbs at the highest elevations. Visit the links below to learn more about these vegetation zones.

Many plants or types of vegetation occur across a range of elevation zones. Learn more about wetlands, invasive non-native plants, and plants of conservation concern and how park managers inventory, monitor, and manage them.

Use the NPSpecies tool below to get park plant and animal checklists. Be aware that species lists and taxonomy are dynamic and some of the lists in this database may need to be updated.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks have an impressive elevation range from the low foothills to the Sierra Nevada peaks, and provide habitat for a diversity of animals.

Below are highlights of animals you can find at different elevation zones of the parks, and links to learn more about park animals.

In the low-elevation foothills, summers are hot and dry and winters are mild. You will find oak woodlands, dense chaparral shrubs, and riverside vegetation like California sycamores, willows and cottonwoods. A number of animals live in this area year-round, while some only winter or breed here. Local species include the gray fox, bobcat, striped and spotted skunks, black bear, woodrat, pocket gopher, white-footed mouse, California quail, scrub jay, lesser goldfinch, wrentit, acorn woodpecker, gopher snake, California kingsnake, striped racer, western whiptail lizard, and the California newt.

In the low to mid-montane elevations are mixed forests of pine, incense-cedar, fir, and scattered groves of giant sequoia provide. Further upslope, grow pure stands of magnificent red fir and lodgepole pine forest. Scattered meadows are lush with many kinds of flowers in the summer. Winters are typically snowy. Year-round and seasonal residents include the chickaree, gray squirrel, golden-mantled ground squirrel, mule deer, black bear, mountain lion, and a variety of birds. Resident birds include western tanager, violet-green swallow, white-throated swift, Wilson's warbler, olive-sided flycatcher, hermit thrush, western bluebird, and pileated woodpecker. Reptiles are not common, but occasionally mountain kingsnake, rubber boa, western fence lizard, and alligator lizard can be seen.

The high country is a land of lakes, meadows, some open forest, and miles of granite. Mammals are less common here, and food is scarce. Mammals inhabiting these high Sierra landscapes include the marmot, pika, and white-tailed jack rabbit. Birds include the Clark's nutcracker, mountain bluebird, American pipit, and gray-crowned rosy finch. In this region, you may also be lucky enough to find a mountain yellow-legged frog or a Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, both endangered species for which recovery efforts are underway.

Fourteen species of amphibians and 11 species of fish live in these parks, including the California newt. Photo by Tony Caprio.

More than 200 species of birds nest, stopover during migration, or live year-round in these parks. Photo by Gary Lindquist.

These parks are home to 21 species of reptiles, including the western pond turtle. Photo by Erik Meyer.

These parks contain the headwaters of three major rivers – the Kings, Kaweah, and Kern. Rivers and streams are the major transporters moving snow meltwater downslope to lakes, meadows, forests, and foothill shrublands and oak woodlands. Beyond park boundaries they transport water to reservoirs where it is distributed to farmlands, cities, industries, and wildlife refuges in California’s Central Valley. About 60% of California’s fresh water (and 75% of its agricultural water) comes from the Sierra Nevada snowpack. Most of the parks’ land area is mid- to high-elevation, where snow is the major form of precipitation. The snowpack is a frozen reservoir that gradually melts in spring and summer, supplying water to thirsty plants, animals, farms, and communities through the dry summer and early fall seasons. In recent years, severe droughts have greatly reduced the snowpack while warming temperatures have raised the snowline to higher elevations, so that more precipitation falls as rain where historically it snowed. Rain, unlike snow, washes away and won’t be saved in the snowpack for the dry season, when it is most critically needed!

Water is a major driver of where plants and animals live in the Sierra Nevada. Hydrology is the study of water and its interactions with the landscape. Precipitation falls on these parks as rain or snow, some of which immediately runs into lakes and rivers. Some is stored in snowpack or groundwater, used by plants, or evaporates back into the atmosphere, only to fall somewhere else. The science of hydrology studies the processes that control how much water flows into our streams, how much is stored underground, how much moves through the landscape, what the water quality is, and the ways it is recycled in the natural environment. The National Park Service works with partners to monitor weather, river discharge (amount of water), and snowpack. These datasets help managers understand and estimate current condition and trends in water availability for park ecosystems and downstream water users.

