Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (Fodor's) - Fodor's [44]
Potwisha Campground.
$$ | On the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River, this midsize campground with attractive surroundings sits at 2,100 feet—which means it gets no snow in winter and can be hotter in summer than campgrounds at higher elevations. RVs up to 30 feet long can camp here. Pros: pretty setting; warm at night. Cons: you have a steep drive to get from here to the park’s main attractions. | Generals Hwy., 4 mi north of Foothills Visitor Center 93262 | 559/565–3341 | 42 tent/RV sites | Flush toilets, dump station, drinking water, bear boxes, fire grates, picnic tables, public telephone | Reservations not accepted | No credit cards.
South Fork Campground.
¢–$ | At 3,600 feet, this tiny campground is at the southernmost corner of Sequoia. At the end of a dirt road, it best accommodates tent campers. Pros: rarely full; campers here aren’t amateurs; quiet. Cons: so remote it might make you nervous; not near any of the parks’ main attractions. | End of South Fork Rd., 12 mi east of Generals Hwy. (Rte. 198) 93262 | No phone | 10 tent sites | Pit toilets, running water (non-potable), bear boxes, fire grates, picnic tables | Reservations not accepted | No credit cards.
KINGS CANYON
Cedar Grove Lodge.
$$ | Backpackers like to stay here on the eve of long treks into the High Sierra wilderness, so bedtimes tend to be early and quiet. The lodge is not attractive (aside from the natural beauty that surrounds it), but it is the only indoor accommodation in this part of Kings Canyon National Park. Each room has two queen-size beds, and three have kitchenettes and patios. Pros: a definite step up from camping in terms of comfort. Cons: impersonal; not everybody agrees it’s clean enough. | Kings Canyon Scenic Byway | Sequoia Kings Canyon Park Services Co., 5755 E. Kings Canyon Rd., Suite 101, Fresno, CA 93727 | 559/335–5500 or 866/522–6966 | www.sequoia-kingscanyon.com | 21 rooms | In-room: no phone, kitchen (some), no TV. In-hotel: laundry facilities | AE, D, MC, V | Closed mid-Oct.–mid-May.
Grant Grove Cabins.
$–$$ | Some of the wood-panel cabins here have heaters, electric lights, and private baths, but most have woodstoves, battery lamps, and shared baths. Those who don’t mind roughing it might opt for the tent cabins. The Grant Grove Restaurant, a family-style coffee shop, serves American standards for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In winter, only the cabins that have private baths remain open. Pros: warm, woodsy feel; clean. Cons: can be difficult to walk up to if you’re not in decent physical shape; rather costly for what you get. | Kings Canyon Scenic Byway in Grant Grove Village | Sequoia Kings Canyon Park Services Co., 5755 E. Kings Canyon Rd., Suite 101, Fresno, CA 93727 | 559/335–5500 or 866/522–6966 | www.sequoia-kingscanyon.com | 36 cabins, 9 with bath; 19 tent cabins | In-room: no a/c, no phone, no TV. In-hotel: restaurant | AE, D, MC, V.
John Muir Lodge.
$$$ | This modern, timber-sided lodge is nestled in a wooded area in the hills above Grant Grove Village and offers year-round accommodations. The rooms and suites all have queen-size beds and private baths, and there is a comfortable common room where you can play cards and board games, or peruse a loaner book. Look above the stone fireplace at a giant painting of Muir himself, shown relaxing on a rock by a meadow. Pros: common room stays warm; it’s far enough from the main road to be quiet. Cons: check-in is down in the village. | Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, ¼ mi north of Grant Grove Village | Sequoia Kings Canyon Park Services Co., 5755 E. Kings Canyon Rd., Suite 101, Fresno, CA 93727 | 559/335–5500 or 866/522–6966 | www.sequoia-kingscanyon.com | 24 rooms, 6 suites | In-room: no a/c, no TV | AE, D, MC, V.
CAMPING
Azalea Campground.
¢–$ | Of the three campgrounds in the Grant Grove area (the others are Sunset and Crystal Springs), Azalea is the only one open year-round. It sits at 6,500 feet amid giant sequoias, yet is close to restaurants, stores, and other facilities. Some sites at Azalea are wheelchair accessible. The campground