Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
The largest trees on Earth, a canyon deeper than the Grand Canyon in places and the highest peak in the lower 48.
Photo: 25or6to4 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sequoia and Kings Canyon guide: the General Sherman Tree, Giant Forest, Moro Rock, the General Grant Tree, the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, vehicle limits, winter chains and the best season.
Sequoia: what to expect
Two neighboring parks in California’s southern Sierra Nevada, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, are run together as one. Sequoia, created in 1890, is the second-oldest national park in the country, and together they protect groves of giant sequoias, the largest trees on Earth by volume, as well as Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48, which is climbed from the east side.
In the Giant Forest, the General Sherman Tree rises about 84 meters and is more than 2,000 years old. The Congress Trail loops among dozens of other giants, and the roughly 350 steps up Moro Rock, a granite dome, lead to a view over the Great Western Divide.
The Generals Highway links Sequoia with Grant Grove in Kings Canyon, home of the General Grant Tree, the country’s official Christmas tree. From there, the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway drops into a glacier-carved canyon to Roads End; this road is open only from late spring to fall.
The Generals Highway between Potwisha and Giant Forest is steep and full of tight curves, so the park advises against vehicles longer than 22 feet on that stretch. In winter, chains are often required, and a free shuttle runs in the Giant Forest area in summer.
Sequoia: top things to do
- 1The General Sherman Tree
- 2The stairs to the top of Moro Rock
- 3The General Grant Tree in Grant Grove
- 4The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway to Roads End
Sequoia: best time to visit
Late May to October. In winter, snow closes the road into Kings Canyon and chains are often required.
Sequoia: insider tips
- Ride the free summer shuttle in the Giant Forest; parking near the General Sherman Tree is limited.
- Leave long RVs and trailers at a campground below Potwisha.
- Fill up before you drive in, because gas inside the parks is limited.
Sequoia: fees, passes and parking
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Private vehicle | $35 per vehicle, 7 days |
| Motorcycle | $30 per vehicle, 7 days |
| Per person (on foot or bike) | $20 per person, 7 days |
| Annual pass for this park | $70 per year |
- America the Beautiful pass accepted: $80 a year for US residents, $250 for others (also covers the $100 fee).
- Non-US residents aged 16+: $100 extra each, unless they hold an annual pass.
- Vehicles over 22 feet are not advised between Potwisha and Giant Forest; chains are often required in winter.
- US residents enter free on a few fee-free days.
Checked Oct 26, 2026. Official prices
Gas and fast charging nearby
5 gas stations within 40 km
- 12.1 km Stony Creek Gasoline diesel
- 20.6 km Chevron
- 20.9 km Shell
- 27.1 km Hume Lake Gas Station diesel
- 29.0 km Independent
No fast (DC) chargers within 40 km; plan to arrive with enough range.
OpenStreetMap data, Oct 28, 2026.
Sequoia in photos
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