Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park are home to both true natural giants and some of the United States’ most beautiful scenery. These parks are connected and can both be visited in one trip. Here are 15 great things you can do at these parks.

1. Visit General Sherman and the Giant Forest

General Sherman is a famous giant sequoia tree found in the Sequoia National Park in California. General Sherman is the largest tree on the planet, measured by volume. It is 275 feet tall, and at the base has a diameter of more than 36 feet. Mind you, Sequoia tree trunks are still wide higher up.

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Climb Moro Rock

Moro Rock is a famous dome-shaped granite rock formation in Sequoia National Park. It is ensconced in the heart of the park. Specifically, you’ll find it at the very head of (big surprise) Moro Creek between Crescent Meadow and Giant Forest. A special stairway that was cut into and poured on to the rock itself. It was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.

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See Mineral King

Once mainly inhabited by the Yokut tribe, Mineral King is situated in the southern portion of Sequoia National Park. It is a subalpine glacial valley at the East Fork of the Kaweah River which flows northwest. This valley is reported to be popular with hikers and backpackers. It can be accessed via a narrow,long and winding road.

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Walk or Drive Through Famous Tunnel Log

Tunnel Log is another popular attraction in Sequoia National Park. It was once a tree until it fell across Crescent Meadow Road in 1937. It was 21 feet in diameter at its base and 275 feet high prior to its collapse. The big tunnel was cut through it back in the summer of 1938.

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Visit Mount Whitney

Mount Whitney’s west slope is situated in Sequoia National Park. (The mountain’s summit is actually in the southern terminus of the popular John Muir Trail.) It’s the tallest mountain in the contiguous US. The mountain is 14,505 feet high. You can reach it by the Whitney Portal Trailhead which is 13 miles east of the little town of Lone Pine.

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Explore Crystal Cave

Not to be confused with the Crystal Cave near Kutztown, Pennsylvania, this Crystal Cave can be found close to the previously-mentioned Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park. It is said by some sources to be “an excellent example of a marble cavern.” Due to the fragility of the formations found there, it is presently only accessible via a guided tour.

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Go To Buck Rock Lookout

Buck Rock Lookout looks out over both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Found in the land of the giant sequoias, it is perched on a large granite dome. It reaches a height of 8,502 feet. Here you can visit one of the last Fire Lookout Towers in which a friendly, helpful park ranger actually lives.

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See Hume Lake

Next is the reservoir known as Hume Lake which can be found in the famous Sierra Nevada ensconced within the Sequoia National Forest. Specifically, it is located on Tenmile Creek, adjacent to the little community of Hume. The lake’s surface elevation is 5,200 feet. You can reach it from California Route 180. It’s approximately 50 miles from Kings Canyon National Park’s west entrance.

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Hike Crescent Meadow Loop

The popular Crescent Meadow Loop Trail is situated between Moro Rock and the beautiful, crescent-shaped Crescent Meadows in Sequoia National Park. The hiking trail is also near Three Rivers. The moderately trafficked trail is 1.8 miles long and is great for birding, walking and nature trips too. The best time to visit is from April to October.

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Hit The High Sierra Trail

The well-known High Sierra trail is a challenging hiking trail found in Sequoia National Park. It stretches across the famous Sierra Nevada from west to east. Your journey begins at the trailhead in the park’s Crescent Meadows. Should you make it to the end, you will find yourself more than 72 miles away at Whitney Portal.

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Cruise Kings Canyon Scenic Byway

You begin in the scenic Sierra Nevada foothills not far from Dunlap. The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is a 50-mile route along Highway 180. It takes you through the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park and concludes at Roads End. While the distance is comparatively short, you’ll take your time and stop along the way.

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Marvel At The General Grant Tree

You’ll find the giant General Grant Tree within Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park. It’s the biggest giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) in the entire grove. You can walk the one-third-mile paved loop trail to see the tree. You can also see other impressive features such as the Centennial Stump, the Fallen Monarch, and the Gamlin Cabin.

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Experience Boyden Cavern

The less-explored Boyden Cavern is ensconced in Kings Canyon at the well-known Sequoia National Monument. It’s bordered by popular Kings Canyon National Park. This solutional cave of Mesozoic marble is a great show cave that includes numerous types of natural speleothems, such as some rare “shield” formations. Veteran visitors say it’s a convenient stop for a one-hour tour.

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“Fall” For Grizzly Falls

Not to be confused with the 1999 movie of the same name, this Grizzly Falls is situated in Sequoia National Park. You can reach the base of this 80-foot fall by an easy, short one-tenth mile round trip walk from the pleasant Grizzly Falls Picnic Area. If you have pets, dogs are welcome here too.

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Stop At Road’s End

Finally, we aptly end this article with Road’s End. Road’s End can be found in Kings Canyon National Park. It’s the official starting point of the 41-mile Rae Lakes Loop hike. The best time to explore this area is in the summer and fall. Be sure to visit the popular cliff-jumping and swimming spot at Muir Rock and the beach upriver too.

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