Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

A deep canyon with a forested floor and steep granite cliffs
The Glaciers carved the Kings Canyon's steep granite cliffs, leaving a wide U-shaped valley.
A steep granite slope leads from forest to a bare alpine landscape
Just above Lodgepole Valley, the trail to the Watchtower offers views above the treeline.
A guardrail encircles people along a narrow walkway with wide views
A historic stairway leads to the top of Moro Rock, offering views from foothills to peaks
A giant sequoia's reddish bark contrasts with the snow around it
For those who don't mind icy roads, winter offers stunning views of sequoias in snow.
A rustic building is surrounded by giant sequoias
Giant Forest Museum offers exhibits, park information, and a bookstore.
Photos: National Park Service

About Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Huge mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, and the world’s largest trees exemplify the diversity of landscapes, life, and beauty here. Explore these pages to plan your visit or to learn about the plants and animals here and the threats they face. Ancient giant sequoias may seem invincible, but they, too are vulnerable.

Plan a Visit

NPS DesignationNational Parks
Park State / Territory MembershipCalifornia
Current Alerts1
Visitor Centers6
Campgrounds15
Things To Do60

Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.

Weather & Conditions

Because of the extreme elevation range in the parks, weather conditions vary widely between areas. In summer, the sequoia groves have comfortable temperatures and the foothills are hot and dry. Snow lingers on high-mountain passes well into summer. In fall, conditions can range from summer-like to winter-like. Winter brings snow…

NPS Reference Location

Park state / territory membership: California. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.

Entrance Fees

Entrance - Private Vehicle$35.00

This pass is valid for 1-7 days and includes everyone traveling in a single vehicle for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and Hume Lake District of Sequoia National Forest/Giant Sequoia National Monument.

Entrance - Per Person$20.00

This entry fee is for a single person traveling on foot or by bicycle. It is valid for 1-7 days in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and Hume Lake District of Sequoia National Forest/Giant Sequoia National Monument.

Entrance - Motorcycle$30.00

Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles, scooters, or similar motorized vehicles with up to 4 total passengers to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and Hume Lake District of Sequoia National Forest/Giant Sequoia National Monument.

Entrance - Non-commercial Groups$20.00

Non-commercial groups traveling in vehicles that have a capacity of up to 15 passengers pay a $35 vehicle entrance fee or use a park pass. Groups traveling in a bus or vehicle with a capacity of 16 persons or more are charged $20 per person, up to the maximums listed for commercial groups with comparable passenger capacity ($100 or $200). People 15 years old or younger, anyone with a pass that may be used for park entry, and drivers hired for transportation only are exempt from the per person fee.

Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus$100.00

This entrance fee is for commercial tours of vehicles with a seating capacity of 16-25 people that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. This fee is based on the seating capacity of the vehicle and not the actual number of passengers. Passenger ages or entrance passes do not affect the price.

Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach$200.00

This entrance fee is for commercial tours of vehicles with a seating capacity of 26 or more people that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. This fee is based on the seating capacity of the vehicle and not the actual number of passengers. Passenger ages or entrance passes do not affect the price.

Commercial Entrance - Per Person$20.00

The fee is $20 per person for any resident 16 years or older. For any nonresident the fee is $100 per person for anyone 16 years or older. This fee is valid for seven consecutive days.

Nonresident$100.00

Each non-US resident aged 16 and older visiting Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass. This includes nonresidents entering as part of a commercial tour group, commercial use authorization (CUA) group, or concessioner tour group.

Operating Hours

The parks are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Some park roads and roads that access more remote parts of the parks close in the winter due to snow accumulation. Rarely, extreme weather conditions may cause roads into the parks to be closed.

FridayAll Day
MondayAll Day
SaturdayAll Day
SundayAll Day
ThursdayAll Day
TuesdayAll Day
WednesdayAll Day

Activities

Auto and ATVScenic DrivingAstronomyStargazingCampingBackcountry CampingCar or Front Country CampingHorse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)Group CampingRV CampingCavingClimbingRock ClimbingFishingFreshwater FishingFly Fishing

Current Alerts

Fire Restrictions in Place

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in effect. Wood and charcoal fires are prohibited at all low-elevation campgrounds and picnic areas. Additional restrictions apply. Click "more" for details.

Getting There

Two highways enter the parks. Hwy 180 from Fresno leads east to Kings Canyon National Park, then continues 30 miles east to Cedar Grove. Hwy 198 from Visalia leads east to Sequoia National Park via Three Rivers. Inside the parks, Highway 198 becomes the Generals Highway, which connects 198 to 180. Vehicles over 22-feet long should enter the parks via Highway 180. In winter, the Generals Highway between the parks often closes. Chains may be required on park roads. No roads cross the parks east to west.

View Official Directions

Contact & Address

The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.

NPS-Listed Address47050 Generals Highway, Three Rivers, CA, 93271

Entrance Passes

Annual Entrance - Park$70.00

This pass is valid for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and Hume Lake Ranger District of Sequoia National Forest/Giant Sequoia National Monument for one year from the month of purchase. The pass admits all passengers in a private vehicle and is non-transferable.

Topics & Themes

African American HeritageArtsPaintingPhotographyPoetry and LiteratureTransportationRoads, Routes and HighwaysAnimalsBirdsCaves, Caverns and KarstCanyons and CanyonlandsClimate ChangeFireFoothills, Plains and ValleysForests and WoodlandsConiferous Forests

Things To Do

Paradise Creek

Paradise Creek

Explore Paradise Canyon in the Foothills of Sequoia National Park. This gentle trail parallels Paradise Creek, taking you past waterfalls…

Wolverton Winter Trail

Wolverton Winter Trail

This short trail connects the Old Lodgepole Road with the Wolverton Parking area. This steep hillside route requires considerable control…

Visit the Foothills Visitor Center

Visit the Foothills Visitor Center

This visitor center is one mile past the Ash Mountain entrance station along the Generals Highway. Stop here for information,…

Explore Hidden Sequoias at Muir Grove

Explore Hidden Sequoias at Muir Grove

Take a hike to a sequoia grove that is tucked away from the road. Muir Grove provides a quiet experience…

See the General Sherman Tree in Snow

See the General Sherman Tree in Snow

Enjoy an up-close experience walking around the big trees, including the largest tree on Earth.

