WEST COAST OF THE USA STAGE 2: SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON

On our second day of the route by car along the west coast of the United States we visit these two parks where the largest trees on the planet are concentrated.

Here we tell you everything you need to Plan your visit to Kings Canyon and Sequoia and everything to see and do.

The route through these two national parks that are practically linked is in an inverted C shape, so the entrance and exit are at different points. You can enter through the southern or northern part, we visit it from north to south and we believe it is the best (the southern road is quite steep and it is better to go down).

Therefore we recommend entering on Highway 180 arriving from Fresno (especially if you come to visit Yosemite) and exit on 198 through Three Rivers and towards Visalia.

Once inside the park, there are some short trails to visit the most important points, they are secillos and accessible to all (including the 350 steps to climb the Moro Rock).

The road, except at the entrance to Kings Canyon and the exit from Sequoia that has quite a slope and in this last part there are quite a few curves (but come on, nothing worrying) is simple and without major complications.

If you go north on Highway 180 you first visit the Kings Canyon, which we focus on the part of Grant Grove (where General Grant is). To get there there is a turnoff to the left and you have to follow a road for a few miles. Then you return along that same road to a junction that announces the detour to Sequoia. Here you have to follow General Highhay to the south, which goes through the most important points. It has no loss.

The best thing about this park is that for some places, such as General Sherman, Crescent Meadow or Moro Rock, there are free buses that run from the car parks to the sites of interest and come in very well!

→ Maps of the parks

These are some of the most important points of interest in the parks:

1. General Grant

In the same parking lot you are already waiting for a small group of huge redwoods, perhaps the most photogenic being all together and in community. But the one that takes the fame (and it is not for less) is General Grant, one of the three largest trees that exists on Earth, with a height of 81 meters and a width of 12 meters, and the oldest , with 1700 years of life.

To arrive there is a loop path of 0.8 km and 30 minutes (the Grant Tree Trail) that passes through this redwood forest. General Grant is about halfway, although we can first walk inside the Fallen Monarch, a fallen and hollow redwood where we will begin to have an idea of ​​how gigantic these trees are.

2. Kings Canyon lookout

On the General Highway and on the way to Sequoia National Park we find a very cool viewpoint over Kings Canyon Park. Being already in summer and in full heat wave from here you can see the white tops of Sierra Nevada in the background.

3. General Sherman

This redwood has the title of being the tree with the largest volume of wood in the world (already, the measurement is somewhat rare, but everything is to give it some honor). A few meters before arriving you can step on the reproduction of the plant of its trunk and it is truly immense!

The walking route is short (less than 1 km) downhill and you can see other huge trees, such as a very close couple that rises to the sky without separating from each other or at the end of the path cross the door they have opened in a fallen one.

To make this visit it is best to leave the car at General Sherman Parking at the top (eye, do not be confused and leave it in the handicapped area that is further down the main road), walk to the end (where there is the redwood with the door in its trunk) and there take a shuttle to take you back to the parking lot.

4. Big Trees Trail and Congress Trail

If you have time in this area there are a couple of trails that enter the deepest forest, such as the Congress Trail, a 3.2 km loop that starts in the Sherman tree; or the 1 km Big Trees Trail on paved road that you can start at the Giant Forest Museum.

5. Giant Forest Museum

A good place to take a break in the middle of the park and learn more about these amazing trees. Also from here the buses leave to go to visit the Tunnel Log, the Crescent Meadow and the Moro Rock and it will be a mandatory stop if you are visiting the park on the weekend, as three places are closed to traffic on those days and they will only be accessible in bus

6. Tunnel Log

The only redwood that you can cross by car! It is a fallen redwood in which they have opened a tunnel through which they can circulate. The free bus only stops here on the weekend (when you can't get there in your own car) and is only open in summer. We, very dumb, we had a great time !!

Photo from Wikimedia.org

7. Crescent Meadow

Another area where you can see concentrations of these huge trees. There are several trails that start here, such as the one that reaches the 1.6 km Tharp's Log, a cabin built in a fallen redwood; or the 97 km High Sierra Trail (take it now!) which, if you have noses, takes you to Mount Whitney of 4,419 meters (the highest of the 48 states in the southern US). You can arrive in your own car (daily) or on the free bus from the museum.

Tharp's Log. Wikipedia.org photo

8. Moro Rock

It was the big surprise of the day. This huge granite mole at 2,050 meters high dominates the park from the sky. From the top you have simply spectacular 360 degree views. But first you have to ascend 350 steps on the side of this rock, sometimes having the cliff half a meter from your foot, but it will be worth it. Actually it goes up quite easy, the worst is if you suffer from vertigo.

We had read that to reach the beginning of the steps you had to walk for several kilometers. Nothing is further from reality: there is a road that reaches the parking lot right next to the rock, yes, on weekends or days indicated this road is cut and is only accessible by free bus. If you are on the weekend, you will have to park your car in the Giant Forest Museum and take the gray line (number two).

9. Amphitheater Point

Having in the retina the views from the Moro Rock, this viewpoint did not call our attention especially, but if you want to say goodbye to the Sequoia National Park it is a good place to do it (also if you want to put your head on your shoulders again after so many curves) .

- Always check the updates of the official website about the state of the parks, access roads, weather forecasts, etc.

- Download the map of Canyon Park and Sequoia National Parks to prepare your itinerary.

- At the entrance to the park where the pass is paid or controlled they give you a map and some more info with which to plan the visit. It is not necessary that you approach the Visitor Centers, but if you have any doubts it never hurts.

- Along the park there are toilets, snacks and drinking fountains where you can refill the bottle.

- In the park live bears that can give you a scare if you spend the night here. At night do not leave food outside if you do not want to be visited at dawn.

- Do not feed any animals!

- In most spaces pets are not allowed.

- You can camp in the park but only in the places intended for it and prior registration (there may be no places, but we do not know), reservation and payment. There are also several accommodations where you can book the nights.

- If you are visiting the park by motorhome, you should know that there are some areas with limitation of length (usually 22 feet).

- Whether you have paid this ticket or if you have the America the Beautiful pass, you will have to put the ticket (or pass) in a visible place when you leave the car in a parking lot.

We did it in a house in the town ofBakersfield, on the way to Death Valley. We rent it with Airbnb and came out for € 114. The house has two rooms and is very new. The best thing is that it is in an urbanization with pool and two free-use barbecues! It is a good option if you travel with several people, like us, although there are many other alternatives on Airbnb. You can also get a € 25 discount If you make a new account from this link.

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Video: USA 14 GIORNO: Sequoia National Park 3 parte (April 2024).