Big Stump Picnic Area and Snowplay Area

The restroom of Big Stump Picnic Area. Be sure to read the safe sledding information!

Quick Facts

Location:

Highway 180, Kings Canyon National Park

Amenities

19 listed

Animal-Safe Food Storage, Audio Description, Baby Changing Station, Benches/Seating, Grill, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information Kiosk/Bulletin Board, Parking - Auto, Parking - Bus/RV, Picnic Shelter/Pavilion, Picnic Table, Recycling, Restroom, Restroom - Accessible, Toilet - Flush, Trailhead, Trash/Litter Receptacles, Water - Drinking/Potable, Wheelchair Accessible

The first resting spot after the park entrance station on Highway 180, this picnic area makes this a perfect stop to get your bearings after the drive from the San Joaquin Valley. Covered picnic tables offer shelter and parking is usually abundant.

From here, you will find the trailhead for the Big Stump Trail, which leads to the Mark Twain Stump via a 2-mile (3.2-km) hike. A small staircase on the stump lets people climb on top of it. Other large stumps are found in this area of historic giant sequoia logging.

This area becomes a snowplay spot in winter. Here, enjoy making snow sculptures or go on a snowshoe trek.

Accessibility

Big Stump Picnic Area includes extended picnic tables for travelers using wheelchairs, as well as raised barbecues. Paved or hard-surface paths lead from the picnic area to nearby restrooms. Overhead shelters provide some protection from weather.
 

Sled Safely

Every winter, people get hurt badly while sledding in the park. Sledding accidents send over 20,000 people to emergency rooms each year in this country. The most common reason people get hurt is they sled when conditions are bad (icy snow, rock or tree hazards exposed, poor visibility), so if the snow isn't great or you can't see, don't sled!

Don’t let an accident ruin your winter fun.

• When sledding, slide feet first.
• Consider wearing a helmet.
• Make sure your path is clear. Don’t slide near rocks, trees, branches, or other people.
• After sliding, look uphill. Move out of the way of people coming downhill after you.
• Don’t slide into roads or parking lots.
• Avoid hard-packed snow or ice, where speed and direction get out of control.
• Sliding devices that can be steered may be safer than others.

In an emergency, contact a ranger or call 911. There is a public telephone at Wolverton Snowplay Area. The closest telephone to Columbine and Big Stump snowplay areas is at Kings Canyon Visitor Center in Grant Grove Village.