Climate change is having profound effects on water resources in the Sierra Nevada and the ecosystems that have evolved within a snowmelt-driven hydrologic system. One of the most widely observed trends that will continue to affect the hydrologic cycle is an increase in air temperatures. The region's climate has warmed 1.4 to 1.8°F (0.8-1.0°C) over the past 100 years, and there is scientific consensus it will continue to warm. Some of the most notable effects of increased air temperatures on river flow occur through snow accumulation and snow melt. Air temperature influences the form in which precipitation falls, and warmer air temperatures raise the elevation of the rain-snow transition zone. In the mountains, as this zone moves upward, more precipitation falls as rain rather than snow. Scientists have documented hydrologic changes (earlier snowmelt runoff, reduced summer base flows of streams, and decreased winter snowpack) in the Sierra Nevada and western US and predict further changes. These changes and others, including more erratic winter flows and extreme flood events, prolonged low summer flows, reduced soil moisture, and periodic drying of streams that once flowed year-round are illustrated in Figure 1.

Adapted from a presentation by David Herbst, Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Lab, Marine Science Institute, UC Santa Barbara.

Although drought has been a prevalent pattern in the past decade, the risk of severe floods has also increased with climate change. Recent research indicates that climate change has doubled the likelihood of precipitation events capable of producing catastrophic flooding, and larger increases are likely due to continued warming. Warmer air can hold more moisture. Runoff in the future storm scenario is 200 to 400% greater than historical values in the Sierra Nevada because of increased precipitation rates and decreased fraction of precipitation as snow. And megastorms are also likely to occur more often: Extreme flood events that historically occurred once every two centuries could occur approximately three times per century.

National Park Service. River Monitoring . Web page for Sierra Nevada Network Inventory & Monitoring Program. Accessed 22 August 2022. National Park Service. Hydrology . Web page for Yosemite National Park. Accessed 22 August 2022. Rice, R., and R. C. Bales. 2013. A natural resource condition assessment for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: Appendix 7a – rain, snow, and temperature . Natural Resource Report NPS/SEKI/NRR—2013/665.7. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. Swain, D. 2022. ARKStorm 2.0: Climate change is increasing the risk of a California megaflood . Research Summary, Weather West Blog.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are home to 72 species of mammals. Commonly observed species include yellow-bellied marmots, mule deer, pika, and several species of squirrels, such as California ground squirrels, Douglas squirrels, golden-mantled ground squirrels, and western gray squirrels. Most mammals are secretive and nocturnal, and they are rarely seen by park visitors. Examples include ringtails, spotted skunks, short-tailed weasels, and mountain lions.

A tremendous diversity of habitat types is present in the parks, owing largely to an elevation gradient that ranges from 1,370 below park headquarters to 14,494 ft at the top of Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the continental United States. As a result, two groups of mammals are particularly diverse--

There are 26 species of rodents, ranging in size from the tiny montane vole up to the beaver, which can be 4 feet long and weigh over 60 pounds. This group also includes mice, squirrels, gophers, chipmunks, marmots, wood rats, and porcupine.

Seventeen species of bats use these parks, including several species of concern such as the Townsend's big-eared bat, pallid bat, spotted bat, western mastiff bat, and western red bat. One out of every 5 mammal species in the parks is a bat! Bats find food by emitting a high-frequency call and using their sensitive hearing to detect echoes from flying insects. Three species in the parks emit calls audible to the human ear – listen for them at night if you visit the parks. Bats are found from the lowest elevations in the park to higher than 10,000 feet.

The American black bear is an omnivore (eating both plants and animals) and frequently eats berries and meadow plants, claws at logs or digs for insects, dangles from sugar pine branches to go after cones, and forages for acorns in the fall. A male black bear weighs an average 300 to 350 pounds, and smaller females weigh 150 to 200 pounds. Black bears can range in color from cinnamon brown to black, and some can have light blazes on their chests.

