"Sequoia National Park" a Sequoia National Park Travel Page by M0B1US

Travel along the impressive Kaweah River Valley as you climb into the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Foothills Visitor Centre is an excellent place to get information about the park and is a useful rest & refreshments stop after the long journey to reach the national park as there are plenty of picnicking spots around the centre.

Another five miles further up the road as it leaves the river valley and starts its winding mountain side climb, the road switches back to reveal the river valley that you have just come up laid out below you. This is Amphitheatre Point lookout, with enough parking that you can stop to take in the view.

A little further along on the left is the turn off to the Crystal Caves which are impressive Marble Caverns.

The next major sight is the Moro Rock, a huge plug of Granite thrusting up out of the surrounding forest. To reach the top, it has a steep 1/4 mile staircase which climbs over 300' (91.4 meters) to the summit of this dome. At the top, you will have fantastic views of the western half of Sequoia National Park and the Great Western Divide.

Of course, the main reason for visiting this National Park is to see the World's largest living things, the Giant Sequoias which are only found in the Sierra Nevadas at an altitude of 5-7,000ft. The best examples of these gargantuans are at the Giant Forest, General Sherman is the largest of these...

Set out early to beat the rush, check out the Sequoia and Kings Canyon's Virtual Visitor Center to plan your journey and make the most of the park.

Be aware that if you're visiting in Winter (as we did), many of the major attractions such as Moro Rock, Mineral Rock and the Crystal Cave are not open at this time of year. Also remember to bring tyre chains in case of bad weather.

Winter is still an excellent time to visit as you practically get the park to yourself and revel in the quiet majesty of standing amongst these giants of the natural World.

Another tip to remember in the winter is that it gets dark early and what is a picturesque trip up in daylight becomes a treacherous route fraught with danger on the way down in the darkness. Remember to have blankets and other emergency supplies such as food and drink in the car just in case.

Take route 198 into the National Park by Car, remember to fill up with petrol before making the journey as local petrol prices are greatly inflated. Try the many hiking trails, Mineral King along the East Fork of the Kaweah River is particularly recommended for excellent hiking trails with or without hired pack-trains of horses or mules.

During summer it is possible to hike across mountain meadows all the way across to Mt Whitney, the highest mountain in the lower 48 states. Winter visitors can ski cross-country over a number of marked trails, or by going unmarked if experienced enough.