National Parks
Driving through Sequoia and Kings Canyon
A redemption run for my dad, and a last hurrah before going under the knife again for my knee. We headed up north to drive through Sequoia & Kings Canyon, to Yosemite, to Big Sur. I didn’t realize how much driving that would net out to, but let’s say we saw a lot of California — especially the drive from Yosemite to Big Sur, lots of rolling grain and grass fields. Sequoia was cute — after one fire, but before another I’ve since seen the damage from. We saw some things out of the car, traffic included. But I truly recommend backpacking it. We asked a ranger at Kings Canyon what would be a good stop, and before we could finish he replied, ‘You DON’T JUST DRIVE THROUGH KINGS CANYON — IT’S BIGGER THAN THE GRAND CANYON.’ Given rather aggressively, but I’d now agree. These parks feel like staging areas for even better hikes and terrain. We were just on a timeline.
If you go (listen to the ranger)
He’s right. Sequoia & Kings Canyon reward you for getting out of the car. The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway (Highway 180) drops you into a glacial canyon that’s, by some measures, deeper than the Grand Canyon, and the trailheads at the bottom (Road’s End) launch into some of the best backpacking in the Sierra. The giant sequoias in the Giant Forest and Grant Grove are the drive-up highlight if you’re short on time like we were.
Heads up: this is fire country and it’s taken hits — recent fires burned through sequoia groves and close roads and trails for stretches. Check current conditions and air quality before you go, especially late summer and fall.