News Release

Kings Canyon National Park Now Largely Closed due to KNP Complex Fire

Kings Canyon National Park entrance with smoke and poor air quality.

NPS Photo

News Release Date: September 20, 2021

Contact: Sintia Kawasaki-Yee, 559-679-2866

SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS, Calif. September 19, 2021 – Large portions of Kings Canyon National Park have now been closed due to KNP Complex Fire activity, with further closures expected.

The closure includes:

•  All lands within the boundaries of Sequoia National Park west of the Pacific Crest Trail.
• All lands of Kings Canyon National Park west of the Generals Highway and south of Highway 180.
• All lands within the wilderness of Kings Canyon National Park west of the Pacific Crest Trail and south of the ridgeline which lies north of Ionian Basin.

 
For a map of Sequoia and Kings Canyon closures in effect visit go.nps.gov/SEKIClosures.

All campgrounds in Kings Canyon National Park were closed effective September 18 through at least September 25. This includes all campgrounds in Cedar Grove and Grant Grove. All concession services closed today, September 19, including lodging, retail, and food service. Access into wilderness from Kings Canyon trailheads is no longer permitted.
 
Grant Grove and Cedar Grove are currently open, but visitors should prepare for hazardous air quality, smoke, and low visibility. Visitor services are very limited in these areas. We recommend coming prepared with food, drinks, N95 masks, and a full tank of gas. These areas could close with little notice.
 
For current information we ask visitors to rely on web and social media, as many of our park employees that would typically provide information over the phone or in person have been evacuated or are under evacuation warning. Most current information about park closures and conditions can be found here: www.nps.gov/seki. Most current information about the KNP Complex Fire can be found here: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7838/.

-NPS-

About Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks' Fire Management Program

For over fifty years, our mission has been to use the full range of options and strategies available to manage fire in the parks. This includes protecting park resources, employees, and the public from unwanted fire; building and maintaining fire resilient ecosystems; reducing the threat to local communities from wildfires emanating from the parks or adjacent lands; and recruiting, training, and retaining a professional fire management workforce.

Low visibility in Cedar Grove of Kings Canyon National Park.

NPS Photo