Road Conditions

Visiting in Fall, Winter, and Spring?

Tire chains can be required at any time on some park roads due to snow and ice. Which vehicles require traction devices can also change at any time. Prepare for winter driving by carrying properly sized snow traction devices for your vehicle. Chains can sometimes be purchased or rented from businesses near the entrance stations.

For your safety and the safety of others, vehicles that do not have proper snow traction devices may not be allowed on certain roads or may not be allowed to enter the parks.

A park alert will be posted whenever chains are required -- click on the Alerts symbol at the top of any web page. The road information tables below identify sections of road that require vehicle chains. More specific information about chain requirements can be available on the Road Information Hotline. Entrance stations and visitor centers will have the most current and specific information about chain requirements.

Road Information Hotline:

(559) 565-3341 (press 1, then 1)

Other Information:

See the Current Conditions page for information about conditions beyond roads.

 
 

Generals Highway

This is the main highway that connects Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and provides access to the Giant Forest.
Segments of the highway are listed from south to north.

Road Segment Status

Ash Mountain / Highway 198 Entrance Station to Hospital Rock

Foothills Area

The southern-most six miles of the highway along Middle Fork Kaweah River, from the park entrance station near Three Rivers, CA, to the Hospital Rock Picnic Area.

OPEN

Hospital Rock to Junction with Wolverton Rd

Foothills, Giant Forest Areas

This section of highway features many hairpin turns and is not recommended for vehicles longer than 22'. Tire chain restrictions are frequently in effect due to snow and ice on a narrow, curvy roadway.

OPEN - ACTIVE ALERT

Due to snow and ice on the roadway, all vehicles, including 4WD and AWD, must carry snow traction devices for tires. Please call 559-565-3341, for specific road conditions and chain control information.

Junction with Wolverton Road to Wuksachi Lodge

Giant Forest, Lodgepole Areas

This section of road provides access to Lodgepole Village, Lodgepole Campground, and Wuksachi Lodge.

OPEN - ACTIVE ALERT

Due to snow and ice on the roadway, all vehicles, including 4WD and AWD, must carry snow traction devices for tires. Please call 559-565-3341, for specific road conditions and chain control information.

Wuksachi Lodge to Montecito Sequoia Lodge

This section of road travels from Sequoia National Park into Sequoia National Forest. The highway can temporarily close during snow storms in the spring.

OPEN - ACTIVE ALERT

Due to snow and ice on the roadway, all vehicles, including 4WD and AWD, must carry snow traction devices for tires. Please call 559-565-3341, for specific road conditions and chain control information.

Montecito Sequoia Lodge to Quail Flat Snowplay Area

This section of road provides access to several trailheads in Sequoia National Park as well as portions of Sequoia National Forest.

OPEN - ACTIVE ALERT

Due to snow and ice on the roadway, all vehicles, including 4WD and AWD, must carry snow traction devices for tires. Please call 559-565-3341, for specific road conditions and chain control information.

Quail Flat Snowplay Area to Junction with Highway 180

Grant Grove Area

This section of road provides access to Grant Grove and Redwood Mountain Overlook in Kings Canyon National Park, and some portions of Sequoia National Forest.

OPEN - ACTIVE ALERT

Due to snow and ice on the roadway, all vehicles, including 4WD and AWD, must carry snow traction devices for tires. Please call 559-565-3341, for specific road conditions and chain control information.





 

Highway 180

This highway provides access to Kings Canyon National Park from Fresno, and connects the Grant Grove and Cedar Grove areas of the park.
Segments of the highway are listed from west to east.
Road Segment Status

Big Stump Entrance Station to Hume Lake Road

Grant Grove Area

Provides access to Kings Canyon National Park from Fresno and all points to the west. Subject to temporary closure due to snow events.

OPEN - ACTIVE ALERT

Due to snow and ice on the roadway, all vehicles, including 4WD and AWD, must carry snow traction devices for tires. Please call 559-565-3341, for specific road conditions and chain control information.

Hume Lake Road to Roads End

Grant Grove Area

Provides access to the Kings River Canyon and Cedar Grove area.

CLOSED

This section of the highway is closed for the winter. It typically reopens in late April.





 

Sequoia National Park Roads

Road Status

Generals Highway

Foothills, Giant Forest, Lodgepole, Grant Grove Areas

This is the main highway that connects Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and provides access to the Giant Forest.

See the Generals Highway Table above.

Middle Fork Road

Foothills Area

This road leads to Buckeye Flat Campground and is unpaved beyond.

CLOSED

Closed Indefinitely

Foot traffic only. Road closed due to washouts. Buckeye Flat Campground is closed due to infrastructure damage.

