Two national parks adjacent to each other are Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park in High Sierra in California. Both parks offer outdoor adventures, stunning sights, and majestic trees.
Kings Canyon National Park
About an hour or so from Yosemite to the south is Kings Canyon National Park. After our 4 day stunt in Yosemite, we traveled to the Big Stump Entrance via hi-way 180. As always, the first stop is the visitor center. Get all the information you need, a bathroom break, get maps and directions. Next to the visitor center is the grant village which has a gift shop, restaurants, and washroom. I would recommend getting food here and bringing some before venturing deep into the canyon.
General Grant Tree
It’s a mile from here to the General Grant Tree parking and about a quarter of a mile to the General Grant Tree- the world’s second largest tree after the General Sherman’s in Sequoia. It’s an easy, paved hike. While stopping mid hike, go through the trunk of The Fallen Monarch- A giant sequoia that fell, ? hundred years ago.
Giant sequoias are resistant to decay, so their remains can linger for a long period of time if undisturbed. Native Americans from long ago used it for shelter.
Take the Grant Tree Trail, to also wander to the Gamblin Cabin, still standing and whole, even after decades from its construction.
Boyden Cavern
After the and lunch at the grant village, we drove for 40 minutes deep into the canyon, passing a windy, winding road for our Boyden Cavern tour. Named after Putnam Boyden, a logger who surveyed and open the tour in 1900s. An awe to behold a marble cavern. Pitch dark without any source of light. Once lit artificially, presents a variety of stalactites, stalagmites, and an underground dried up river/waterways. It operates in the spring and is closed the rest of the year. You will need to book ahead. https://boydencavern.com
Next to the Kings River, is the parking area. A short, about 10 minute but steep hike to the entrance of the cave. The tour is about an hour where you will walk through the cave. Wear layering clothes, it’s always chilly inside the cave no matter the temperature outside.
Waterfalls
Drive further down the hi way, about 5 miles, to the Grizzly Falls Picnic Area. The falls is a 2 minute walk from the picnic area. Visit during spring for a more majestic waterfall.
Further down from the grizzly falls, about 12 minute drive is the the Roaring River Falls. Waterfall cascading over granite monoliths into a rock pool, accessed by a flat 1/4-mi. path.
We did not have time to drive further to Zumwalt Meadow. The sun is setting, and it’s dangerous to be driving in the dark.
Parks INN Bed& Breakfast (aka Plantation B&B)
A quaint, friendly, informal bed and breakfast accommodation, tucked in a beautiful, quiet grounds in the foothills of Sierra Nevada Mountains. Every room has its own vibe. And the gourmet breakfast is superb! And only 16 miles away from Sequoia Nat’l Park.
Sequoia Nat’l Park
Home to some of the tallest trees in the world, Sequoia National Park puts humility in perspective. With it’s gigantic trees towering above you, you’ll feel your problems small in comparison.
I had the same thoughts when we visited Mariposa Grove in Yosemite 7 months prior. That was what opened my insignificant whine about life and its inequality.
These magnificent, ancient trees in its stillness and silence, calms the soul and makes you realize how small your issues are. Nature does heal.
About 25 minutes away from our air BNB, The Parks INN, we again drove past a couple of rivers, climbing to 14,000 ft. through windy, winding, picturesque mountain side. Before reaching the park entrance itself, stop by the look out where you’ll marvel at the Moro Rock (1 ‘r”), at a distance. Do not confuse this with the Morro Rock in Morro Bay.
Moro Rock Trail-Isolated, dome-shaped granite formation with a rock-cut stairway to the panoramic summit. It is a 0.5 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Sequoia National Park.
Only 177 feet elevation gain, but remember you are starting from a high elevation point. It may be a short hike, but you definitely need water and sun block. While admiring the summit and the mountain ranges, make sure to look back to the hi-way that you drove to get there. It’s awesome to see how much driving was made winding through the mountainside to get to this place.
There are a lot of trails and sequoia trees groves that you can visit in the area, but make sure you drive your car to the iconic Tunnel Log, in the Giant Forrest, along Moro Rock Road.
Last notes before you venture. Pack water and snacks. No store or anything like that in the park or anywhere during the drive. And bring your medicine too. It is anyway, a long way back if you need instant relief relief from sunburn or head or stomachaches, or even a little allergy. Other than that, GO ENJOY NATURE.
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