The General Grant Tree Trail is open in Kings Canyon National Park. This is a half-mile, paved, loop trail among some of the largest trees in the world. Access to this trail is about a 20-minute drive from the entrance to Kings Canyon.
NPS Photo
Autumn 2023
Planning to visit the giant sequoias? Expect cool autumn temperatures and fresh snow during storms in Grant Grove and Giant Forest.
Autumn is a wonderful time to visit giant sequoias! However, temperatures in sequoia groves can be very cool or below freezing in the mornings and evenings. When rain is forecast for the foothills, there may be fresh snow or very cold rain falling in the sequoia groves. Be prepared and bring warm clothing such as long pants, a jacket, a hat, and gloves.
Be Prepared for Tire Chain Restrictions
Tire chain restrictions can be in effect on some park roads due to either snow or ice on roads. When chain restrictions are in effect, all vehicles are required to carry chains.
Some roads are not plowed and close when snow or ice accumulates. Panoramic Point Road in the Grant Grove area is typically the first road to close. In late fall and early winter roads may close temorarily due to snow accumulation and re-open when snow melts off.
Expect some construction delays on Generals Highway.
Expect delays on multiple stretches of the Generals Highway as crews continue to work to repair roads damaged during the winter of 2022-2023.
General and Area-Specific Conditions
General Info
The National Park Service does not tow or repair vehicles. During active storms, tow trucks do not generally enter the park and towing bills can be very expensive. Vehicles that are incapacitated or stuck in snow may not get out for a day or more.
When any tire chain restrictions are in effect, every vehicle is required to carry chains. Visitors are responsible for proper chain installation. Park personnel cannot assist in the installation of chains.
Fuel up or charge your vehicle before entering the parks. There are no gasoline or diesel fueling stations in the parks.
There are also no electric vehicle charging stations inside the parks.
Construction
Expect delays on Generals Highway as construction crews continue to work to fully repair the roads. There are multiple locations of one-way traffic, stoplights and flaggers may be present. Please be patient and slow down for road work.
Weather
Expect cool and occasional below freezing temperatures in the mountains, especially in the morning and evening. Bring a jacket, long pants, a hat, and gloves.
Storms in the mountains can include snow. Check forecasts for the mountains prior to coming to higher elevation areas. Fresh snow could mean tire chain restrictions may be in effect.
For current road conditions, call (559) 565-3341 (press 1, then 1).
Seasonal Road Closures
Moro Rock/Crescent Meadow Road (Giant Forest, Sequoia National Park) is closed to public traffic when shuttle service is running during holiday weekends.
Highway 180 to Cedar Grove (Kings Canyon National Park) is closed for the season at the Hume Lake Road gate.
Mineral King Road (Sequoia National Park) is closed for the season near the national park boundary.
Middle Fork Road (Foothills, Sequoia National Park) is closed to vehicles due to damage from winter storms in early 2023.
Crystal Cave Road (Giant Forest, Sequoia National Park) is closed for the season.
Redwood Mountain Road (Kings Canyon National Park) remains closed due to hazardous conditions from the 2021 KNP Complex Fire and damage from winter storms in early 2023.
Roads
On weekends and federal holidays when the shuttle service is running (see below), Moro Rock/Cresent Meadow Road is closed to public traffic.
Parking
Expect parking at the Giant Forest Museum and General Sherman Tree to fill early on weekends and holidays.
Free Giant Forest Shuttle During the Holidays
The free shuttle operates within the Giant Forest, Lodgepole, and Wuksachi areas on the following dates:
November 23 - 26
December 23 - January 1
January 13 - 14
February 17 - 18
Parking for the shuttle is recommended at Lodgepole Campground and Sherman Tree Main Parking, especially on busy weekends and holidays.
Visit the shuttle webpage for more information about shuttle routes and stops.
Trails
Most trails within the Giant Forest and Lodgepole areas are open.
Pick up a trail map (proceeds from trail maps go directly to the Sequoia Park Conservancy) at any visitor center.
Camping
Campground reservations are required in advance, there are no first-come, first-served sites available.
