• Giant Sequoia Trees

    Sequoia & Kings Canyon

    National Parks California

  • Road Construction Delays in Sequoia NP through Mid-Aug. (if entering/exiting via Hwy. 198)

    Expect 20-minute to 1-hour delays on weekdays and 20-minute delays on weekends along main road through parks. Weeknight closures with one pass through the construction zone at 11:30 p.m. See link to schedule and map or call 559-565-3341 (press 1, 1, 1,). More »

  • 22-foot Vehicle Length Limit in Sequoia National Park

    Planning to see the "Big Trees" in Sequoia National Park? If you enter/exit via Hwy. 198, all vehicles must be less than 22 feet in length. Even vehicles towing trailers must be less than 22 feet in combined length. Longer vehicles must enter at Hwy. 180. More »

  • Road Conditions in the Parks

    For the latest road and weather conditions, call 559-565-3341 (press 1, 1, 1) More »

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?

Sequoia cross-section shows evidence of much fire damage and recovery

Sequoia tree rings tell a fascinating story of survival and adaptation. Many sequoia cross-sections do not show a neat set of concentric growth rings. Among the rings are many scars — indicating repeated fire damage — and as many curved rings, the growth that eventually covered over the scars.