Sequoia is the second-oldest national park in the United States. It was established in 1890 to protect the trees in Giant Forest, including the General Sherman Tree, the world's largest living thing. Sequoia also contains the Mineral King Valley and Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain in the U.S. outside of Alaska.

A small portion of what is now Kings Canyon was originally set aside in 1890 as General Grant National Park. In 1940, General Grant was absorbed into the new and larger Kings Canyon National Park, which eventually grew to include the South Fork of the Kings River and 456,552 acres of backcountry wilderness. Managed as one park, together Sequoia and Kings Canyon total more than 863,700 acres.

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General Information

Visitation

About 1.539 million people visited Sequoia & Kings Canyon national parks combined in 1997. Visitation is heaviest in the summer, with August being the busiest month (263,500 people in 1997). Visitation is lightest in the winter (January, 1997-31,000 people).

Location

Fresno and Tulare counties, CA

Address

Sequoia & Kings Canyon national parks
Three Rivers, CA 93271-9700

Telephone

24-Hour recorded park information: (209) 565-3341

1-backcountry/stock use
2-camping/lodging
3-Crystal Cave tours and other activities
4-road/weather/fire conditions
5-park employment
6-to receive park information by mail
7-directory assistance

Operating Hours & Seasons

The park is open 24 hours a day, year-round. Two areas have seasonal closures: The road to Mineral King (Sequoia National Park) is open from Memorial Day weekend to November 1, weather permitting, and Highway 180 to Cedar Grove (Kings Canyon) is open from mid-April to early November.

Directions

There are no roads into Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks from the east side. Highway 180 leads to Kings Canyon National Park from Fresno, California. Highway 198 leads to Sequoia from the town of Visalia. The Generals Highway connects the two, making loop trips possible. Construction is underway to repair this historic road. Efforts will be made to minimize the impact this project will have on your visit, but be advised that you may encounter delays of up to 30 minutes as you enter Sequoia from Highway 198.

The 16-mile stretch of road from Ash Mountain to Giant Forest contains 130 curves and 19 switchbacks. This road is not recommended for vehicles more than 22 feet in length. Larger vehicles wishing to visit the Giant Forest, please take Highway 180 to Grant Grove and proceed south on the Generals Highway. If you are coming from the south and wish to enter the park via Highway 180, take Highway 63 from Highway 198 in Visalia. Highway 245, which joins 180 and 198 near the town of Lemon Cove, is a narrow, winding road, and will not save time compared to Highway 63.

Cedar Grove is located in the canyon of the South Fork of the Kings River. To reach Cedar Grove, continue east on Highway 180 from Grant Grove. Allow 1 hour to drive the 30 miles from Grant to Cedar Grove. Highway 180 ends 7 miles east of Cedar Grove at Road's End. There are no roads across the Sierras to Highway 395 through Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. Cedar Grove is closed in the winter.

Mineral King is accessible only by a long, slow road, which branches off of Highway 198 east of the town of Three Rivers. This 25-mile long road contains 698 curves. Allow 2 hours to reach Mineral King from Highway 198. This road is not recommended for trailers and RVs. Mineral King is also closed in the winter.

Access to both parks is along steep mountain roads with sharp drop-offs on one side. For your safety, please use turnouts to allow faster-moving vehicles to pass. Downshift to prevent a burned-out transmission when going uphill and burned out brakes on the downgrade. In automatic cars, put the gearshift on 1 or 2. The engine will get louder as it works to slow you down, but it will save the brakes.

Vehicles longer than 22 feet are advised not to take Generals Highway between Potwisha Campground and Giant Forest Village in Sequoia.

If you are planning on visiting the parks between November and May, please read the additional information about winter access to Sequoia and Kings Canyon.

Transportation

To Park:

Public transportation to the parks is limited to commercial tour companies. Transportation to Fresno and Visalia, where rental cars are available, is provided by air, bus, and Amtrak.

In Park:

Personal vehicle and bicycle (roads only, bicycles are not allowed on park trails). During the summer months, a shuttle is available in Sequoia National Park between Giant Forest, Lodgepole, Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow.

Fees, Costs & Rates

Golden Eagle Passport

The Golden Eagle Passport is an entrance pass to any national park, monument, historical site, recreation area, and national wildlife refuge that charges an entrance fee. It is a great convenience for those who plan on visiting several different areas that charge special fees. It is valid for one year from the purchase date. A Golden Eagle Passport may be purchased for $50 at any National Park Service entrance fee area or by mail. To order by mail, send check or money order (no cash, please) to:

National Park Service
1100 Ohio Drive, SW
Room 138
Washington, DC 20242
Attention: Golden Eagle Passport

Where entry is by private vehicle, the Golden Eagle Passport will admit the passholder as well as any passengers. Where entry by private vehicle is not possible, the pass will admit the passholder, spouse, children and parents.

