Every year as summer starts to heat up, we start thinking about Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. They're a great alternative to more-crowded Yosemite and in summer, everything is in full swing. The road to Kings Canyon is open, they're firing up the barbecues at Wolverton and high country camps Bearpaw and Sequoia High Sierra Camp open for visitors.
In 1891, John Muir wrote about Kings Canyon, saying: "In the vast Sierra wilderness far to the southward of the famous Yosemite Valley, there is a yet grander valley of the same kind." In this double park, you'll also find 36 groves of giant sequoia trees and the three largest trees on earth.
Use this guide to plan your trip.
More: Bearpaw Camp | Sequoia High Sierra Camp |
I personally felt the same way as you do about Sequoia/Kings Canyon, until I read a Los Angeles Times article that stated that Sequoia/Kings Canyon had a huge smog problem and, if I remember correctly, had the second most pollutants in the air of all U.S. National Parks except for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. I wish I had the article handy, so I be could sure of this, but that’s how I remember the article. I was shocked at reading that, because on my previous visit, I had not noticed any air problems (although I wasn’t really looking for them). I did enjoy the adjacent parks very much and thought they seemed more visitor friendly than my time in Yosemite. But I haven’t been to Yosemite in a while. I’m glad we have all three parks!
The article Jason mentions in the previous comment can be found at
http://www.latimes.com/travel/outdoors/la-os-smogparknew13sep13,0,5175419.story?coll=la-story-footer&track=pacifictime
I lived in the Los Angeles area for five years, and I can say from first-hand experience that compared to LA, Sequoia does not have smog. That’s not to say that the air is always crystal-clear, but the word “smog” conjures up images that don’t apply to the park.
I’ve always loved Sequoia and Kings Canyon, but I have to say that our last visit 3 years ago was an alarming one. The trees had problems of dying…my husband a former park ranger was alarmed. All over were the tops of the trees looked infected and sick. On the way up the smog from Visallia blocked out the mountain scene. When we got up there there was a haze that distroyed the majestic like feeling. Yes, I used to prefer visiting over Yosemite because of the feeling of awe looking at these beautiful trees and the small crowds, but after that trip I am sad to say that not only am I disheartened but disappointed in humanity as well…we caused this and our forests are paying for it.