• Giant Sequoia Trees

    Sequoia & Kings Canyon

    National Parks California

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  • Changes to Some Opening/Closing Dates for Services and Facilities – Check Back for Updates

    Some of the opening/closing dates for facilities and visitor services in the parks have changed due to weather and/or other circumstances. See link for details and match to locations on the park map (under "Park Tools," bottom left, this page). More »

  • Road Conditions (Entire Park) and Road Construction Delays (if Entering/Exiting Hwy. 198)

    Expect 20-minute to 1-hour construction delays on main road through parks (Generals Hwy) until Memorial Day weekend (7 a.m.-6 p.m.). See link for schedule. Call for 24-hour road conditions info: 559-565-3341 (press 1, 1, 1). More »

  • Vehicle Length Limits Have Changed in Sequoia NP (if Entering/Exiting Hwy 198)

    Planning to see the "Big Trees" in Sequoia National Park? If you enter/exit via Hwy. 198, please pay close attention to new vehicle length advisories for your safety and the safety of others. More »

  • You May Have Trouble Calling Us. Use the "Contact Us" Link (Bottom Left) to Send an E-mail.

    We are experiencing technical problems receiving some incoming phone calls at the parks. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please keep trying to reach us or check this website for frequently-asked questions. The search box (top, right) may be helpful.

Vegetation Protection

orange fencing protects a sequoia tree

Restoration activities involved careful protection of sequoias and associated resources.

NPS photo by Athena Demetry

To protect soils and vegetation, contractors were required to install fencing around sensitive sites and residual vegetation before beginning demolition. Eight-foot tall lumber barricades were placed around mature sequoias to protect the soft bark from damage and to keep equipment from disturbing roots or compacting soils close to the base of the trees. Four-foot tall orange fencing was installed around groupings of trees, shallow root zones, or other sensitive areas. Lath snow fence was wrapped around boles of trees in close proximity to buildings to prevent mechanical damage to bark during removal. Metal sheeting was placed over exposed or shallow sequoia root zones to disperse equipment weight and prevent wheel damage to roots. Travel routes were designated on contract drawings to constrain equipment travel and minimize soil compaction. Incentive for protecting natural resources was supplied by a contract provision by which the contractor could be assessed monetary damages for causing injury to trees, soils, or vegetation. NPS inspectors and a restoration ecologist provided daily oversight of operations. Also prior to demolition, silt fence or excelsior (curled aspen fiber) filter logs were installed in locations where water runoff exits the project site to prevent silt input to streams or wetlands.

Did You Know?

View of switchbacks on Generals Highway below Moro Rock in Sequoia Park.

The 16 steep, narrow road miles from Ash Mountain to Giant Forest include 130 curves and 12 switchbacks. A vehicle-length advisory of 22 feet (6.7 m) is suggested for the 12 steepest miles within that stretch.