Travel Tuesdays: Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Park

Yet another Unique Flora park that I have visited. One of the National Park System's "two-fer" parks, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks are nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountains and subject to some intense winter weather. During our trip in June, we were somewhat limited in how we could approach Sequoia in particular. Indeed, Sequoia itself had only recently opened, and then only partially. The heavy winter snows had created a significant snowmelt issue that had, in some cases, wiped entire parts of roads away or otherwise made them impassable. Generals Highway connecting the main entrance to Sequoia to the bulk of the park and to Kings Canyon was closed. If we had wanted to go to the actual Visitors Center and get some sweet Sequoia merch, we would have added 3 hours roundtrip to get there and back Kings Canyon.

That was really the ongoing theme for a lot of our eastern California adventure in 2023: What was actually open and accessible after the severe winter the Sierra Nevadas had? We didn't know until our trip was underway whether or not any part of Sequoia would be open.

But it worked out: Kings Canyon is still in the Sequoia National Forest, so we got to see some great trees there before we were able to get into actual Sequoia National Park. Yes, it's not quite the same, but it was certainly an excellent preview to what the park itself would be like.

These parks are great to visit when you want nature to overwhelm you. Obviously, the giant trees are easy enough to feel incredibly tiny when standing next to them. Staring up and up and up, looking at branches that are as big as "regular" trees. Looking out at vast mountain canyons, with snowy peaks fading in and out from clouds and fog. And, yes, driving through a "tunnel" carved from a giant felled tree. We came closer than expected to a bear, hearing it growl a groan of a roar and snuffle from across a lush, foggy alpine meadow.

While it was great visiting as part of a broader adventure, I do want to go back and spend more time in these parks. Especially when it's not waking up from a very late winter's nap.