- Hiking in the
Three Rivers Area and
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
- Sequoia National Park is a hiker’s park. While some
parks can be seen from the window of a car, to enjoy Sequoia's most remarkable sights you
need to get out of your car, put on a comfortable pair of shoes, and walk. Giant Forest
alone has more than fifty miles of hiking trails through its enchanting groves. Lodgepole
has the waterfalls and granite cliffs the southern Sierra are so famous for. Mineral King
has more than a dozen trails of startling alpine beauty. And the foothills, too often
ignored by park visitors, are full of hidden groves, and lush rivers and creeks.
- The Kings Canyon country tends to be a bit more rugged than
much of Sequoia., characterized by steep cliffs, gnarled canyons, and raging rivers. But
in spite of these rugged qualities, Kings Canyon includes many fragile meadows, quiet
streams, and virgin forests. It also has some of the finest stands of giant sequoias in
the world.
- In terms of climate, the Sierra Nevada is one of the
gentlest mountain ranges on earth. John Muir often went into the backcountry for weeks at
a time with nothing but a coat, a pocket knife, and a loaf of bread. Still, even in summer
the weather can change quickly. A morning that starts out warm and sunny can be cold and
snowy by afternoon. Though most hikers can spend a lifetime in these parks without ever
experiencing a serious accident or injury, you must always be prepared. Each member of
your party should have a warm jacket or sweater, and at least some rain protection.
- There are a few precautions to keep in mind when hiking in
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: You should carry plenty of water; the rivers and
creeks may be contaminated with Giardia, a protozoan parasite which can cause stomach
cramps and diarrhea in people who have never been exposed to it. Poison oak can be found
along the trails up to about 5,000 feet in elevation, and can cause itching and blisters
if you touch it; look for the shiny leaves in clusters of three. Rattlesnakes can be
found; most bites occur because people are teasing or trying to touch them; if you leave
them alone, the chances of being bitten by a rattlesnake are very small. Ticks can be
found on the lower elevation trails, and a small percentage may carry Lyme disease; check
your skin and clothing after each hike. Drowning in the creeks and rivers is the number
one cause of death in these parks; always use caution when hiking near them, particularly
in the spring and summer when the water level is high.
Most of all, don’t let these warnings keep you from
enjoying your hike. Cautious hikers log hundreds of miles here without encountering
even the slightest injury.
Seasons of the southern Sierra- In spring, probably the greatest attractions for hikers are
the dogwood trees in bloom and the waterfalls. For dogwoods, try the Marble Fork Bridge
Trail or the Bear Hill Trail. For waterfalls, try the Tokopah Falls Trail. Summer is a
great time for all the high country trails. For alpine scenery, take any trail in Mineral
King or Lodgepole. For viewing sequoias, Giant Forest has the largest grove of giant
sequoias in the world. For a fairly short hike, try either the Congress Trail or the
Crescent Meadow Trail. For a more challenging hike through the sequoias, try the Trail of
the Sequoias.
- Summer is also a great time for enjoying the rivers--for an
easy family hike to the river, try the Indian Head Trail, just inside the Ash Mountain
entrance, or the Hospital Rock Trail.
- Fall is a special time in Sequoia. The busy season is over,
and the trails are quiet and peaceful. The days are still pleasant, but the nights are
cool. Any trail in the park can be enjoyed in the fall, but Giant Forest is especially
beautiful. For a colorful fall hike, try the Marble Fork Bridge Trail.
- In the winter and early spring, trails in Giant Forest,
Lodgepole, Dorst, and Mineral King can only be traveled by skis. The Wolverton area has
the best selection of ski trails, and it’s a great place just to take the kids
sledding. Below the snow level, the foothill trails, like the Ladybug Trail, Garfield
Grove Trail, Marble Fork Trail, and Paradise Creek Trail are at their best in the winter.
- The guidebooks
- For a complete guidebook to hiking in this area, we recommend Day
Hiking Sequoia, and the companion volume Day Hiking Kings Canyon. Both are
written by Three Rivers local Steve Sorensen, who has spent many years hiking in Sequoia
and Kings Canyon. Each guidebook is 218 pages, describes fifty trails, and includes a map
for each hike. They can be purchased by sending $14.00 per copy to: Fuyu Press, P.O. Box
720, Three Rivers, CA 93271. The price includes tax and shipping.
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