The California grizzly once occurred in these parks and was abundant throughout the state.Grizzly bears were exterminated in California by the 1920s. The California grizzly remains one of the state’s most enduring symbols, adorning both the state flag and seal.

Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep is the only park mammal listed as federally endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Learn more about local efforts to restore populations of bighorn sheep in these parks. The Pacific fisher, wolverine, and red fox are state-listed as threatened in California, and the Townsend's big-eared bat is a candidate for state-listing.

If you would like more information bears in national parks, including photos, videos, and links to other parks with bears, visit Bears .

Bird enthusiasts visiting the parks will see different bird behaviors depending on the time of year and habitat. During the winter, the foothills provide opportunities to see California quail rustling under shrubs or perching on rocks; flocks of band-tailed pigeons searching for an evening roost; or acorn woodpeckers calling to one another among the oaks. During spring and fall, large numbers of birds can be seen and heard as they seek food to fuel their long migratory journeys. In spring, look for flocks of warblers, vireos, flycatchers, and tanagers; their brightly-colored feathers and distinctive songs help them establish nesting territories. In the summer, birds are active and easy to spot throughout the parks . It's a great time to hike to high-elevation areas to watch Clark's nutcrackers harvest seeds from pine cones. Future bird watching opportunities will likely change as our climate changes. Current research indicates a shift in timing of nesting of over 200 species of birds in California's Coast Range and the Sierra Nevada. Different species are nesting from 5 to 12 days earlier than typical, likely to avoid warming spring temperatures that can kill young nesting birds. Some bird species, such as the Clark's nutcracker and the California spotted owl, could be affected as climate changes their habitats. In these parks, hotter drought and white pine blister rust could impact nutcrackers by reducing their habitat. California spotted owl habitat could be affected by a combination of of hotter drought, tree mortality, and wildfire. Other predicted climate impacts are changes in bird communities , with some species being lost in the parks due to changing climate and other new species arriving. Ecological systems are complex and it is difficult to anticipate how the interactions of changing climate and other factors may interact to change bird communities now and into the future. Yet, park managers continue to learn about possible changes and take management actions to improve the resilience and adaptation of our plant and animal communities .

Learn more about endangered California condors , and their status in the parks.

NPS Photo General Information There are fourteen campgrounds in the parks, including two that are open during all four seasons. Campsites hold up to six people. Each has a picnic table, fire ring with grill, and a metal food-storage box. Nearly all campgrounds require advance reservations; sites fill quickly. Make reservations using the links below or at Recreation.gov . Please review the campground regulations and camping safety tips prior to your arrival. Fire Restrictions Restrictions on campfires in lower-elevation campgrounds in the Foothills are common, especially during summer months. Please check current fire restrictions before you visit for information and restrictions on wood and charcoal fires, gas or propane stoves, and smoking. Camping Fees Site Type Fee Standard Campsite (up to 6 people) $32 Stock Campsite $40 Mid-sized Group Campsite $50 Large Group Campsite $60,$70, or $80

Wolverton Stock Campsites Campsites are $40 per night. Reservations will be available on Recreation.gov . No first-come, first-served sites are available.

Cedar Grove Stock Campsite This campsite is by reservation only and only open to those camping wth horses. Campsites are $40 per night. During the open season, reservations are available on Recreation.gov . No first-come, first-served sites are available.

U.S. Forest Service Campgrounds The U.S. Forest Service maintains campgrounds in the Hume Lake District that borders Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. These campgrounds are not managed by the parks. Dispersed Camping Dispersed camping is not allowed within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks except for those who are hiking into the backcountry with backcountry permits. Dispersed camping is allowed only in specific areas within the Sequoia National Forest, restrictions apply. Areas closed to dispersed camping include: Hume Lake Recreation Area Stony Creek Recreation Area Along the Kings River Wild and Scenic Byway Historical and archaeological sites Call Sequoia National Forest at 559-784-1500 or stop by a National Park Service visitor center for more information.

South Fork Campground (Closed Indefinitely) South Fork Campground and its access road were heavily and extensively damaged by floods and landslides from winter storms. The campground is closed until further notice.