The Golden Eagle Passport will not reduce use fees, such as those for camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, or cave tours. It covers entrance fees only.

Golden Age Passport

The Golden Age Passport is a lifetime entrance pass for those United States residents 62 years or older. These may be purchased at any National Park Service entrance fee area for a one-time processing fee of $10. The Golden Age Passport cannot be purchased by mail or telephone. Proof of age and citizenship or permanent residence must be shown at the time of purchase.

The Golden Age Passport will admit the passholder and any passengers in a private vehicle. When entrance is not via private vehicle, the pass will admit the passholder as well as children, spouse, and parents.

The Golden Age Pass grants a 50 percent discount to the holder on any federal use fees charged for things such as camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, or tours. It does not, however, reduce the price of special recreation permit fees or fees for concessions.

Golden Access Passport

The Golden Access Passport is a free entrance pass to any national park, monument, historic site, recreation area, and national wildlife refuge for those who are blind or permanently disabled. The Golden Access passport may be obtained at any National Park Service entrance fee area. Proof of a medically determined disability and eligibility for receiving benefits under federal law is necessary at purchase.

The Golden Access Passport will admit the passholder and any passengers in a private vehicle. Where entrance is not by vehicle, the pass will admit the passholder, spouse, children and parents.

The Golden Access Passport also provides a 50 percent discount on any federal use fees charged for services and facilities. It does not cover special recreation permit fees or fees charged for concessions.

All passes described above are non-transferable.

Facilities & Opportunities

Visitor Center/Exhibits

The Ash Mountain and Grant Grove visitor centers are open year-round. The Cedar Grove Visitor Center, located at the bottom of the Kings Canyon, is open between late May and September. The Lodgepole Visitor Center is open from April to early November. The Mineral King Visitor Center is open June to Labor Day. Roadside exhibits along the Generals Highway and Highway 180 interpret the geology and natural and human history of the Sierras.

Trails, Roadways

Together, Sequoia & Kings Canyon national parks contain 140 miles of roads and 800 miles of trails. There are more than 900 miles of self-guided trails in the high country.

Programs & Activities

Ranger-led walks, talks and evening programs are offered throughout the year. During the summer, concessionaire-operated bus tours, as well as guided saddle horse pack trips into the High Sierra. Park waters have brook, rainbow and golden trout for year-round fishing. Daily naturalist-conducted walks through the big trees and to important scenic points are scheduled in summer, as are shuttle bus rides.

Lodging & Camping

Lodging in both Sequoia & Kings Canyon national parks is available through Kings Canyon Park Services, PO Box 909, Kings Canyon NP, CA 93633; telephone, (209)335-5500. Grant Grove Lodge in Kings Canyon is open all year. Giant Forest and Cedar Grove lodges are open during the summer. Additional lodging is available outside the parks.

Campgrounds in Sequoia & Kings Canyon are operated by the National Park Service. In Sequoia, South Fork and the Mineral King campgrounds have pit toilets. All other campgrounds provide flush toilets. All areas except South Fork have drinking water, some have sanitary disposal stations. There are no hook-ups for RVs in any of the park campgrounds. Showers are available in summer at Lodgepole, Grant Grove and Cedar Grove through the concessionaire. Additional campgrounds are located in the national forests adjacent to the parks.

Food & Supplies

In summer, meals, groceries, camping gear, fishing tackle/licenses, and ice are sold at Giant Forest, Lodgepole, Stony Creek (Sequoia National Forest), Grant Grove, and Cedar Grove. Gasoline is not available at Lodgepole and Grant Grove, but is at Hume Lake and Kings Canyon Lodge along Highway 180 in Sequoia National Forest. Diesel fuel is also available Hume Lake.

In winter, light meals, ski and winter sports equipment, and souvenirs are available at Wolverton. Groceries, meals and a gift shop are available in Grant Grove.

Other Concessions

The Sequoia Natural History Association offers a program of field seminars throughout the year. They also offer tours of Crystal Cave from May to September.

The Walter Fry Nature Center, located in Lodgepole campground, is open July to Labor Day.

