First time for us four at Sequoia NP and we loved our experience in Crystal Cave. The staff overall…read moreloved what they do and you can tell. Right from the get go the staff welcomes your group and is telling you instructions to take care of yourself, your group and the caves/park. They greet you with enthusiasm and you learn so much. Please arrive on time! For parking there's quite a bit of spaces. There's restroom nearby so you can go before heading out. You can bring your backpack onto the trail but can't bring it inside the cave. So you can either bring it and leave it on the floor outside the cave or in your car. The trail can be a little challenging for some but very doable. Can be a little challenging for some children and some older adults. This also includes for the caves.The staff are there to watch for your safety but they do warn you about your surroundings. The cave is very cool to explore but there will be some tight spaces you will navigate through. So I don't recommend bringing a stroller and make sure your kids are able to walk and stay near. They will definitely enjoy the cool nature stuff inside! There's a gift shop stand near the entrance of the trail. You can buy nice souvenirs, snacks, and support! Overall we loved our tour and we would comeback again for this. Thank you to all the staff of Crystal Cave for all that you do and taking care of this natural beauty.

We made reservations to see the crystal cave and arrived early. They were able to move up our time…read morewhich was really nice since there's not much to do around there. Once it was time to hike down they made some general announcements and we met the guide at entrance of the cave. It was nice to have someone tell us the history of the cave and guide us through. The 20 minute hike down and up wasn't too bad and was completely doable for my 6 year old son. Overall, it was a unique experience and I'm glad we made the stop during our Sequoia trip!

Pear Lake Hike @Sequoia National Park…read more Distance : 12.5 mile Elev Gain: 2,200 ft Level : strenuous 5 stars : absolutely stunning hike in the giant forest. You'll first reach Heather Lake , then Aster Lake , Emerald Lake and Pear Lake. If you are afraid of the height like me, there are a little scary section after the Watchtower where the trail gets really narrow like if hikers are coming from the opposite direction you have to stop and let them pass by otherwise one of you will fall off the steep cliff kind of narrow. I try not to look down otherwise I'll freeze up. Only these sections are tough for vertigo otherwise so gorgeous and beautiful up there. It's definitely not a beginners hike considering the distance and the eleva gains. Not as bad as Clouds Rest in Yosemite. I only made it to the Emerald Lake which is after Aster Lake.

Activity Type: Hiking Nearby City: Giant Forest Village…read moreLength: 12.5 total miles Elevation Gain: 2,200 feet Skill Level: strenuous Trail Type: Out-and-back Local Contacts: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park Lakes Trail delivers the promise in its name: Heather, Emerald, Aster and Pear lakes. Named for the red heather growing nearby, Heather Lake, first along the way, is a worthy goal. With an early start, the ambitious hiker could visit all four lakes and return in a day. The little lakes called tarns rest in rock bowls that were scoured by glaciers long ago. The path to the lakes is the most popular in the Wolverton area--so popular that there is a quota on backcountry camping. Maximum 2 nights. No such restrictions are placed on day hiking, however. Even without the lakes, Lakes Trail would be a compelling path. Hiking over the Watchtower, an awesome granite formation, is a walk along the edge of the world--or at least along the edge of a precipitous cliff. Watchtower Trail was dynamited out of the rock by the Civilian Conservation Corps back in the 1930s and remains a stunning example of the trail builder's art. The path is dangerous when icy or covered with snow. We took the Hump Trail and for the most part to reach Heather Lake. Passed the third hump towards Emerald Lake and to Pear Lake crampons were necessary. The Watchtower Trail was closed to the public due to a lot of fallen trees and very icy condition. No camping permitted on Aster Lake this time. Some nature renovation is being done. It means a lot of people trampled on the trail and it caused a lot of damage. The park is doing what they can to save it.

Amazing hike on the Discovery Trail! Cool and knowledgeable volunteer guides. About three and a…read morehalf miles over the course of a few hours.