Camping in the parks while not in a designated campground—known as dispersed camping—is not allowed except for those who are overnight backpacking in the backcountry with a valid wilderness permit.

Adventure is at your fingertips with the Recreation.gov mobile app! From booking to planning, the Recreation.gov app helps you find and reserve campsites, review location details for your trip, and quickly access information on past and upcoming reservations. Download it today at Mobile App - Recreation.gov

At an elevation of 2,500-3,000 feet (762-914 m), the foothills of Sequoia National Park are hot and dry in summer, and cool and wet in winter with occasional light snow. Nearby trails lead to oak woodlands, river canyons, and spring wildflowers. A 45-minute winding drive leads to the Giant Forest sequoia grove—vehicles over 22 feet (6.7 m) are not advised on this road. In summer, fire restrictions are often in effect in these campgrounds due to high temperatures and dry conditions.

The Lodgepole area is centrally located in Sequoia National Park at an elevation of 6,700 feet (2050 m). The area is a 45-minute drive from the Hwy 180 entrance in Kings Canyon National Park, or a one-hour drive from the Hwy 198 entrance in Sequoia National Park. Enter the parks via Highway 180 if your vehicle is over 22 feet (6.7 m) long.

The Mineral King area features the highest elevation campground in the parks. At 7,500 feet (2280 m), it is only open during the summer months. A narrow, winding, largely unpaved road leads to the area and its two campgrounds. RVs and trailers are not recommended on Mineral King Road and are not permitted in campgrounds. Mineral King is not connected to the rest of Sequoia National Park by roads. To get here, turn off of Highway 198 in Three Rivers, California.

Grant Grove Village serves as the gateway to Kings Canyon National Park. At 6,500 feet (1981 m), this area offers moderate temperatures in the summer, and is usually snow covered in the winter. Trails lead to giant sequoia groves, meadows, waterfalls and vistas of the high Sierra. Numerous services are available a short distance from all three campgrounds.

Located at 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) and an hour’s drive from Grant Grove, the Cedar Grove area is a more remote area of Kings Canyon National Park. It is open from early spring to late fall. Campgrounds are next to the South Fork of the Kings River and offer views of the glaciated Kings Canyon. Trails lead to meadows and waterfalls, and also provide some of the best access to the high Sierra wilderness. All campgrounds in this area contain a bicycle trail which connects them to services at Cedar Grove Village.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks offer a wide range of activities in diverse landscapes in any season. Whether you prefer a short stroll or a week in the wilderness, a quiet sunset or a roaring river, adventure awaits you here. Whatever activities you choose, come prepared. Weather varies widely at different elevations, and storms can happen at any time of year. Read safety information before you visit.

Whether you see them from your car or hike to a remote grove, giant sequoias inspire awe and wonder.

We offer recreational opportunities suited for a wide range of abilities, including exhibits, walking, camping, and shuttle transportation.

Learn about camping options throughout the parks. Campgrounds are reservation only and availability is extremely limited in summer months.

Get out and explore! Wander through sequoia groves, look deep into wilderness, or experience wildlife.

Explore our mountain landscapes along the Generals Highway and the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway.

Take a moment to explore our fishing information and learn your responsibilities before casting a line into the water.

Whether you bring your own stock or use one of the pack stations in these parks, a trip on horseback is a great way to see the parks.

Look for picnic areas throughout the parks. Protect bears and other wildlife by storing food safely, even while you're eating.

Find out what free, open-to-the-public ranger programs will be available during your visit!

Granite cliffs and domes provide excellent opportunities for climbing in these parks. Climb on and stay safe!

Stop by our visitor centers and museums to explore exhibits, get trip-planning information, and shop in our park stores.

Drive your RV carefully when passing through Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. Roads in the parks are narrow, winding, and steep. Because of this, longer vehicles like Recreational Vehicles (RVs), trailers, and commercial buses often cross the double yellow line and pose a danger to other drivers. Advisories are in place on some park roads.

Drivers will be held responsible for any hazardous conditions caused by their actions. Follow the recommendations below for your safety and the safety of others.

