Walk amongst giants for a day in Sequoia & KC

1 day itinerary

Tick off two neighbouring parks in one day, with it being easy thanks to their administrative union way back in 1949. Towering groves of Sequoias await you while Kings Canyon will gift you canyons, valleys and waterfalls. Enjoy a day on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada and take in these Californian beauties.

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Start your day by entering Sequoia NP via the Ash Mountain Entrance, about 10 miles north of Lake Kaweah. Generals Highway will then guide you to the junction for Moro Rock, your first stop of the day and one of the more popular and narrow trails in the park - so it's always good to get there early!

Moro Rock towers above the road below, with an extensive railed staircase guiding you to a stunning viewpoint overlooking all of the features you'd expect to see in this corner of the Sierra Nevada. Lush forests and snow capped mountains are exhibited throughout much of the year. While a little steep in places and a challenge for those with a fear of heights, the hike itself is short and an hour or so at the location in total will probably be enough.

Next on the agenda are the creatures which give the park its name. Stop off at the Giant Tree Museum to learn just how impressive Sequoias are, before seeing one of the most renowned - General Sherman. Standing 275ft tall, or 80m, the combination of height and diameter make this the biggest tree in the world! Get up close with a short trail around the tree and surrounding grove and stare up at its expansive network of branches which have helped support it for 2,200 years...!

A few minutes drive north of General Sherman is the Lodgepole visitor centre, and the trailhead for Tokopah Falls. Particularly impressive in early summer when the snow melt really starts to gather pace, these falls are another relatively simple hike, being about 4 miles round-trip out-and-back. Look out for the impressive Watchtower rock formation after a few creek crossings on your ascent. Make sure to be extra careful on the trail and never enter the water, as its force is incredibly deceptive even on days with lower flow!

Grab some lunch at The Lodgepole Market, with dine-in and take-away options available depending on how quickly you're getting through your hikes. And then enter national park number two of the day, Kings Canyon! A small, separate finger of Kings Canyon is attached to Seqouia's western border, and this is where the majority of visitors reach by continuing to follow General's Highway. Within this segment sits Grant Grove Village, naturally home to General Grant - the second largest tree in both these parks, and the world!

Unless you're visiting in winter when the road is closed, take the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway north out of the park and into Sequoia National Forest, which will curve you around into the main segment of Kings Canyon. An amazing route especially when it opens up after the forested section, the road is well worth taking your time on, concluding at Road's End Permit Station in Cedar Grove.

If you have time left in a busy day, try and fit in a hike while you're in the valley, such as the short loop at Zumwalt Meadows. If you've been to Yosemite in the north of the Sierra Nevada before, you'll be forgiven for thinking you've returned there - with plenty of similarities in appearance! An awesome location to end your day in one of the region's lesser known, but stunning national parks.

Fancy a slower paced itinerary with more hikes and less dominated by driving? Then consider our 3 day itinerary to Sequoia & Kings Canyon, so that you have enough time to enjoy every section you wish to explore!