Sequoia & Kings Canyon

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are two adjoining parks managed as one. While we had planned on being here earlier on our way north through California, the weather was way too cold for a bunch of Texans (20 degrees at night – nope), so we initially bypassed it for the warmer coast and then back tracked a bit south to check it out once it warmed up a bit. 

Kings Canyon is the northern park so we started there, staying at the Kings Canyon RV Park. Fun fact, Matt’s mom, who worked at Kings Canyon after college, stayed at this same park, as it was employee housing then.

Home to the General Grant Grove of towering sequoias and the General Grant Tree (a natural favorite for us), we spent a morning gazing in wonder at the height of these literal giants. Bonus was discovering we could explore and crawl through the long tunnels of the hollowed cores of fallen sequoias. 

But the biggest delight of the trip was having our great cruising friends, Rusty and Linda of “Sea Yawl Later”, drive all the way from Malibu to join us for a few days! Not only did we enjoy catching up with them in person, but Rusty carries a trailer of toys, so the kids had a blast getting to cruise around on the golf cart looking for the goslings at the nearby pond.

We also ventured deep into Kings Canyon to experience Grizzly Falls, which, due to the large snow melt was like stepping into a million sprinklers in full force. Mist and water was spraying all the way to the parking lot 400 feet from the falls. Donning rubber boots and raincoats we ventured right up the the base of the falls (getting soaked in the process) making it the closest to a significant waterfall any of us had ever been!

Relaxing around the fire pit, recalling memories of our cruising days and sharing meals together wrapped up our sweet time together in Kings Canyon. We parted ways and headed to the Sequoia entrance of the parks, due south another hour and half. 

Our visit to the southern entrance gave us the chance to earn Jr. Ranger badges and hike through the Giant Forest to the General Sherman Tree, the world’s largest tree by volume. A sight to experience to actually believe and one that photos just cannot capture its splendor.

Next stop: Yosemite National Park!