Vehicle length limits are provided below to help you know where you can safely visit.

The Generals Highway has many hairpin turns and an incline of 5,000 feet over a few miles. NPS Photo Generals Highway Continuation of Highway 198 from Visalia to the Giant Forest Grove. Vehicles longer than 24 feet (7.3 m) are not advised between the Foothills Visitor Center and Potwisha Campground in Sequoia National Park. Vehicles longer than 22 feet (6.7 m) are not advised on the stretch of road between Potwisha Campground and the Giant Forest Museum in Sequoia National Park. Single vehicles longer than 40 feet (12.2 m) are prohibited on the stretch of road between Potwisha Campground and the Giant Forest Museum in Sequoia National Park. This 16-mile section of the Generals Highway was built in the early 1920s and can be difficult to navigate for longer vehicles.

The road to Crescent Meadow, Tunnel Log, and Moro Rock is very narrow. Moro Rock / Crescent Meadow Road Along Generals Highway next to the Giant Forest Museum. Single vehicles longer than 22 feet (6.7 m) and vehicles towing units are prohibited. The road to Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow is narrow with heavy traffic from vehicles and shuttles in the summer. In summer, you may park at Giant Forest Museum and take a park shuttle on the road. The road is closed to private vehicles on weekends and holidays. Parking is limited. In winter, the road closes to cars once snow begins to accumulate and remains closed typically until Memorial Day weekend. Crystal Cave Road Along Generals Highway before the Giant Forest Grove. Vehicles longer than 22 feet (6.7 m) are prohibited on Crystal Cave Road. Crystal Cave is generally open from late May through late October, weather permitting. The road is open during cave tours and is gated each night after the last tour. Mineral King Road Along Highway 198 before the entrance to Sequoia National Park. Single vehicles longer than 40 feet (12.2 m) are prohibited on Mineral King Road. RVs and trailers are not permitted in the Mineral King campgrounds. This road is extremely narrow and winding and is unpaved in some areas. The road is open from late May through the last Wednesday of October, weather permitting. Oversized Parking Areas General Sherman Tree: Park in the Main Sherman Tree Parking Area . In winter, ask about options for RV parking. Giant Forest Museum: Park in RV spaces in the upper parking lot across the highway from the museum (short walk). Use of the small parking area and shuttle stop south of the museum is prohibited. Lodgepole Visitor Center and Village: Park RVs in spaces in front of the visitor center and market. Overflow parking is available beyond the market, past the campground entrance. Wolverton Picnic Area: This is the only picnic area accessible by longer RVs in the Giant Forest. Foothills Visitor Center: Park in RV spaces across the main road from the visitor center. Shorter RVs may be able to park in the parallel spaces in the parking area immediately in front of the visitor center.

View of Mist Falls in Kings Canyon National Park Kings Canyon National Park Panoramic Point Road Along the continuation of Highway 180 and Generals Highway. RVs and trailers are prohibited. This road leads from Kings Canyon Visitor Center to Panoramic Point and is considered extremely narrow and winding. This road closes for the winter once snow falls, and reopens by Memorial Day weekend, or earlier if snow has melted. Oversized Parking Areas Kings Canyon Visitor Center and Grant Grove Village: Park in RV spaces next to the gift shop and market at the north end of the village or in overflow parking beyond the visitor center. General Grant Tree: Limited parking for RV’s is available at the Grant Tree Trail parking areas. Columbine and Big Stump Picnic Areas: RV parking spaces are available at both areas. Cedar Grove Visitor Center and Cedar Grove Village: RV spaces are available in both of these parking areas. Roaring River Falls and Zumwalt Meadow: Access to these parking areas is easier from the north via Road’s End. Those with a longer RV can take Highway 180 north to Road’s End, turn around, then return along Highway 180. Shorter RVs may be able to turn into the parking areas from the south.

Due to the difficult nature of this section of the Generals Highway, it is not recommended to drive an oversized vehicle along this route. The Big Stump entrance via Highway 180, the northern entrance to these parks, is the preferred route for longer vehicles. This limit applies to tow trucks, as well.