Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (Fodor's) - Fodor's [35]
HISTORIC SITES
Fallen Monarch.
This Sequoia’s hollow base was used in the second half of the 19th century as a home for settlers, a saloon, and even to stable U.S. Cavalry horses. As you walk through it (assuming entry is permitted, which has not always been the case in recent years), check out how little the wood has decayed, and imagine yourself tucked safely inside, sheltered from a storm or protected from the searing heat. | Trailhead 1 mi north of Grant Grove Visitor Center 93633.
Gamlin Cabin.
What you see is only borderline historical, despite its being on the National Register of Historic Places. This modest lodging that the Gamlin brothers built in 1872 has been moved and rebuilt several times, and a few brain-cramped visitors have carved their initials into its sides. This well-intentioned replica depicts what once served as U.S. Cavalry storage space and, during the first decade of the 20th century, a ranger station. | Trailhead 1 mi north of Grant Grove Visitor Center 93633.
Knapp’s Cabin.
Stop here not so much for the cabin itself, but as an excuse to get out of the car to stretch and ogle the scenery. George Knapp, a Santa Barbara businessman, stored gear in this small wooden structure when he commissioned fishing trips into the canyon in the 1920s. | Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, 2 mi east of Cedar Grove Village turnoff 93633.
SCENIC STOPS
Canyon View.
There are many places along the scenic byway to pull over for sightseeing, but this special spot showcases evidence of the canyon’s glacial history. Here, maybe more than anywhere else, you’ll understand why John Muir compared Kings Canyon vistas with those in Yosemite. | Kings Canyon Scenic Byway (Rte. 180), 1 mi east of the Cedar Grove turnoff 93633.
General Grant Tree.
President Coolidge proclaimed this to be "the nation’s Christmas tree," and 30 years later President Eisenhower designated it as a living shrine to all Americans who have died in wars. Bigger at its base than the General Sherman Tree, it tapers rather quickly and is estimated to be the world’s second- or third-largest sequoia (by volume). | Trailhead 1 mi north of Grant Grove Visitor Center 93633.
Redwood Mountain Grove.
If you are serious about sequoias, you should consider visiting this, the world’s largest big-tree grove. Within its 2,078 acres are 2,172 sequoias whose diameters exceed 10 feet. Your options range from the distant (pulling off the Generals Highway onto an overlook) to the intimate (taking a 6- to 10-mi hike down into its richest regions, which include two of the world’s 25 heaviest trees). | Drive 5 mi south of Grant Grove on Generals Hwy. (Rte. 198), then turn right at Quail Flat; follow it 1½ mi to the Redwood Canyon trailhead 93633.
VISITOR CENTERS
Cedar Grove Visitor Center.
Off the main road and behind the Sentinel Campground, this small ranger station has books and maps, plus information about hikes and other things to do in the area. | Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, 30 mi east of park entrance 93633 | 559/565–3793 | mid-May–late September, daily 9–5.
Grant Grove Visitor Center.
Acquaint yourself with the varied charms of this two-section national park by watching a 15-minute film and perusing the center’s exhibits on the canyon, sequoias, and human history. Books, maps, and free wilderness permits are available, as are updates on the parks’ weather and air-quality conditions. | Generals Hwy. (Rte. 198), 3 mi northeast of Rte. 180, Big Stump entrance 93633 | 559/565–4307 | Summer, daily 8–6; mid-May–late Sept., daily 9–4:30; winter, daily 9:30–4:30.
KINGS CANYON IN ONE DAY
Enter the park via Route 180, having spent the night in Fresno. Better yet, wake up already in Grant Grove Village, perhaps in the John Muir Lodge. Stock up for a picnic with takeout food from the Grant Grove Restaurant, or purchase prepackaged food from the nearby store. Drive less than a mile to see