Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon

238 Pages·2010·18.99 MB·English

by  Fodor's [Fodor’s Travel]

Choosing a Park
Regional Map
Park Highlights
Table of Contents

CHOOSING A PARK
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
Previous Chapter | Next Chapter | Contents
Location: Central California
The 748,000-acre park is north of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and
south of Lake Tahoe. Traffic arriving from San Francisco (four hours or 195 mi
away), Los Angeles (six hours or 313 mi away), and other points west and south
funnels in on three busy two-lane highways; from the east, only Highway 120
crosses the Sierra into the park, but it’s closed late fall through spring.
Known for: The soaring granite monliths of Half Dome and El Capitan, and
shimmering waterfalls.
Biggest crowds: June through September
Accessibility: Dozens of famed features lie along paved roads. A free
(accessible) shuttle on the valley’s flat floor links attractions and services.
Why kids like it: There are great ranger programs and campfires in the
summer, and ice-skating in the winter.
What hikers say: With 800 mi of trails before you, leave the crowds behind
and head for the high country trails around Tuolumne Meadows and along Tioga
Road.
BEST FOR
Grinning and "Bearing" It: American black bears are the only bruins left in
Yosemite (the California grizzly was hunted to extinction in the early 20th
century). Today, the park is home to between 300 and 500 black bears; most are
brown. If a bear threatens you, make noise and look big.
Inspiration: Ansel Adams’ repeated visits to Yosemite provided him with the
intimate understanding necessary to pre-visualize many of the famous images he
captured here. His exposures of Half Dome are particularly noteworthy, and are
among his best-known works.
Pitching a tent: Beyond the Yosemite Valley and iconic sites like Half Dome,
this park has a huge, almost secret backcountry perfect for backpackers and
horseback riders wishing to embark on extended trips. In fact, 94.5 percent of the
park is undeveloped wilderness. If you choose instead one of the developed
campgrounds, book early—at least three months in advance.
Previous Chapter | Beginning of Chapter | Next Chapter | Contents

SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL
PARKS
Location: Central California
Sequoia and Kings Canyon are perched on the western face of the southern
Sierra Nevada, where ancient evergreens tower above the jagged mountain
slopes. South of Yosemite and east of Death Valley, these two parks are
administered as one. Together, they cover about 865,000 acres; they’re about a
five-hour drive from either Los Angeles (210 mi) or San Francisco (267 mi).
Known for: Groves of giant sequoias and Kings River Canyon.
Biggest crowds: Summer (especially weekends)
Accessibility: By road you can reach one-fifth of the park, including the
General Sherman Tree and Grant Grove.
Why kids like it: Look, Mom, a treehouse! They can run around really big
trees still standing, and barrel through hollowed out ones, such as Fallen
Monarch in Grant Grove.
What hikers say: The park has more than 800 mi of trails, including stunning
and secluded backcountry trails that meander into the hills from the floor of
Kings River Canyon.