Most park roads are now open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
This includes the Generals Highway through Sequoia and Kings Canyon and the Sequoia National Forest, Kings Canyon Scenic Highway (Highway 180), Moro Rock/Crescent Meadow Road, Wolverton Road, Grant Tree Road, and developed area surface roads in the parks.
Be prepared for winter driving conditions and tire chain requirements. Spring storms or snowfall may close the highway at any time. Roads may close at any time when weather affects road conditions.
Expect limited closures on park roads throughout spring and early summer for tree removal work. Additional information on specific road closures will be posted here when available.
Closed roads:
Mineral King Road: Closed at Lookout Point Gate. Scheduled to reopen on May 25.
Many national forest roads between Grant Grove and the northern Sequoia National Park entrance are still closed until snow melts.
Please check weather forecasts during your visit, as weather can change unexpectedly, and differs greatly by elevation. For detailed weather conditions, please see forecasts by area.
Update: All roads in the Giant Forest are currently open. If you're planning a hike, be prepared for a wide range of trail conditions, with snow lingering in shady areas. Never climb Moro Rock when the steps are icy or snowy.
Parking:
The Big Trees Trail/Round Meadow Parking Area, Main Sherman Tree Parking Area, the Lower Sherman Tree Parking Area ( along Generals Highway, accessible only), and the Wolverton Parking Area are open.
The Giant Forest Museum Parking Lot is now open.
The Lodgepole Parking Area is currently open for parking for hikers only; no other services are available in this area.
Museum:
Giant Forest Museum is currently open Friday through Monday.
Services:
Wuksachi Lodge is now open. Check visitsequoia.com or call (866) 807-3598 for details.
Limited lodging, camping, or food services are available in the Giant Forest during spring months. Please bring everything you need for your trip.
Trails:
Some Lodgepole trails remain closed due to impacts from the KNP Complex Fire, including portions of the Twin Lakes Trail, Wuksachi, and Muir Grove trails. We are continuously reevaluating trails for reopening.
Significant snow may still be present on the higher elevation backcountry trails, please be prepared for all winter conditions when planning your hike.
All roads in the Grant Grove area are currently open, with the exception of the Redwood Canyon Mountain Road and Panormaic Point Road. Trails and roads in the Redwood Canyon area were damaged in the KNP Complex Fire and will not reopen until conditions are safe. As snow melts, we are assessing trails, and when possible, reopening them. The Panoramic Point Road is scheduled to reopen soon.
Some national forest roads between the parks are still closed.
Visitor Center:
Kings Canyon Visitor Center information desk and Sequoia Parks Conservancy Park Store are open daily. The exhibits and theater are currently closed.
The Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park opened on May 9. We will post area conditions information here as it becomes available.
Consider a hike to Roaring River Falls (a 0.3 miles one way) or Zumwalt Meadow (just under a mile to first view of the meadow and back). Other attractions include Grizzly Falls and Junction View Overlook, both located along the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway (Highway 180).
Currently, no services are available in the Cedar Grove area; some are expected to open on Memorial Day weekend. Vault toilets are open.
Sentinel Campground in Cedar Grove has reopened and is available by reservation only.
Foothills Visitor Center and Sequoia Parks Conservancy Park Store are open daily. Other area features include Tunnel Rock, Hospital Rock and Hospital Rock Picnic Area, and several hiking trails.
The Foothills area of the park offers excellent hiking opportunities in spring when weather is mild and hills are green. Marble Falls Trail and Paradise Creek Trail are now open. Wildflowers are abundant this spring.
Creeks may rise in the afternoon when warmer temperatures melt snow at higher elevations. If you're hiking and encounter swift creek crossings, be prepared to turn back if conditions don't seem safe.
Masks are currently optional in NPS buildings and on public transportation. The NPS has updated its masking guidance based on the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels tool, which helps communities decide what prevention steps to take.
For the health and safety of others, please choose another time to visit a park if:
You are experiencing COVID-like symptoms such as a dry cough, fever, difficulty breathing, and/or loss of taste or smell.
You had close contact with someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
You are self-isolating or self-quarantining because you may have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 or are worried that you may be sick with COVID-19.
Recent Wildfire Activity
In Septermber 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. With some areas of the parks still closed as a result of the fire, expect open areas to be crowded with limited parking. Our closure map shows general areas (in yellow) and roads and trails (in red) that are closed.
Traffic Congestion
During weekends and holidays, our entrance stations become congested, especially at the Sequoia National Park entrance near Three Rivers, California. Check out these tips to avoid congestion or the inconveniences it may cause. We always recommend that you buy your entrance pass online before you arrive.
WiFi and Cellular Service
WiFi is available at Kings Canyon and Foothills visitor centers. However, if you use the NPS Mobile app, please try to download the app and data before you arrive. Cell phone service may be available in the Grant Grove developed area for Verizon customers, and outside the Foothills Visitor Center for AT&T customers. However, cellular service is not reliable at these locations.
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.
No permits are needed for day hiking. Some trails are closed due to impacts from the KNP Complex Fire.
Wilderness Permits and Overnight Backpacking, Outside of Quota Season
Through May 26, self-issue wilderness permits are available for overnight backpacking at Foothills and Kings Canyon visitor centers and at Giant Forest Museum. Some trails and trailheads are still closed in associations with the recent KNP Complex Fire.
Wilderness Permits during the Quota Season
May 27, 2022 - September 17, 2022
Wilderness permit reservations are available on Recreation.gov. Reservations can be made up to six months in advance of your trip, and are released daily at 7:00 AM Pacific Standard Time.
During the quota season, the number of people beginning trips each day is limited by entry point and a recreation fee is required. Reservations are available for most, but not all entry points.
Beginning Friday May 27, permit pick up will be available at the station closest to your desired trailhead: Mineral King Ranger Station, Foothills Visitor Center, Giant Forest Museum, Kings Canyon Visitor Center, or Road's End Permit Station-Cedar Grove.
Potwisha, Azalea, Buckeye Flat, Sentinel, and South Fork campgrounds are currently open. Potwisha, Azalea, Buckeye Flat, and Sentinel campgrounds require a reservation, while South Fork is first-come, first-served. South Fork is located in a remote part of Sequoia National Park. The road to this area is rugged and narrow; high-clearance vehicles are recommended.
This year, campground reservations will be available one month in advance of your stay, but can also me made on the same day of your visit. We recommend that you make reservations as far in advance of your stay as possible.
There are no shower or laundry facilities available in the parks this year.
For more information on camping in developed campgrounds in the park, visit our Camping web page.