Visit the Kings Canyon Visitor Center

Visit the Kings Canyon Visitor Center

At the Kings Canyon Visitor Center, learn about three regions in Kings Canyon National Park: giant sequoia groves, Kings Canyon,…

More Things to Do

Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.

Monarch Lake

Upper and Lower Monarch Lakes are gorgeous alpine lakes that lie at the base of Sawtooth Peak. You can hike this 10-mile…

Eagle and Mosquito Lakes

Both Eagle and Mosquito lakes offer beautiful views of Mineral Kings alpine landscape. Eagle and Mosquito Lakes trails share the same route…

Cold Springs Nature Trail

The Cold Springs Nature Trail is a great option for visitors looking for an easier trail and staying at the Cold Springs…

Roaring River Falls

This is a short, paved walk to a cool waterfall (literally and figuratively!) On a hot day, it’s a great place to…

Road's End

Road's End is the last stop in the Cedar Grove area, at the literal end of Highway 180. This area is the…

Mist Falls

An 8-mile round-trip walk to this spectacular cascade makes a great all-day walk. The first miles are relatively flat and open; in…

Zumwalt Meadow

Zumwalt Meadow is one of the park's most iconic, scenic meadows. Explore a 1 - 3 mile trail that begins near the…

Big Stump

The first resting spot after the park entrance station on Highway 180, this picnic area makes this a perfect stop to get your bearings…

Panoramic Point

Look outward from Panoramic Point across hundreds of miles of Kings Canyon National Park and neighboring national forest lands

General Grant Tree

The General Grant Trail is an easy, 0.5 mile loop through the Grant Grove of sequoias. The General Grant Tree is not…

Moro Rock

A stone and concrete stairway leads to the top of Moro Rock, a granite dome that towers over the Generals Highway. From…

Crystal Cave

A tour through Crystal Cave will give you an inside look at the complex world that lies beneath our feet. Spend time…

Showing 18 of 60 NPS Things to Do records available for Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks.

Visitor Centers

Foothills Visitor Center

The Foothills Visitor Center is one mile east of the Ash Mountain Entrance on Generals Highway. Stop by for information, maps, books, gifts, water, and…

Giant Forest Museum

The Giant Forest Museum is in a historic market building in the Giant Forest sequoia grove at 6,500 feet (1,980 m), about 16 miles north…

Kings Canyon Visitor Center

The Kings Canyon Visitor Center is located in Grant Grove Village, about three miles north of the Big Stump Entrance Station, at 6,500 feet (1,980…

Lodgepole Visitor Center

Renovated in 2023, the Lodgepole Visitor Center is located in the coniferous forests at an elevation of 6,700 feet (2,040 m), about 21 miles north…

Cedar Grove Visitor Center

The Cedar Grove Visitor Center, located in a small historic cabin beside the South Fork of the Kings River, sits in a mixed coniferous forest…

Mineral King Ranger Station

Located in a mixed-conifer forest at 7,600 feet (2,320 m), the Mineral King Ranger Station houses some exhibits on Mineral King's human and natural history.…

Campgrounds

Potwisha Campground

Open year-round except when weather or safety conditions require a closure. Reservations can be made up to four months in advance. All sites are reservation…

Azalea Campground

The campground is open year-round but has seasonal restrictions during the winter. May through October: Reservations can be made up to four months in advance.…

Cold Springs Campground

The campground is typically open May through October. Reservations can be made up to one month in advance. All sites are reservation only. Nestled among…

Atwell Mill Campground

The campground is typically open May through October. Reservations can be made up to one month in advance. All sites are reservation only. The campground…

Buckeye Flat Campground

Not currently taking reservations due to past winter storm damage. Open year-round except when weather or safety conditions require a closure. Reservations can be made…

Sunset Campground

The campground is typically open May through August. Individual site reservations can be made up to one month in advance. Group sites are available up…

Crystal Springs Campground

The campground is typically open May through September. Reservations can be made up to two days in advance. All sites are reservation only. Crystal Springs…

Crystal Springs Campground Group Sites

The campground is typically open May through September. Reservations can be made up to four months in advance. All sites are reservation only. Crystal Springs…

South Fork Campground

SOUTH FORK CAMPGROUND IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. South Fork Campground and its access road were heavily and extensively damaged by floods and landslides from…

Lodgepole Campground

The campground is typically open May through November. Reservations can be made up to four months in advance. All sites are reservation only. This large…

Dorst Creek Campground

Not taking reservations in 2026 due to past winter storm damage. When open, individual site reservations can be made up to one month in advance.…

Sentinel Campground

The campground is typically open May through October. Reservations can be made up to four months in advance. All sites are reservation only. This campground…

Canyon View Group Campground

The campground is typically open May through October. All sites are reservation only. Canyon View campground is located on Highway 180, 0.25 miles (400 m)…

Moraine Campground

The campground is typically open May through October. Reservations can be made up to one month in advance. All sites are reservation only. Just 0.75…

Sheep Creek Campground

The campground is typically open May through September. Reservations can be made up to one month in advance. All sites are reservation only. Sheep Creek…

Nearby Cities for Trip Planning

These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.

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