Recommended Activities & Park Use

Viewing the giant sequoias; hiking; backpacking; horseback riding; fishing; cross-country skiing and snowshoe walks; ranger walks, talks and campfire programs.

Basic Visit Recommendations

Driving time from Ash Mountain (Highway 198 entrance) to Grant Grove (Highway 180 entrance) is at least 2 hours, not counting stops. Road construction between Ash Mountain and Lodgepole may affect this driving time. A side trip from Grant Grove into the Kings Canyon will take an extra 2 to 3 hours. First-time visitors should be sure to see the General Sherman and General Grant trees, both easily accessible from the road.

Special Events

The second Sunday of December is the annual Christmas Tree Ceremony, held at the General Grant Tree in Kings Canyon National Park.

Visitor Impacts

We often think of parks as outdoor museums, but taking care of a living, changing ecosystem is very different from protecting unchanging objects. You won't notice the ozone-monitoring equipment working unseen 24 hours a day, but other park management activities may unavoidably affect your visit. You may see smoke from a prescribed burn, or last year's campsite might be closed for re-vegetation, or due to intense bear activity. Actions like these are important tools in maintaining this landscape, its inhabitants, and its visitors. Your time at Sequoia & Kings Canyon will give you but a snapshot of the year-round process of park management. Nature often calls the shots in terms of timing these activities. Please keep in mind that all of these projects share one goal: preservation of these magnificent parks for everyone - today and tomorrow.

Currently, the National Park Service, in cooperation with the Federal Highways Administration, is undertaking a multi-year project to rehabilitate the Generals Highway. Most work will be done on weekdays in the fall, winter and spring. The time of closures change day to day and season to season. During delays visitors may browse the Foothills Visitor Center, relax at the Ash Mountain Picnic Area across the street, or enjoy the neighboring town of Three Rivers. During other times expect traffic delays of 15 minutes. This pattern is expected to continue into April and May.

During the winter, the Generals Highway between Lodgepole and Grant Grove may close due to snow.

Other Points Of Interest

Boyden Cave

Located on Highway 180 in the spectacular 8,000-foot deep Kings River Canyon, between Grant Grove and Cedar Grove. The 45-minute daily tours, May through October, take visitors on a lighted handrail-equipped trail past beautiful, crystalline stalactites and stalagmites. Call 736-2708 for information.

Colony Mill Road

Although all but the first half-mile is now closed to vehicles, this was part of the original road to Giant Forest. It was constructed almost entirely by hand by members of the Kaweah Colony, a community of radical socialists who hoped to cut timber in the Giant Forest area in the mid 1880s. The road begins at the end of the North Fork Road in Three Rivers and eventually joins the road to Crystal Cave.

Canyon Viewpoint

The U-shape of Kings Canyon, apparent from this point, provides evidence of its glacial history. The turnout is located on the main road, 1 mile east of the Cedar Grove Village.

Knapp's Cabin

During the roaring 1920s, wealthy Santa Barbara businessman George Knapp commissioned lavish fishing expeditions into Kings Canyon. This small cabin was used to store quantities of his extravagant gear. A short walk to the cabin begins at a turnout, 2 miles east of Cedar Grove Village.

Roaring River Falls

A refreshing and shady five-minute walk leads you to a forceful waterfall rushing through a narrow granite chute. The easy, paved trail begins at a parking area 3 miles east of the Cedar Grove Village turnoff.

Grand Sentinel Viewpoint

Rising 3,500 feet above the canyon floor, Grand Sentinel is one of the most striking rock formations in the Kings Canyon area. The turnout, 5 miles from the Village turnoff and just east of Zumwalt Meadow, provides a clear view of the monolith.

Other Tours

Wild cave tours, led by Sequoia Natural History Association guides, allow you to explore the deep recesses of the cave in areas closed to the general public. Tours are limited to six people. Selection is by lottery. For more information about wild cave tours, historic cave tours, and other special programs, call (209) 565-3759, or email SNHA.

The Parker Group

The Parker Group is considered one of the finest clusters of sequoias, and can be reached by automobile. It is 2.6 miles from the Giant Forest Village.

Atwell (Skinner) Grove

This sequoia grove was partially logged in the 1890s. It continues onto Paradise Ridge, giving it the highest elevation of any sequoia grove.

Atwell Mill

In a clearing across from the Atwell Mill Ranger Residence stands a large steam engine, one of the last signs of the mill that was used for cutting timber from the surrounding forests. Kaweah colonists leased the site after their Giant Forest claims were disallowed. Many young sequoias have grown up around the mill site in the 75 to 100 years since logging ceased.

