Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: | Travel, California | DONNE TEMPO
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks:
August/27/09 10:54 PM Filed in: Travel
| California
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks:
by JoAnna Haugen, special to Donne Tempo Magazine
Sequoia National Park, California...Site of four of the five largest trees in the world. Home to Mount Whitney—at 14,494 feet, the tallest peak in the
Three of the four largest trees in America.
(Photo by Cory Haugen 6/09)contiguous
48 states. More than 800 miles of marked trails.
Site of more than 200 caves.
Though often overshadowed by Yosemite National Park to the north, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks more than hold their own when it comes to superlatives.
The two parks share a common boundary and span 865,257 acres, and though they are often viewed in the same light, both offer an array of history, wilderness and activity worthy of singular attention.
Sequoia National Park
Most of the action in Sequoia National Park is tucked between the Ash Mountain entrance and Lodgepole Visitor Center. While that’s a lot of ground to cover, begin your exploration of the giant sequoia trees with a stop at the Giant Forest Museum to add context to your experience. Note that conservationist John Muir spent a lot of his time in Sequoia and Kings Canyon, and it’s easy to understand why once you’ve set out for the Giant Forest, known for its meadows and sequoia grove.
The Sierre Nevada Mountains
(photo/Cory Haugen 6-09)The
sequoia grove, arguably the most famous
attraction in the park, is home to the General
Sherman Tree. It is the largest tree in the world
by volume and contains 52,500 cubic feet of wood.
Though not the world’s tallest tree, the General
Sherman Tree is still impressively tall at nearly
275 feet—about the same height as the Statue of
Liberty. Expect to find crowds around this
2,000-year-old tree, so to experience the
grandeur of the sequoias on your own terms, walk
the Congress Trail, a 2-mile loop that passes by
several other equally spectacular and less
crowded trees.
You’ll discover the sheer magnitude and enormity of the splendid sequoias soon enough by the crick you’ll develop in your neck looking for the tops, but for a different perspective on their size, make your way toward Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow. It’s here you’ll find the tunnel log, a fallen sequoia that you can actually drive through. (There is a bypass for larger vehicles.)
While you’re here, stroll through Crescent Meadow, which blooms with colorful wildflowers in the summer. Stay on the trail to preserve the fragile ecosystem and keep your eyes open for bears. You’re in bear country here, and though you should be cautious about your food storage, they are truly spectacular animals to see in the wild.
Tharps’ “log” cabin.
(Photo by Cory Haugen 6/09)Near
Crescent Meadow you’ll find Tharp’s Log, which
belonged to Hale Tharp, the first non-Native
American settler in the area. The fallen, hollow
sequoia log served as a single-room cabin for
Tharp, which he lived in for 30 summers while his
cattle grazed in the nearby meadow.
Also worth a visit is Moro Rock, though expect to run into crowds here as well. To reach the top of this granite dome, you’ll need to climb 400 steep steps, which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. From the top you’ll enjoy a stunning view of the Great Western Divide and appreciate the distance you came to bask in this underrated national park.
Kings Canyon National Park
Of course, if you’re looking for further proof that the visit is worth your time, drive north through Sequoia to Kings Canyon National Park.
You’ll also find sequoia trees in Kings Canyon, the majority of which are located in the Grant Grove. The General Grant Tree is the star of the show. It is the second largest tree in the world and is called “The Nation’s Christmas Tree” for the holiday celebration that takes place near the tree the second Sunday of every December.
A number of other trees can also be found in the grove. To fully understand everything that surrounds you, purchase a copy of the trail guide at the trailhead.
Field of logged Sequioa trees
(Photo by Cory Haugen 7/09)Though
it may be hard to imagine as you gaze at these
oversized beauties, there was a time when the
giant sequoias were viewed as easy timber. For a
peek into the sad but eye-opening world of how
this land was used in the late 1800s, wander
along the Big Stump Trail. Here you’ll find piles
of sawdust, evidence of an old logging camp and
the Mark Twain Stump—the remnant of a tree so
large you need a ladder to climb atop it.
Explore more of the park with a drive on the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway through Sequoia National Forest for breathtaking views of sheer granite cliff faces, plunging valleys and swiftly moving white water in the south fork of the Kings River.
Along the road are many turn-offs and overlooks, all worth your time. A startling number of waterfalls drop into the canyon, and you can see the water in action at Grizzly Falls and Roaring River Falls, right off the road. Be mindful at how powerful this water is, however, and keep a safe distance.
One of many magnificent water falls
(Photo by Cory Haugen 7/09)As
you make your way to Road’s End, the place where
the road literally stops, you will lose many cars
and people. One of the more popular trails in
Kings Canyon is through Zumwalt Meadow. Wile away
a couple hours here as you learn about the forces
of nature at work in this part of the park. From
Zumwalt Meadow you’ll have a great view of North
Dome, which is about the same height as the famed
El Capitan in Yosemite.
