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    Shirley Lake Trailhead

    4.7 (9 reviews)

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    Some fall color.
    Jan W.

    We did this yesterday and got a great workout. We did the out and back to Shirley Lake. During summer you can hike to the lake and then hike to the tram at Squaw Valley and take that back down for no cost. It is closed now. Be aware on this hike that it is not clearly marked in areas where the trail is primarily granite. Look for boulders that have a blue painted stripe. In areas where the trail is more forest look for blue painted rocks. You really have to be aware of where you are. We met up with other hikers who also looked for markers. The granite sections are physically demanding. Take your time and enjoy the views. Your reward at the lake is worth it.

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    Crystal Cave - Second inside room

    Crystal Cave

    4.3(84 reviews)
    195.8 mi

    We visited Crystal Cave on Monday, June 8, 2026, and had a fantastic experience. Our guide, AJ, was…read morefabulous--knowledgeable, engaging, and made the tour both fun and informative. The walk down to the cave is about a half-mile and fairly steep, but it's absolutely worth it. The beautiful waterfall along the trail was an unexpected highlight and made the hike even more enjoyable. Crystal Cave itself is amazing and well worth the visit. The formations are incredible, and the tour provides fascinating insight into the cave's history and geology. The ticket price is very reasonable, and knowing that the proceeds help support conservation and educational programs makes it even better. I highly recommend Crystal Cave to anyone visiting the area! Maybe you'll be lucky snd AJ will be your guide too!

    Crystal Cave was closed for 4 years for renovations and reopened last season. We made reservations…read morefor this year as soon as they opened the roster. My boyfriend is very interested in exploring different caves & caverns and I thought this would be a fun weekend getaway for us. There is a long trail down to the mouth of the cave, the decent is not too bad, but it is quite a trek back up. The trail is about half a mile to the cave opening and half a mile back up. When you check in for your tour (tickets are not sold at the cave and must be purchased in advance) they go over some safety information and tour information. The staff has you cleanse the soles of your shoes prior to heading down to the cave to help prevent white nose syndrome to the bats that inhabit the cave. On the trail down there are many beautiful sights including waterfalls. I would recommend stopping at the sights on the way back up when breaks from the steep trail will be needed. The trail back up is not the most difficult we have endured, but it is up there on the list due to the steepness of the path. There is a large area at the mouth of the cave for the tour group to gather with the guide who is waiting at the gate for you. No items besides cameras and plastic water bottles are permitted within the cave and must be left outside the gate during your 50 minute cave tour. There is a large gate that the guide will unlock and you will walk through to enter the cave. The gate is a huge spiderweb with a large spider in the center, it was really wicked. Crystal Cave has crystal clear water running through it, you could see the marble that is natural there that the water has washed out over the years, as well as many stalagmites & stalactites, cave bacon, cave popcorn and many other interesting formations that have taken hundreds of thousands of years to form. Among the many caverns & caves we have toured this one was very different with the marble and flowing water within. Shirley was our tour guide, and though she was new she was so passionate and knowledgeable about the cave!

    Photos
    Crystal Cave - This one looks like the abominable snowman!

    This one looks like the abominable snowman!

    Crystal Cave
    Crystal Cave

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    Panoramic Point

    Panoramic Point

    4.0(5 reviews)
    181.3 mi

    The panoramic point was closed in last April and finally we could check it out this time. My hubby…read morehas been there before so he wanted to take me there. This place is hidden gem! You can choose to hike start from the trailhead at the end of Panoramic Point Road, 2 miles up from the park visitor center and market at Grant Village. We chose to drive up to the parking lot instead. It was about a 10 minute drive up on a narrow road from the John Muir Lodge. Gorgeous overlook and amazing views from the top. Highly recommended!