Sawtooth Peak

Standing 12,343 feet high, Sawtooth Peak is the most prominent peak in the Mineral King area. Upper portions of the peak are granite and shaped by glaciers. As with other peaks surrounding the valley, Sawtooth resembles the Rocky Mountains more than the Sierras due to the predominance of metamorphic rocks in the Mineral King area.

Miscellaneous Activities

Junior Ranger Program

A year-round activity for kids ages 5 to 13. Kids can earn a patch while discovering the resources of the park and learning how to protect them. This program deepens understanding and appreciation of our limited resources.

The activities take some time to complete. The requirements are based on age, and everyone helps picking up litter. Kids ages 9 to 12 years old work toward the Raven Award. Those ages 5 to 8 years earn the Jay Award.

To get started, purchase the $2 Junior Ranger booklet in any visitor center. Follow the instructions and start learning!

Adjacent Visitor Attractions

Nearby you'll find Sequoia, Sierra and Inyo national forests (US Forest Service); Yosemite National Park; Devils Postpile National Monument.

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History

Native Peoples

Native peoples have traveled these forests since prehistoric times. The first to inhabit the Kings Canyon area were the Monaches or Western Monos, a Paiute group that migrated over the Sierra Nevada from the east near Mono Lake. They built semi-permanent homes: conical frames of willow poles covered with strips of cedar bark. The Monaches sometimes camped in the woods in summer but kept villages in the foothills year-round.

Acorns were the staple food of these people. Grinding spots, arranged close together so that the women could socialize as they worked, can be seen along the river between Cedar Grove and Bubbs Creek and at Hospital Rock in Sequoia. The acorn meal was baked into cakes or boiled into mush by dropping hot stones into baskets filled with water and acorns. The Monaches supplemented their diet with occasional feasts on deer and small game.

In summer, the Monaches traded with Paiutes who were still living in the Owens Valley on the far side of the mountains. A well-developed trail, which ran east up Bubbs Creek to the 11,823-foot-high Kearsarge Pass and then dropped sharply into the valley, served as the trade route between the tribes. They traded acorn meal, deerskins, and arrow shafts made of tule reeds for the Paiutes' pine nuts, salt, and obsidian, a volcanic glass used to make arrowheads and cutting tools.

The Patwishas and the Wuksachis were subgroups of Monaches that lived in the foothills near the lower Kaweah River. Another tribe, the nomadic Tubatulabals, settled near the Kern River. From here, they would travel into the mountains of the Great Western Divide and as far as Mount Whitney.

Trappers and Explorers

In search of a mission site, Spaniard Gabriel Moraga was the first European to lead an expedition to Kings Canyon in 1806. The party discovered a major river on January 6, the day of Epiphany, for which they christened it El R'o de los Santos Reyes - The River of the Holy Kings, after the Three Wise Men who visited the infant Jesus. The name was later shortened to Kings River. (This is why Kings River and Kings Canyon are never spelled with apostrophes.)

Beginning in the year 1827, American trappers and explorers began to trickle through the lofty passes and deep valleys on each side of the Sierra. The gold rush of 1849, however, drew thousands of outsiders to California. These newcomers, searching for mineral wealth, began the exploration of the mountains.

The newcomers also brought smallpox and measles with them, which devastated native peoples living in the area. Most died during an epidemic in 1862. Some moved away, but some stayed in the San Joaquin Valley, where their descendants still live.

The first scientific exploration of the area was conducted in 1864. Harvard geology professor Josiah Dwight Whitney, director of the newly formed California Geological Survey, sent a team of five men to map the region and identify its major features. Survey field director William Brewer, for whom Mount Brewer was named, led the group. Brewer named the highest peak Mount Whitney to honor his supervisor.

National Park Status

John Muir, the famous naturalist, visited Kings Canyon in 1873. He was impressed by its similarity to the terrain of Yosemite Valley. It was not long, however, before the pristine setting began to change. In the 1870s, ranchers grazed their cattle and sheep among the Big Trees, and sawmills were built.

Ironically, sequoia wood was brittle and broke across the grain when it fell, so it was useless as timber. The early loggers, nevertheless, proceeded to chop down and carry away one-third of the ancient trees.

It's amazing to think today that the sequoias were being cut down and the wood used to make pencils and even grape stakes in some early California vineyards. The numbers of Big Trees would have greatly decreased had it not been for mid-19th-century conservationists. Among the leaders was John Muir, who chronicled the destruction of the sequoias at Converse Basin, and George W. Stewart, often called the "Father of Sequoia National Park."