Had a blast hiking on the McKenzie preserve. It will have a few days open to the public so check…read morethe website. Learned a lot about nature. The flat mountains are called basalt. There's tons of stink bugs and Jerusalem crickets and water striders to look and catch. Perfect place for bird watching. The docents were very fun and knowledgeable.

As part of our quest to visit all 63 U.S. national parks, we set off on a six week road trip. I…read morehave a personal rule: I only count a national park as "visited" if I actually spend time there, hike or walk through it, and truly experience it. On this trip, we visited 14 national parks, and Kings Canyon National Park quickly became one of my favorites. We stayed five days between Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, which gave us plenty of time to explore both at a relaxed pace. Staying in the middle made it easy to enjoy everything the area has to offer. Kings Canyon is simply breathtaking. The drive into the canyon reminded me very much of Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park. Around every curve, another spectacular view appears. Towering granite cliffs rise dramatically above the canyon, while the Kings River rushes below with crystal clear water, waterfalls, cascades, and rapids. It is one of those roads where you constantly want to pull over just to admire the scenery. Yes, the giant sequoias are magnificent, but Kings Canyon offers something different. The combination of the massive granite walls, the river carving its way through the valley, lush forests, and peaceful meadows creates an entirely different experience from neighboring Sequoia. The two parks complement each other beautifully. We were fortunate to drive into the canyon on a Sunday morning before the crowds arrived, making the experience even more enjoyable. The traffic was light, and we were able to stop often, take our time, and truly appreciate the beauty around us. The following day we returned, only to discover road construction and long delays, so we definitely felt lucky with our timing. One thing I would encourage visitors to do is not stop at Sequoia National Park alone. Many people come to see the giant trees and then leave, missing one of the most spectacular drives in California. Kings Canyon deserves just as much attention. In my opinion, the two parks should always be visited together. Whether you come for the towering sequoias, the dramatic granite peaks, the roaring river, or the incredible scenic drive, Kings Canyon National Park delivers an unforgettable experience. It is peaceful, majestic, and one of those places that reminds you just how extraordinary our national parks truly are.

I've been to Sequoia once, long time ago, and I just recently found out there's another side of the…read morepark where you can see beautiful mountains, waterfalls, and rivers. We came during Memorial Day weekend, and thank God the entrance was free. Surprisingly, it wasn't too crowded even though it was a long weekend. We didn't get the chance to explore all the scenery because the wait at the restaurant inside the park was super long -- around 2 hours or so. We still managed to do a short hike at General Grant Grove and explored Boyden Cavern afterward. That ended up being the highlight of our short trip. I highly recommend the cave tour -- it was absolutely beautiful inside, and the history behind it was fascinating. We'll definitely be coming back next time for camping!

If you haven't seen the largest tree(s) on earth, you are missing out, get your hiking boots on…read morecome witness some of the most beautiful trees and landscape to be found. Parking can be a beyotch, especially when the main lot is closed, but stay patient and people are coming and going constantly, but whatever you do... DO NOT PARK on the road itself. Don't do it. You can do small short hikes around the grove or during winter you can strap on some snow shoes, or crampons, based on conditions, and you can get further out into the grove or park itself. I just be prepared for whatever you're planning on doing that will guarantee you have a successful outing

Visited the General Sherman Tree at Sequoia National Park and overall it was a good experience, but…read morethere are definitely a few things to be aware of. The tree itself is truly impressive and worth seeing at least once--it's amazing to stand in front of something that massive and historic. That said, expect large crowds and long lines, especially during peak times. It can take a while just to get close enough for photos. Parking was also a challenge during our visit. Spots fill up quickly, so you may need to circle around or wait. We started from the top parking lot, and while going down is manageable, the hike back up is pretty exhausting, so be prepared for that. One downside was the restroom condition--they were quite dirty and looked like they hadn't been maintained well that day. Also, just a heads-up: not everyone we encountered was friendly, so patience helps in crowded areas. Despite these issues, it was still a memorable visit. Just plan ahead, bring water, and be ready for a bit of a workout.