    Panoramic Point maybe previously had the potential to be a worthwhile attraction right in the heart…read moreof Kings Canyon National Park. Before I discuss why I was a little frustrated with my experience, let me just give a few details and background about coming here. For my journey exploring Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP's...I stayed in this Grant Grove Village area right in between the border of both parks. I actually rented a tent cabin for a couple of evenings. Panoramic Point was situated just behind Grant Grove and the John Muir Lodge. It was relatively easy to find as there was a sign for it right along the road. If you have any difficulty locating it, the Kings Canyon Visitor Center is situated on the grounds of Grant Grove Village. Just go inside and ask a park ranger and they'll know exactly what you're talking about. Getting here....it was a straightforward drive of 1 - 2 miles up the mountain. Once I arrived, the parking lot was relatively empty around 9am as this was one of the first sights of the day I decided to uncover since it was in the vicinity of my cabin. Getting out of the car, I found the Panoramic Point Trailhead and a description of what the area was all about with what to expect along a short hike. Well, the hike was so quick....it was a 0.5 mile round trip walk. That's how short.... There were 2 main reasons why I was disappointed with Panoramic Point.... 1. Well, I could sense this area could have once been great for panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.....now it looked like over due time the natural skyline appearance had been tainted by trees. To clarify....during my visit a lot of random protruding trees and forest shrubbery appeared in my sightline from the overlook, which ultimately disturbed the scenic aspects of the landscape and beyond. These "unannounced" trees sort of hindered the entire background. I was left puzzled as to what was so special about this spot? I thought in my head...."well, had these trees not been in the way...the potential was there for Panoramic Point to be memorable". Continuing with this idea.....the views were just okay at best. And...the reason I'm convinced Panoramic Point was mediocre was because.....later on in the day I drove fabled 30-mile Generals Highway throughout Kings Canyon which ended at Zumwalt Meadow. Along this parkway I discovered magnificent views and majestic terrain much more inspiring than the short walk up here. In comparison some people may say Panoramic Point is recommended, but for me it was an afterthought especially after stopping at the many beautiful roadside pullovers on Generals Highway like.....Junction View, Yucca Point and Hotel Creek Overlook. My 2nd letdown about Panoramic Point (but this can be easily remedied, lol) was I visited here first thing in the morning over the summer time and I had the sun facing directly into my eyes. Grrrr....this made for picture taking to be difficult especially with the mountainous setting in the distance appearing fuzzy and hazy. So....if you do decide to visit here, I'd certainly suggest stopping on by in the afternoon time with the sun at your back to enhance photographic opportunities. Overall, Panoramic Point could have been momentous back in the day, but with all the new growths of trees rising high into the skyline....it interfered with the whole ambiance and made for a deflating experience. But hey, it's a part of nature. I was in acceptance of it and better to see growth of the forest rather than any wildfires destroying the land.....even if it's at the expense of a place aptly named Panoramic Point.

    Photos
    Panoramic Point
    Panoramic Point
    Panoramic Point

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    Sequoia And Kings Canyon National Parks - Giant Tree Museum - also has restrooms and exhibits.

    Sequoia And Kings Canyon National Parks

    4.6(556 reviews)
    202.1 mi

    My first time visiting…read more If you love nature, you will love this park. It's just breathtaking and deserves to be seen. I only spent a few hours there as I drove from San Francisco, which is about 4.5 hours. $35 a car. One thing I didn't like, when paying to get in, the Ranger asked if I was a legal resident. He asked that because he said it's $100 for a non-resident. Trump at his finest because the Ranger said it was an Executive Order. There are so many beautiful sites. Definitely worth visiting. Oh, I almost forgot. They have gas stations, and when I saw the price, I filled my tank. $6.19 for regular.

    I haven't been to Sequoia National Park in 15 years, and the last time we were here we were on the…read moreother side of the park. This time we entered through the Visalia side and planned to see Crystal Cave & go for the Stargazing experience in the evening. Sequoia is a beautiful park. We spent all day in the park. Our Cave tour was at 3pm and our Stargazing was at the lodge at 9pm. They had a separate line at the entrance for guests who prepurchase or had NP passes which was nice and cut down entrance times. Though we only visited a small section of the park on this trip it was all beautiful. We drove around, visited Crystal Cave (advanced tickets required), The General Sherman Tree, Stargazing Night Talk at the Lodge, as well as the general store. We saw some of the biggest trees we have ever encountered. Walked many different trails, saw a beautiful sunset, and spent an hour watching stars with an astronomer who pointed out many constellations and provided insight on them. Overall it was an incredible experience, and I can't wait to be able to explore more at a later date.

    Photos
    Sequoia And Kings Canyon National Parks - To the top of Moro Rock

    To the top of Moro Rock

    Sequoia And Kings Canyon National Parks - Patty & Levi

    Patty & Levi

    Sequoia And Kings Canyon National Parks - Giant Forest

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    Giant Forest

    Shirley Lake Trailhead - hiking - Updated June 2026

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