4 Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Sequoia and Kings Canyon
What I wish I knew before visiting Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks 🌲🏞️
👉 Stay inside the parks if you can. We stayed in Visalia and ended up driving nearly 4 hours a day just to reach the highlights.
🐻 Bears are common — we saw one just 20 feet off the trail in Sequoia! Use bear lockers for food and anything scented. In Kings Canyon, there aren’t as many lockers, so plan to carry things with you. If you see a bear, make noise and give it space.
⛰️ The altitude is no joke. Trails often start at 5–8,000 feet, and even short hikes left me winded and my muscles sore. Drink plenty of water and pace yourself.
✨ Don’t miss tours with the Sequoia Parks Conservancy. Crystal Cave is incredible (book a few weeks ahead), and their stargazing tour was also great.
💡 More tips for planning:⏰ Buy your park pass online ahead of time. This lets you bypass the long line of cars at the entrance and go straight to the far-right lane for faster entry. ⛽ Fill your tank before you enter the parks. We only saw two gas stations inside, and they were expensive and not super convenient to get to. 📵 Don’t expect cell service — download maps, hikes, and music before you go.
📌Save this to make your trip smoother!
🔎California national park travel, Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, National Park Itinerary, Giant Sequoias, Big Trees
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