In 1877, Muir climbed to the Converse Basin, 6 miles north of Grant Grove, once the area's largest grouping of giant trees. He found Hyde's sawmill, one of five in the area. It was "booming and moaning like a bad ghost," he recalled. The mills had cut down every mature tree but one in the basin.

George Stewart, editor of the Visalia Delta, began writing editorials in 1878 condemning the wholesale cutting of sequoias. In 1881, he was joined by Muir and U.S. Senator John F. Miller of California, in an effort to enact a bill to protect the trees. It died in committee, and Muir turned his attention to protecting Yosemite.

The residents of Visalia, however, carried on the battle and eventually succeeded. On September 25, 1890, President Benjamin Harrison signed the bill that established Sequoia National Park. It was America's second national park. A week later, Congress increased the park's size threefold and created General Grant National Park to protect Grant Grove. This uniquely American invention, the creation of national parks and forest reserves, signified the government's intentions to limit unrestrained exploitation of the land.

Stephen T. Mather, who later became the first director of the National Parks Service, led further efforts to preserve the magnificent trees. Congressman Frederick Gillett and Gilbert Grosvenor, president of the National Geographic Society, became his staunch allies. Gillett helped pass legislation to expand the park, and Grosvenor's National Geographic Society provided funds to acquire nearly 2,000 acres of land. Sequoia National Park was expanded in 1926 to include Kern Canyon and Mount Whitney.

Forty-nine years after John Muir published an article advocating the creation of "one grand national park" that included Kings Canyon, his goal was finally realized. After a long and bitter debate, Congress created Kings Canyon National Park on March 4, 1940, absorbing tiny General Grant National Park. The sequoias within the boundaries were forever protected from logging.

As a World War II economy measure, Sequoia and Kings Canyon were managed jointly, and the successful policy continues.

In the 1960s, the area was threatened again by developers. After intense debate, serious consideration of building dams in the upper Kings River watershed ended. In a separate issue, environmentalists thwarted a plan by developers to build a huge ski resort. The steep, glacier-carved valley of Mineral King was added to Sequoia National Park in 1978, and the remote area remains protected today.

Our Nation's Christmas Tree

It is difficult to comprehend the immense size, age and stature of the General Grant Tree, but it is easy to let your mind and spirit rise as its trunk carries your gaze toward the skies.

This tree has inspired thousands of people including the late Charles E. Lee of Sanger, California. In 1924 he visited what was then General Grant National Park, and found himself standing by the Grant Tree with a little girl. As they admired the huge tree, the girl exclaimed, "what a wonderful Christmas tree it would be!"

The idea stayed with Mr. Lee, and in 1925 he organized the first Christmas program, held at the Grant Tree at noon on Christmas Day. Mr. Lee, then secretary of the Sanger Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. R.J. Senior, president of the Chamber, conceived the idea of an annual ceremony. Mr. Lee wrote to President Calvin Coolidge, who designated the General Grant as the Nation's Christmas Tree on April 28, 1926.

A National Shrine

The General Grant Tree is a living memorial to the men and women of the United States who have given their lives in service to their country. It was proclaimed a National Shrine on March 29, 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The official dedication was made that year on Veterans Day (November 11) by the president's personal representative, Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz. Each year during the Christmas ceremony, park rangers place a large wreath at the base of the Grant Tree, remembering those who gave their lives.

It is fitting that a giant sequoia would be chosen as the only living national shrine. These trees (Sequoiadendron giganteum) are wondrous in many respects. They are the largest living individual things on earth. Though not the tallest, nor the widest, nor the oldest, the trunks of these monarchs occupy more space than any other single organism.

Each year, in all seasons, visitors can return again and again to seek renewal of spirit and experience the wonder of the natural world in Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks.

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Reservation Information

Reservations & Permits

Most campgrounds in Sequoia & Kings Canyon are first come-first served. Lodgepole Campground in Sequoia is on a reservation system from Memorial Day weekend through mid-October. Starting March 15, reservations will be available through Biospherics, Inc. at 1-800-365-CAMP (2267). Group campsites at Grant Grove, Cedar Grove (Kings Canyon) and Dorst (Sequoia) are available by mail-in reservation only.

Backcountry & Wilderness Permits

Under the California Wilderness Act of 1984, 85 percent of Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks was designated as wilderness. Currently, the parks are gathering public input in order to develop a Wilderness Management Plan for these areas.