Lodgepole Campground: reservations must be made in advance through Recreation.gov. Lodgepole Campground is the most popular campground in the parks and site availability may be extremely limited, especially on weekends and holidays.
Dorst Creek Campground is closed for the season.
Lodging
Wuksachi Lodge and Restaurant are now open for lodging and food service. See www.visitsequoia.com for more information.
Free Ranger Programs
Ranger-led programs are available. Visit the Giant Forest Museum or Lodgepole Visitor Center for more information. For the schedule of ranger talks and programs, see our events calendar. *Ranger programs are posted online about one week in advance.
Weather
Temperatures in the sequoia groves and the mountains are much cooler than in the valleys. Bring extra warm layers of clothing, especially for mornings and evenings.
Air Quality
Smoke from pile burns on nearby National Forest land may impact air quality in the area. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks' fire crews began burning woody debris piles during the week of November 5 in order to complete a plan to reduce fire fuels in the Grant Grove area. To be prepared, bring a mask.
Trails
Gamlin Cabin on Grant Tree Trail is closed due to structural issues. Do not pass the Do Not Enter tape around the cabin.
Trails in the Redwood Canyon area are closed following damage from the 2021 KNP Complex Fire and will not reopen until conditions are safe.
The portion of Big Stump Loop Trail east of Highway 180 is closed while pile burns are conducted by Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks' fire crews.
Roads
Highway 180 is open up to the Hume Junction Gate. The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway to Cedar Grove is closed due to damage from 2022-2023 winter storms.
Hume Lake Road: Open from the Hwy 180 Junction to around Ten Mile Campground. Please call the Hume Lake Ranger District for the most current road conditions: (559) 338-2251.
Panoramic Point road is not plowed during winter. When snow or ice accumulate the road is closed to vehicles. When closed, recreation by foot is allowed, although traction devices such as microspikes, snowshoes, or skis are recommended. The road re-opens when conditions allow. In early winter the road may close and then re-open to vehicles when snow and ice melts.
Camping
Azalea Campground has 20 first-come, first-served sites available through the winter. Payment is made through recreation.gov. Download the Recreation.gov app prior to arriving.
Most campgrounds fill well in advance of weekends and holidays. Reservation windows vary between campgrounds, see each individual campground page or Recreation.gov for more information.
Free Ranger Programs
Ranger-led programs are available. Visit the Kings Canyon Visitor Center for more information. For the schedule of ranger talks and programs, see our events calendar. *Ranger programs are posted online about one week in advance.
Highway 180, the only road into the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park, is closed and will not open in 2023.
Due to severe road damage along the Highway 180 corridor between Grant Grove and Cedar Grove, Caltrans does not expect repairs to be completed before the end of the summer season. Cedar Grove will not be accessible by car this summer or fall.
Stay safe in the foothills
View the rivers from a distance. The water is very cold and swift. The soil near and along the rivers can be unstable. It can collapse unexpectedly under the weight of people, including children, and result in falls into the river.
Many areas in the foothills were affected by fires and flooding in recent years. Check our Foothills Trails page for ideas to help you plan your trip. Also check the map of closures at the bottom of this page.
Hospital Rock Pictographs
By working with local Native Americans, we’ve learned the pictographs at Hospital Rock are sacred to their communities. They are as important as any place of worship. Do not touch or mark on the pictographs or rocks here. If you see someone vandalizing this area, please let a park ranger know right away.
South Fork Road Closure and severely damaged trails in the South Fork drainage.
The portion of South Fork Road within the park boundary that provides access to the trailheads for Ladybug Trail and Garfield Grove Trail suffered severe damage from flooding and landslides during 2023 winter storms. The road is impassable to vehicles. The trails suffered significant damage and challenging or hazardous sections are likely. Anyone wanting to travel on these trails should be self-reliant, as road damage -- as well as any trail damage -- makes any rescue effort challenging and subject to delays.
Camping
Potwisha Campground is open. Reservations are required. Visit Recreation.gov to reserve your campsite.
Campground Closures
Buckeye Flat Campground is closed for 2023 due to damage from repeated winter storms in early 2023.
