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park. A good rule of thumb is that the higher you go, the cooler it gets. During the summer, temperatures at lower elevations can climb into the 90s (30s Celsius) or higher, and drop into the 50s (10s Celsius) at night. Afternoon temperatures average in the 60s and 70s (upper teens Celsius) in spring and fall, and evenings are usually cool. Afternoon showers are fairly common year-round. Winter days average in the 40s and 50s (10s Celsius) and seldom drop below zero, although much of the land is buried beneath several feet of snow. A particularly wet winter often leads to stunning wildflowers and spectacular waterfalls (and dangerous rivers and creeks) in spring and early summer.

If You Have Only 1 Day

Eighty percent of park visitors come here on day trips—an amazing statistic considering the geography of this place. Three to 4 days will do the park justice, but it is possible to take a short walk through a grove of big trees in one afternoon. Day-trippers should stick to Grant Grove if possible—it's the most accessible area. Coming from the south, Giant Forest is a good alternative, although the trip on the steep and narrow Generals Highway takes some time. Cedar Grove and Mineral King, two other destination points, are a bit farther afield and require an early start or an overnight stay.

Consider driving from Giant Forest to Grant Grove, or vice versa. It's about 2 hours through the park. Get your bearings by starting at a park visitor center—either the Foothills Visitor Center near the Ash Mountain Entrance or the Kings Canyon Visitor Center. You'll see the varied climate within the park as you pass through dense forest to exposed meadows and then through scrubby foothills covered in oaks and underbrush. In spring and summer, wildflowers dot much of the route. The southern portion of the drive runs along the Kaweah River. This route also passes near two large stands of giant sequoias, one at Grant Grove and the other at Giant Forest. Both have easy trails looping through the majestic stands. At Grant Grove, a footpath passes lengthwise through a fallen sequoia.

If You Have More Time

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK

The best-known stand of sequoias in the world is in Giant Forest, part of Sequoia National Park. Named in 1875 by explorer and environmentalist John Muir, this park consists mostly of huge meadows and a large grove of giant trees. At the northern edge of the grove, you can't miss the General Sherman Tree, considered the largest living tree on the planet (although it is neither the tallest nor the widest). It is believed to be about 2,100 years old, and it's still growing. Every year, it adds enough new wood to make another 60-foot-tall tree. The tree is part of the 2-mile Congress Trail, a foot trail that includes groups of trees with names such as the Senate and the House.

Another interesting stop in Giant Forest is Tharp's Log, a cabin named after the first non–American Indian settler in the area, Hale Tharp, who grazed cattle among the giant sequoias and built a summer cabin in the 1860s from a fallen sequoia hollowed by fire. It is the oldest cabin remaining in the park. You'll also encounter Tunnel Log, a toppled tree that you can drive under, and the Beetle Rock Education Center (see "Especially for Kids," later in this chapter).

Nearby Crescent Meadow is a pristine clearing dotted with wildflowers and tall grasses. A trail wraps around the meadow. This is also the trailhead for several backcountry hikes.

Also in the area is Moro Rock, a large granite dome that offers one of the most spectacular views in the Sierra. From atop the rock, the high-elevation, barren mountains in the Kaweah Range appear dark and ominous. Snow caps the ridgeline throughout the year. Although the cliffs appear towering and steep, they are smaller than the summit of the Sierra, which is obscured from view. The walk to the top takes visitors up hundreds of stairs and requires about a half-hour to complete. At the top is a narrow, fenced plateau with endless views. During a full moon, the mountain