Crystal Cave Road

Giant Forest Area

This road leads to Buckeye Flat Campground and is unpaved beyond that.

CLOSED

Closed for 2024

Closed due to extensive damage and hazard trees from the 2021 KNP Complex Fire and flooding during extreme storms in winter 2022-2023. Repairs and recovery efforts will continue in spring 2025.

Crescent Meadow Road and Moro Rock Loop

Giant Forest Area

In the summer, this road is most easily accessed by free shuttles.

CLOSED

These roads are not cleared of snow in winter or during winter storms. When the roads are closed to vehicles, they are open for winter recreation opportunities such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The roads will reopen if snow and ice melt off the roadway.

Wolverton Road

Giant Forest Area

This road provides access to Wolverton snowplay area and, when it is open, the Sherman Tree Main Trail and Parking Area (see below).

OPEN - ACTIVE ALERT

Due to snow and ice on the roadway, all vehicles, including 4WD and AWD, must carry snow traction devices for tires. Please call 559-565-3341, for specific road conditions and chain control information.

Sherman Tree Main Trail and Parking Area

Giant Forest Area

The main parking lot for walking to the General Sherman Tree.

OPEN - ACTIVE ALERT

Due to snow and ice on the roadway, all vehicles, including 4WD and AWD, must carry snow traction devices for tires. Please call 559-565-3341, for specific road conditions and chain control information.

Mineral King Road

Mineral King Area

This road is very narrow and curving and the upper portion is partially unpaved. The road is often less than two lanes wide, and there are no guardrails. RV's and trailers are not recommended (nor permitted in the Mineral King campgrounds). Drive slow.

CLOSED

Closed at the park boundary to general vehicle traffic for the winter season.

North Fork Road

Foothills Area

Unpaved inside the park boundary.

OPEN

South Fork Road

Foothills Area

Unpaved. High clearance vehicles recommended.

OPEN - ACTIVE ALERT

Alert: A portion of the road reopened in late summer 2024 -- it is not possible to drive to the trailhead parking area at end of the road . The South Fork Campground remains closed. The Lady Bug Trail is closed due to impacts from the 2024 Coffee Pot Fire.





 

Kings Canyon National Park Roads

Road Status

Highway 180

Grant Grove, Cedar Grove Areas

This highway provides access to Kings Canyon National Park from Fresno, and connects the Grant Grove and Cedar Grove areas of the park.

See the Highway 180 Table above.

Generals Highway

Foothills, Giant Forest, Lodgepole, Grant Grove Areas

This is the main highway that connects Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and provides access to the Giant Forest.

See the Generals Highway Table above.

Panoramic Point Road (Panoramic Drive)

Grant Grove Area

This road leads from Kings Canyon Visitor Center to Panoramic Point.

The road is narrow. RVs and trailers are not permitted.

In the winter this road is not plowed. It closes to vehicles when snow accumulates. The road reopens if snow melts off the roadway. When closed to vehicles in winter, the road is open to winter recreation.

CLOSED

In the winter this road is not plowed. It closes to vehicles when snow accumulates. The road reopens if snow melts off the roadway. When closed to vehicles in winter, the road is open to winter recreation

Grant Tree Road

Grant Grove Area

Provides access to trails to General Grant Tree and surrounding sequoia groves.

OPEN - ACTIVE ALERT

Due to snow and ice on the roadway, all vehicles, including 4WD and AWD, must carry snow traction devices for tires. Please call 559-565-3341, for specific road conditions and chain control information.

Redwood Mountain Road

Grant Grove Area

This unpaved road leads from the Generals Highway to Redwood Mountain Trailhead.

CLOSED

Closed due to tread damage and tree hazards following the 2021 KNP Complex wildfire. No reopening date has been set.





 

Other Area Roads

Road Status

Highway 245

Near Grant Grove, west of the parks

This highway is often used to drive between Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks when Generals Highway is closed in the winter.

OPEN

Hume Lake Road

Sequoia National Forest, northeast of Grant Grove

Paved road from Highway 180 to Hume Lake. Usually open year-round.

OPEN - CALL AHEAD FOR CONDITIONS

Call the Hume Lake Ranger District for the most current road conditions:
(559) 338-2251

Other Sequoia National Forest Roads

Paved and unpaved roads near the parks in the Hume Lake Ranger District of Sequoia National Forest

Call the Hume Lake Ranger District for the most current road conditions:
(559) 338-2251





 

Trail, Road and Area 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. Check the Alerts at the top of this page for additional road closures.

 
 

Last updated: December 12, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

47050 Generals Highway
Three Rivers, CA 93271

Phone:

559 565-3341

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