What a magnificent view of the king canyon. It's a definitely sight to see. I was amazed at…read moreYosemite. I also had same feeling at the King Canyon. Although I don't hear much about this Canyon, but one should definitely see this place while visiting the Sequoia forest, thru are right next to each other you will not be disappointed. I highly recommend it. I was taking to here while I was doing the sequoia tour and I am glad that tour guide took us here. US has so much to see, we don't really have to travel off shore to see some of the nature wonders.

I stopped at this overlook to take in the beauty of Kings Canyon while on my way to the Montecito…read moreSequoia Lodge. There is plenty of parking for a quick pull-off and to snap some shots and the view is beautiful. You can look out from this vantage and see the eastern part of the park which is mostly wild and free. You can get a great view of the span of Kings Canyon from here.

Not being a serious hiker, I was pretty intimidated by the concept of doing a long, somewhat steep…read morehike like the Lakes Trail. But I wanted the views and the challenge and knew that I could always stop or turn around, so I agreed to go for it - and boy am I glad that I did! It was nice that the trail itself was not very busy because it was a weekday, but we did see maybe 5 other groups of people hiking. It did stress me out a bit since I'm slow and had to let people pass me, but I had to get over that and it was only a few people so it was not a big deal. I wouldn't say that the trail is too crazy challenging (7 miles each way and 3,759 elevation gain). It's somewhat of a constant incline the entire way up but nothing that I couldn't handle if I went at my nice, slow (~30 minute a mile) pace. We did this on the third day of our trip, so fortunately I didn't have to battle altitude (headaches and nausea) the same way that I had to the first two days. I also drank close to 4 liters of water, which is definitely double what most people probably need for this hike. The views are nothing short of stunning. The watchtower is unreal, and the view of Heather Lake is unlike anything I'd ever seen before. Definitely worth it! For the serious hiker, this is probably pretty easy (there was a guy doing it in sandals who went right by us, got to the end of the trail, turned around and came back before we even got to the end of it) but still very satisfying. Highly recommend!

This hike is stunning. We started off from Lodgepole campground spent a few miles climbing through…read morethe forest. It is a strenuous hike but when you get to the treeline you are at the Watchtower which is a massive rock face above a sheer drop into a valley. You then can take a trail along the edge of the cliff to several alpine lakes. We went to heather lake - you can swim and chill out there or hike on to two more lakes. We only went to the first one and then headed back- we were pretty wiped. It's a long day but so worth it.

Founded in 1993 by Dale Anderson. Cat Haven opened in 1998 on 93 acres of land. They offer guided…read moretours, special tours, memberships, adopt a cat, volunteer, educational programs, conservation projects and more. Plus they have a gift shop! I'm told it may be an online shop soon! We've visited this area a few times before on our way to Kings Canyon National Park. This trip we decided to stop by and take a tour. I'm really glad we did! The lady that did the tour was very informative and thorough. If you can't get a good picture of the cats they offer a beautiful photo book of each cat in the gift shop. Or a t-shirt with the paw prints from the cat of your choosing. Very cool. During the tour some of the cats were awake so I managed to snap a few good photos. Be prepared to walk up and down some steep inclines. They do offer a golf cart guided tour if you call in advance. It's so nice to find a place dedicated to the care and survival of these cats. Till next trip, I'll look forward to seeing these cats again.

This wasn't on the plan but we visited this place based on a hunch that we could give this pit stop…read morea try after seeing their billboards on the highway. No regrets at all. They are a conservation effort to providing safe haven for many kinds of cats - lions, mountain lions, tigers, jaguars. leopards, bob cats, lynx etc. They offer only guided tours, every half hour. Every tour is about 1.5-2 hours long. Very good and very informative. Our host was wonderful at answering questions and very knowledgeable. She kept the momentum with interesting facts and kept kids engaged. Highly recommend!!