• 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.

Planning References

Planning and compliance efforts are guided by a variety of official National Park Service documents as well as scientific research, design guidelines and supporting legislation. These references are provided to assist with public participation.

Federal Laws & Legislation
National Park Service Organic Act of 1916
Sequoia and Kings Canyon Enabling Legislation

Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
Wild and Scenic River Act 1968 (pdf, 107 KB)
Wild and Scenic Rivers web site

Wilderness Act Information
Wilderness Act of 1964
Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (John Krebs Wilderness) (pdf, 1.3 MB)
California Wilderness Act of 1984 (pdf, 417 KB)
Wilderness.net

National Environmental Policy Act and Other Environmental Policies
NEPA Policy
Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)

National Park Service Directives
Directors Orders (DO) | Reference Manual (RM)
Director's Orders
DO #2 - Park Planning. Note this Order is now superseded by Chapter 2 of Management Policies 2006.
DO #12 - Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact Analysis, and Decision-making
Handbook for Environmental Impact Analysis (pdf, 567 KB)
DO #28 and Reference Manual #28 - Cultural Resources
NPS 28 - Cultural Resources Management Guideline
DO #41 - Wilderness Management (pdf, 193 KB)
RM #41 - Wilderness Management
DO #75A - Civic Engagement and Public Involvement (pdf, 828 KB)
NPS 75 - Natural Resources Inventory and Monitoring (pdf, 167 KB)
DO #77 & RM #77: Natural Resources

Sequoia and Kings Canyon Plans & Policies
General Management Plan
Superintendent's Compendium (pdf, 1.5MB)
Natural Resources Management Plan (pdf, 1MB)

National Park Service Policies
Management Policies 2006
Includes chapters on natural, cultural and Wilderness resources. Chapter 2 on Park System Planning is especially useful. (pdf, 2.5 MB)

Historic Preservation Information
These programs, acts and guidelines inform park planners when preserving historic buildings and grounds:
Heritage Documentation Programs (HABS/HAER/HALS/CRGIS) National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA)
Preservation Standards and Guidelines
Historic Sites Act of 1935
Secretary of Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties
The Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (ARPA)

  • Park Management Park Management

    Information and documents on park operations and planning Read More

  • News Releases News Releases

    Find out what is happening at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Read More

Did You Know?

Speleothem, a cave formation.

Crystal Cave, a marble cavern, is a complex maze more than 3 miles long. Parts of it are open via tours. Many varieties of beautiful speleothems decorate the cave, including rarely formed "shields" and "raft cones." A number of unique species of animals live in the cave and its stream. More...