Date of trip: June 2006

This trip was a LONG time coming. A few years ago my Dad casually mentioned to me that he would love to do a Sequoia/Yosemite trip. It was somewhat close to the summer and he thought it would be a good trip for the season. I knew from my experience at the Grand Canyon that National Parks are very popular during the summer months and lodge accommodations have to be booked at least a year in advance. At that time only camping was available which horrified everyone except my Dad. I told him that if he would wait, I would plan the trip for the following year and make sure we got to stay in the parks, in the lodges and got to eat at the historic restaurants too. He agreed and after year of planning, we were off! It was a family trip so in addition to me and Will in the pictures, you will see my dad, Chris, my mom, Mary, my sister, Meaghan and my brother Chris.

Highlights:

-The coolest thing about coming here is that you get to see two parks in one. Sequoia and King’s Canyon are connected, but so different and only visiting one is really cheating yourself. While Sequoia is full of forest and giant trees, King’s Canyon is rocks, canyons and waterfalls. The contrast is beautiful.

-The trees in Sequoia! Duh! Big isn’t the word…I mean you may think you’ve seen a big tree, but nothing compares to these. It’s hard to describe the size, but it would take 20 people holding hands to circle some of these giants. The must sees are the General Sherman Tree, the largest living thing in the world by volume, the Tunnel Log, which you can drive through, Grant’s Grove and the Big Trees Trail in the Giant Forest.

-Crystal Cave is a nice, cool trip out of the forest. It’s about 30 degrees cooler inside and you are treated to some beautiful marble formations that look more like sculptures in a museum than rock. A cave is a living organism and evidence of this is everywhere in the form of acidic rivers and pools shaping crystal-like structures. You can take pictures, but don’t touch as the oils on our skin can disturb the sensitive balance required to maintain the cave’s beauty. One last thing, you can only visit the cave on a tour and tickets must be purchased at the visitor’s center which is a 45 minute drive from the cave’s entrance, so plan accordingly.

-The top of Moro Rock is the place to go for the best view of Sequoia. There are nearly 400 steep steps on the granite dome that will take you to the summit. It’s not the easiest of climbs, but the breathtaking sight is worth the effort.

-The most beautiful sections of King’s Canyon can only be reached on foot. The hikes range in difficulty and duration with some taking several days to complete. A couple of easy ones that we did are the short walks to Roaring River Falls and Grizzly Falls and the loop around Zumwalt Meadow which takes you through rocks and over bridges. Just watch out for snakes in the Meadow…my Dad almost stepped on one!

Tips:

-Plan ahead, plan ahead, plan ahead. I really can’t stress this enough. America loves their National Parks and so do Europeans who have ample vacation time. You can avoid so many headaches if you do your homework and make reservations early. Some roads and attractions are closed during the winter. Decide ahead of time what you want to see so you won’t miss anything.

-Most of the dining options in Sequoia/King’s Canyon are only open during the summer. The exception is the Wuksachi Lodge dining room which is wonderful but expensive. I suggest eating there at least one night…be sure to make a reservation. There is a market open year round where you can buy food to prepare in your rooms, which are equipped with a fridge. Another nice place to eat is Stony Creek Lodge which has a casual pizza counter and is located right outside Sequoia. The pizza is absolutely delicious!

-Get a convertible. It’s not just to look cool. If you really want to enjoy some of the most scenic drives in America, you are going to see a lot more without a roof. Just be sure to wear a hat and sunscreen during the hot hours so you don’t get burned.

-Bring bug spray. It is a forest and there are mosquitoes. Nothing ruins a trip like West Nile virus!

-Be bear aware. Don’t leave anything aromatic in your car. The bears will bust in at just the sight of a grocery bag….I’ve seen the pictures to prove it.

-Be camera ready. Make sure you have enough film, batteries and memory to take a ton of pictures as I promise you will want to.

-Get inspired. People cared enough to save these parks for future generations…that means us. We don’t have a right to deny those that come after us the same courtesy. Everyone deserves a chance to experience the beauty and serenity of our National Parks. Follow the rules, appreciate nature and think of the little ways you can make a difference.

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

Sequoia/King’s Canyon Links:
The National Park Service Sequoia/King’s Canyon Page
Sequoia National Park