Current Conditions

Alerts

A bee gathers pollen from a redbud blossom during spring in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

NPS Photo / S. Boerke

Spring Begins to Arrive in the Giant Sequoia Groves

Check weather forecasts for your visit. While the foothills have been experiencing spring budding, flowering, and leaving out for a month, spring is only beginning in the giant sequoia groves. Spring is a lovely time to hike in the foothills, but be on the lookout for poison oak and ticks. Long pants and sunscreen are recommended. Snow patches linger in the groves, and morning and evening temperatures can still be below freezing in the mountains.

Planning to visit the giant sequoias? Expect cooler temperatures and even fresh snow during storms in Grant Grove and Giant Forest.

If you're planning to visit the sequoias, bring warm clothing for cool temperatures such as long pants, a jacket, a hat, and gloves. Temperatures in sequoia groves can be below freezing in the mornings and evenings. When rain is forecast for the foothills, there may be fresh snow or very cold rain falling in the sequoia groves.

Expect some construction delays on Generals Highway. See the Road Conditions link below.

 

Area-Specific Conditions

Giant Forest and Lodgepole Area Conditions

Weather

• Check weather forecasts. Temperatures in the sequoia groves and the mountains are much cooler than in the valleys. Be prepared for below freezing temperatures. Bring extra warm layers of clothing, particularly for mornings and evenings.

Roads

• See the Road Conditions page 

Parking

• Expect parking at the Giant Forest Museum and General Sherman Tree to fill early on weekends and holidays.
• There is a free Giant Forest Shuttle service during Summer 2024.

  • The free shuttle operates within the Giant Forest. Visit the shuttle webpage for more information about shuttle routes and stops.

Trails

• Trails within the Giant Forest and Lodgepole areas are open.

Camping

• Lodgepole Campground is now open. It is the most popular campground in the parks and site availability may be extremely limited, especially on weekends and holidays. Reservations must be made in advance through Recreation.gov.
• Dorst Creek Campground is closed for 2024.

Lodging and Meals

• Wuksachi Lodge and Restaurant offers overnight lodging and food service. See www.visitsequoia.com for more information.

Free Ranger Programs

• Ranger-led programs are available. Visit the Giant Forest Museum or Lodgepole Visitor Center for more information. For the schedule of ranger talks and programs, see our events calendar. *Ranger programs are posted online about one week in advance.

Grant Grove Area Conditions

Weather

• Check weather forecasts. Temperatures in the sequoia groves and the mountains are much cooler than in the valleys. Be prepared for below freezing temperatures. Bring extra warm layers of clothing, particularly for mornings and evenings.

Roads 

• See the Road Conditions page  

Trails

• Trails within the Grant Grove area are open. Check at the Kings Canyon Visitor Center for the most up-to-date trail conditions.
• Trails in the Redwood Canyon area are closed following damage from the 2021 KNP Complex Fire and will not reopen until conditions are safe.

Camping

• Azalea, Crystal Springs, and Sunset Campgrounds are open.
• During the spring. summer, and fall, most campgrounds fill well in advance of weekends and holidays. Reservation windows vary between campgrounds, see each individual campground page or Recreation.gov for more information.

Free Ranger Programs

• Ranger-led programs are available. Visit the Kings Canyon Visitor Center for more information. For the schedule of ranger talks and programs, see our events calendar. *Ranger programs are posted online about one week in advance.

Cedar Grove Area Conditions

Highway 180, the only road into the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park, is closed and will not open until summer 2024.

Due to severe road damage along the Highway 180 corridor between Grant Grove and Cedar Grove, Caltrans does not expect repairs to be completed until the summer of 2024.

Foothills Area Conditions

Weather

• Weather in the foothills area can be extremely hot in the summer. Dress appropriately and bring plenty of water. 
• Stay safe in the foothills. View the rivers from a distance. The water is very cold and swift. The soil near and along the rivers can be unstable. It can collapse unexpectedly under the weight of people, including children, and result in falls into the river.

Trails

• Check our Foothills Trails page for ideas to help you plan your trip. Also check the map of closures at the bottom of this page.

Roads

• See the Road Conditions page for detailed information.

South Fork Road Closure and Damaged Trails

• The portion of South Fork Road within the park boundary that provides access to the trailheads for Ladybug Trail and Garfield Grove Trail suffered severe damage from flooding and landslides during 2022-2023 winter storms. The road is impassable to vehicles. Anyone wanting to travel on these trails should be self-reliant, as road damage makes any rescue effort challenging and subject to delays.

Camping

• Potwisha Campground is open.  Reservations are required. Visit Recreation.gov to reserve your campsite.
• Buckeye Flat Campground is closed until further notice due to damage from repeated winter storms in early 2023.
• South Fork Campground is currently inaccessible and closed due to damage from flooding and landslides from winter storms. Damage to the campground and the access road are being assessed. At this time, it is unknown when the campground will re-open.

Free Ranger Programs

• Ranger-led walks and talks are available. Visit the Foothills Visitor Center for more information. For the schedule of ranger talks and programs, see our events calendar. *Ranger programs are posted online about one week in advance.

Fire Restrictions in Summer

• Stage 1 fire restrictions have been placed on the Foothills area. See our fire restrictions page for details.

Mineral King Area Conditions

The Mineral King area of Sequoia National Park will reopen for day use and wilderness access on Friday, May 24. This area was closed for all of 2023 due to severe road damage sustained during early 2023 winter storms.

Wilderness Permits

• Due to ongoing recovery efforts, the Wilderness Permit station in Mineral King is not able to issue wilderness permits at this time. All permits for Mineral King trailheads must be secured inperson at the Ash Mountain Wilderness Office.
• Wilderness hikers from trailheads in this area should expect highly hazardous conditions with high creek crossings and snow making route finding a challenge.

Facilities

• Visitors to this area should be self reliant and expect rustic conditions. Emergency services will be limited, and due to late-season snow, there is no potable water.
• Mineral King Ranger Station is generally open from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend. Hours vary.

Weather

• Between 7,500 to 14,000 feet elevation, Mineral King is characterized by warm days and chilly nights in summer. In spring and fall, be prepared for freezing temperatures and the possibility of snow. Check weather forecasts.

Roads

• Road construction continues in 2024, but no work or delays are expected for Memorial Day Weekend. Review the Road Conditions page for details.

Trails

• Trails within the Mineral King area are open but some snow patches remain. Be prepared with traction devices for your footwear.

Camping

• All campgrounds are closed in this area until further notice.

 

Map of Current Closures at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Click on a line or point for the name of the closed location.

Road and trail closures are shown in red. Individual point closures are shown with black pins. Area closures are shown in yellow.
Closures can change at any time and may differ from what is shown on this map.

 

 

 

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  Weather Forecasts

  Check the weather forecasts for different areas of the parks

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  Road Conditions

  Check for current road conditions throughout the parks

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  River Safety

  The rivers in these parks are powerful and cold, and drowning is our most frequent cause of death. Learn more about river safety.

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  learn more about

  Fire Restrictions

  Learn what level of fire restrictions the parks have enacted and what they entail.

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  Avoiding Traffic Congestion

  Weekends and holidays are busy! Learn how to minimize your wait at park entrance stations.

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  Accessibility

  We offer recreational opportunities suited for a wide range of abilities, including exhibits, walking, camping, and shuttle transportation.