To preserve the natural environment and assure a quality wilderness experience for all, each trail has a daily entry quota. A free permit is required. Permits are available at the ranger station nearest your trailhead. If the quota for your desired trail is full, you can choose another trail or another day to start.

Backcountry permits are required for all camping outside designated campgrounds. Permits can be reserved for trips between mid-May and September no earlier than March 1 to three weeks before the start of your trip. Permits are not required for day hikes, with the exception of the Mt. Whitney area. All hikers (even day hikers) to Mt. Whitney are required to obtain a permit.

If you would like to guarantee a date and trailhead for a backcountry trip, make a reservation. There is a $10, nonrefundable fee per permit for a reservation. The fee will allow the park to continue providing the reservation service. There is no charge for the permits themselves.

Groups are strongly recommended to use the reservation system. The maximum group size is 15 people per trailhead, except for Redwood Canyon where the maximum size is 10.

The following information is needed to make a reservation:

• The dates you wish to begin and end your trip.
• The trailhead where you will be entering and exiting the park. (Send alternate entry points and/or dates to avoid delays in getting reservations) Method of travel (foot, horse, ski, snowshoe).
• The number of people in your party (maximum is 15, except in Redwood Canyon where it is 10).
• The number of pack and saddle stock in your party, if applicable (maximum is 20).
• Your best estimate of where you will camp and the number of nights in each location.
• The name of your organization or group (if applicable).
• Your name, address and phone number.

You can mail or fax this information to: Wilderness Permit Reservations, HCR 89 Box 60, Three Rivers, CA 93271, Phone (209)565-3708 and Fax (209)565-4239. You should receive a written confirmation of your reservation within 3 weeks. If you would like to verify that the park has received your fax or if you have not received your confirmation within 3 weeks, phone the Wilderness Office at (209) 565-3708.

Changing trailhead itinerary on a reservation may be done up to 21 days in advance of your start date, if space is available at another trailhead. The same is true of increases in party size if the reservation quota for the trailhead is not full. Changes in number of nights and reductions in party size may be made at any time. The park must receive your reservation request no fewer than 3 weeks before the start of your trip.

Fishing Permits

Fishing is permitted in most parts of Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, and on adjacent national forests. Anglers 16 years of age or older are required to have a California fishing license. Licenses and tackle are available at Lodgepole, Stony Creek, Grant Grove, and Cedar Grove.

Campground Information

Park campgrounds are located in oak woodlands in the warm, dry foothills, and in the higher, cooler conifer forests. They range in elevation from 2,100 feet to 7,500feet. Lodgepole, Dorst, Grant Grove, and Atwell Mill campgrounds are near giant sequoia groves.

Camping Limit: 14 days during June 14 - September 15; 30 days total per year.

Facilities: Campgrounds have drinking water (except South Fork), tables, fire grills, garbage cans, and either pit or flush toilets. Most have bear-proof food storage that you must use.

Limits: All campgrounds permit a maximum of one vehicle and six people per campsite (Potwisha permits two vehicles). Parking is available nearby for extra vehicles.

Reservations: Lodgepole and Dorst campgrounds in Sequoia National Park accept reservations up to five months in advance for the period of mid-May to mid-October. Reservations are available through BIOSPHERICS, 1-800-365-2267. All other campgrounds are first-come, first-served.

Group Campsites: There are three group camping areas in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks: Dorst Campground in Sequoia National Park; and Sunset Campground in Grant Grove, and Canyon View Campground (Cedar Grove) in Kings Canyon. All are open from approximately June through September. Reservations for Dorst may be made by calling 800-365-2267 or writing to Dorst Group Sites, Box C Lodgepole, Sequoia National Park, CA 93262. Please note that there is limited space for RVs in this campground. Reservations for Sunset and Canyon View may be made by mail only. Electronic reservations are not available at this time.

Parking is limited; carpool if possible. Each site has flush toilets, drinking water, picnic tables, firepits, and garbage collection. This is bear habitat, so all food must be stored properly.

Written reservation requests are not accepted before January 1, and then in order of date of postmark. Telephone inquiries are welcome; but, except for Dorst, only written requests are accepted for reservations.

Please include the following information:

• Group name, leader's name, address, and phone number.
• Total number of people in the group.
• Dates of the nights you wish to stay.
• Alternate dates, should preferred dates be unavailable.

Confirmation of all reservations is made by mail. No telephone notification is given.

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