South Fork Campground is currently inaccessible and closed due to damage from flooding and landslides from winter storms. Damage to the campground and the access road are being assessed. At this time, it is unknown when the campground will re-open.
Free Ranger Programs
Ranger-led walks and talks are available. Visit the Foothills Visitor Center for more information. For the schedule of ranger talks and programs, see our events calendar. *Ranger programs are posted online about one week in advance.
Fire Restrictions in Summer
By mid-summer in most years fire restrictions are issued for the Foothills. See our fire restrictions page for details. If restrictions are in effect and you're planning to leave the foothills and head into the mountains to see sequoias, food and meals are available at the Wuksachi Lodge.
Know Where You Can Go
Some roads and trails remain closed due to impacts from winter storms in early 2023. Check the closure map at the bottom of this page.
Pets
Pets, including those riding in backpacks, are prohibited on all trails. This includes paved trails, such as the General Sherman Tree Trail, Big Trees Trail, and Grant Tree Trail. In the nearby national forest lands that surround these parks, leashed pets are allowed on trails. Leashes must be less than 6 feet (1.8 meters) long. Learn more about traveling with pets.
Traffic Congestion
During weekends and holidays, entrance stations become congested. Check out these tips to avoid congestion or the inconveniences it may cause. To save time, buy your entrance pass online before you arrive. If visiting the Giant Forest, plan to park and ride the fare-free Sequoia Shuttle during your visit.
Recent Wildfire Activity
In September of 2021, the lightning-caused KNP Complex Fire burned through a significant portion of the park. You will see evidence of recent wildfire along the Generals Highway and on trails. Check our tips for safety in burned areas if you plan to hike in an area affected by fire. Our closure map shows trails (in red) that are closed.
NPS Mobile App
Want to improve your visit to Sequoia and Kings Canyon? Download the NPS App to get information on popular features, visitor centers, campgrounds, fees and passes, park alerts, passport stamp locations, and more. When you install the app, check the option to download offline content. Cell service is limited at the parks and this option will allow you to use the app even when you have no cellular service. Visiting other parks? The NPS App connects you to every one of the 400+ locations managed by the National Park Service.
WiFi and Cellular Service
WiFi is available at Kings Canyon and Foothills visitor centers. However, if you use the NPS Mobile app, download the app and data before you arrive. Cell phone service may be available in the Grant Grove and Lodgepole developed areas for Verizon customers, and outside the Foothills Visitor Center for AT&T customers. However, cellular service is not always available.
For information on the status of the Sequoia National Forest or Giant Sequoia National Monument (managed by the US Forest Service), visit the Sequoia National Forest website.
For information on Lake Kaweah (managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), visit their website.
Day Hiking
No permits are needed for day hiking. See the Day Hiking Page for more information about trails in different areas of the parks. You can purchase a hiking map for the Giant Forest and Grant Grove areas at any visitor center, all proceeds benefit the Sequoia Parks Conservancy. During the winter months, personal traction devices, such as spikes for footware, are recommended for ice and icy snow.
Many campgrounds in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks were impacted during 2023 winter storms and some closures remain in effect. See the campground page for open and close status for each campground.
Reservations Required
Most campgrounds fill well in advance of weekends and holidays. Reservation windows vary between campgrounds. Details about each campground can be found through our campground page or check Recreation.gov for more information. During the winter, Azalea Campground in the Grant Grove area is the ONLY campground that has first-come, first-served sites available. Please do not plan to camp if you do not have a reservation.
Current Fire Restrictions: Stage 2
Stage 2 fire restrictions prohibit all fires, including campfires, wood and charcoal fires, and wood-burning stoves in the hot, dry, low-elevation areas of the parks below 6,000 feet. These areas include but are not limited to: Potwisha Campground and picnic areas at Hospital Rock, Foothills Visitor Center, and Ash Mountain. See the Fire Restrictions page for more details.
Map of Current Closures at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Click on a line or point for the name of the closed location.
Road and trail closures are shown in red. Individual point closures are shown with black pins. Area closures are shown in yellow.
Closures can change at any time and may differ from what is shown on this map.
