• Giant Sequoia Trees

    Sequoia & Kings Canyon

    National Parks California

There are park alerts in effect.
show Alerts »

  • 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.

Enabling Legislation

September 25, 1890: 26 Stat. 478, 16 USC 41
Sequoia National Park established including only the drainage of the South Fork of the Kaweah River- Garfield Grove and Hockett Meadow.

October 1, 1890: 26 Stat. 650
General Grant National Park established. Sequoia boundary modified to include Giant Forest and its surroundings.

1907:
Permit granted to construct Kaweah No. 3 hydroelectric plant.

May 1913:
50-year permit granted by Secretary of Interior for operation of Kaweah No. 3 hydroelectric plant.

July 3, 1926: 44 Stat. 818, 16 USC 45a
Sequoia National Park major expansion to Sierra Nevada crest, adding Kern Canyon and Mt. Whitney areas to park. Mineral King Valley is excluded and declared Sequoia National Game Refuge.

March 4, 1940: 54 Stat. 41, 16 USC 80a
Kings Canyon National Park passed by Congress and boundary is expanded to approximate present condition.

June 21, 1940: 54 Stat. 2710
Presidential proclamation establishing Kings Canyon National Park adds land in Redwood Canyon (~10,000 acres) to Kings Canyon National Park.

December 21, 1943: 57 Stat. 606
Authorize acquisition of land now used for Buckeye Housing Area for addition to Sequoia National Park, including land exchanges with Southern California Edison.

July 21, 1949:
Sequoia National Park boundary change pursuant to 1943 statute.

October 19, 1951:
Sequoia National Park boundary change pursuant to 1943 statute.

August 14, 1958: P.L. 85-648, 72 Stat. 604
Transfers 10 acres of Sequoia National Park (Cabin Cove) and Summit Meadow to Sequoia National Forest as part of Sequoia National Game Refuge.

61 16 USC 80 (a-1), 72 Stat. 61
Small land exchange between Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Forest.

16 USC 80 (a-2), P.L. 85-666, 72 Stat. 617
Adds ~210 acres to Kings Canyon National Park at Big Stump.

June 21, 1963: P.L. 88-47
Congress direct Secretary to permit Kaweah No. 3 hydroelectric plant.

August 6, 1965: P.L. 89-111, 79 Stat. 446
Tehipite Valley (2,659 acres) and floor of Kings Canyon (2,879 acres) transferred to Kings Canyon National Park from Sierra National Forest and Sequoia National Forest, respectively.

1976:
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park designated a Biosphere Reserve.

November 10, 1978: P.L. 95-625
Mineral King Valley (Sequoia National Game Refuge) added to Sequoia National Park.

September 28, 1984: P.L. 98-425, 98 Stat. 1619
California Wilderness Act of 1984. Establishes Sequoia/Kings Canyon Wilderness. Transfers Jennie Lake Addition to Kings Canyon National Park.

January 21, 1986: P.L. 99-3
Secretary authorized to issue Kaweah No. 3 permit for 10 years.

November 3, 1987: P.L. 100-150, 101 Stat. 881
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 USC 1274a) amended to add Middle Fork and South Fork of Kings River, including all park segments.

November 24, 1987: P.L. 100-174
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 USC 1274a) amended to add North Fork Kern River including all park portions.

December 28, 2000: 16 USC 45g, P.L. 106-574
Secretary instructed to acquire Dillonwood; boundary change to be automatic.

December 5, 2001:
Took possession of Dillonwood.

March 30, 2009: P.L. 111-11
Designated John Krebs Wilderness as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Did You Know?

Low fire burns through a grove during a prescribed burn.

Fire is an essential part of Sierra forest ecology. Plants and animals have adapted to the periodic, low-intensity fires that naturally occur here. In fact, sequoias need fire to open their cones and release the seeds, and to leave cleared beds of ash where they sprout and grow best.