Finally, you will have reached Road’s End, but your journey is not over yet. Though many backcountry backpackers take off from this point for treks to Rae Lakes and connections to the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails, there is plenty for a day hiker to do and enjoy.
Depending on river conditions, you can walk the Kanawyer Loop Trail past Muir Rock to Bubbs Creek. If you’re game for a longer, though not particularly difficult trek, consider hiking to Mist Falls, which is approximately nine miles round-trip from the Road’s End parking lot. Keep your eyes open for rattlesnakes along the trail on your way to this roaring waterfall, which is the perfect location for a snack before heading back on the trail in this tranquil corner of one of California’s most magnificent national parks.
Author’s bio: JoAnna Haugen writes from Las Vegas, where she can often be found planning her next great adventure. A former Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya, her travels have taken her from the waters of the Nile River to the rainforests of Australia and the Inca Trail in Peru. Follow her journeys at Kaleidoscopic Wandering.
Twitter: @joanna_haugen
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahaugen
by JoAnna Haugen, special to Donne Tempo Magazine
Sequoia National Park, California...Site of four of the five largest trees in the world. Home to Mount Whitney—at 14,494 feet, the tallest peak in the
Three of the four largest trees in America.
(Photo by Cory Haugen 6/09)
Though often overshadowed by Yosemite National Park to the north, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks more than hold their own when it comes to superlatives.
The two parks share a common boundary and span 865,257 acres, and though they are often viewed in the same light, both offer an array of history, wilderness and activity worthy of singular attention.
Sequoia National Park
Most of the action in Sequoia National Park is tucked between the Ash Mountain entrance and Lodgepole Visitor Center. While that’s a lot of ground to cover, begin your exploration of the giant sequoia trees with a stop at the Giant Forest Museum to add context to your experience. Note that conservationist John Muir spent a lot of his time in Sequoia and Kings Canyon, and it’s easy to understand why once you’ve set out for the Giant Forest, known for its meadows and sequoia grove.
The Sierre Nevada Mountains
(photo/Cory Haugen 6-09)
You’ll discover the sheer magnitude and enormity of the splendid sequoias soon enough by the crick you’ll develop in your neck looking for the tops, but for a different perspective on their size, make your way toward Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow. It’s here you’ll find the tunnel log, a fallen sequoia that you can actually drive through. (There is a bypass for larger vehicles.)
While you’re here, stroll through Crescent Meadow, which blooms with colorful wildflowers in the summer. Stay on the trail to preserve the fragile ecosystem and keep your eyes open for bears. You’re in bear country here, and though you should be cautious about your food storage, they are truly spectacular animals to see in the wild.
Tharps’ “log” cabin.
(Photo by Cory Haugen 6/09)
Also worth a visit is Moro Rock, though expect to run into crowds here as well. To reach the top of this granite dome, you’ll need to climb 400 steep steps, which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. From the top you’ll enjoy a stunning view of the Great Western Divide and appreciate the distance you came to bask in this underrated national park.
Kings Canyon National Park
Of course, if you’re looking for further proof that the visit is worth your time, drive north through Sequoia to Kings Canyon National Park.
You’ll also find sequoia trees in Kings Canyon, the majority of which are located in the Grant Grove. The General Grant Tree is the star of the show. It is the second largest tree in the world and is called “The Nation’s Christmas Tree” for the holiday celebration that takes place near the tree the second Sunday of every December.
A number of other trees can also be found in the grove. To fully understand everything that surrounds you, purchase a copy of the trail guide at the trailhead.
Field of logged Sequioa trees
(Photo by Cory Haugen 7/09)
Explore more of the park with a drive on the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway through Sequoia National Forest for breathtaking views of sheer granite cliff faces, plunging valleys and swiftly moving white water in the south fork of the Kings River.
Along the road are many turn-offs and overlooks, all worth your time. A startling number of waterfalls drop into the canyon, and you can see the water in action at Grizzly Falls and Roaring River Falls, right off the road. Be mindful at how powerful this water is, however, and keep a safe distance.
One of many magnificent water falls
(Photo by Cory Haugen 7/09)
Finally, you will have reached Road’s End, but your journey is not over yet. Though many backcountry backpackers take off from this point for treks to Rae Lakes and connections to the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails, there is plenty for a day hiker to do and enjoy.
Depending on river conditions, you can walk the Kanawyer Loop Trail past Muir Rock to Bubbs Creek. If you’re game for a longer, though not particularly difficult trek, consider hiking to Mist Falls, which is approximately nine miles round-trip from the Road’s End parking lot. Keep your eyes open for rattlesnakes along the trail on your way to this roaring waterfall, which is the perfect location for a snack before heading back on the trail in this tranquil corner of one of California’s most magnificent national parks.
Author’s bio: JoAnna Haugen writes from Las Vegas, where she can often be found planning her next great adventure. A former Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya, her travels have taken her from the waters of the Nile River to the rainforests of Australia and the Inca Trail in Peru. Follow her journeys at Kaleidoscopic Wandering.
Twitter: @joanna_haugen
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahaugen
|