Road Conditions

Generals Highway winds through chaparral vegetation in the foothills along the canyon of the Kaweah River.

NPS Photo / Kirke Wrench

 

General Information

In 2024 there will be multiple roads undergoing construction repairs and other recovery work to address extensive road damage and hazard trees near roadways that occurred during extreme wildfires and flooding events from 2021 to 2023.

Information about current and upcoming road construction can be found on the Road Construction page.

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

If you still have questions after checking the road information below, call [phone] (press 1, then 1).

Scroll down for road conditions or use the following links to jump to the conditions you are interested in:

• General Highway
• Highway 180
• Sequoia National Park Roads
• Kings Canyon National Park Roads
• Other Roads near the parks, including those in Sequoia National Forest

 

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  Current Conditions

  Check in on current conditions in the parks.

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  Weather Forecasts

  Check the weather forecasts for different areas of the parks

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  2024 Road Construction

  Find out if road construction could impact your visit.

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  Winter Driving & Tire Chains

  Be prepared for snowy mountain roads! Chains may be required at any time.

 

 

Generals Highway

Sections of the highway are listed from south to north.

Road or Road segment	Park Areas	Road Description	Status	Conditions
Ash Mountain / Highway 198 Entrance Station to Hospital Rock	Foothills	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 with infrequent, minor construction delays on weekdays	There may be a flagger holding traffic for short periods just south of the Foothills Visitor Center during business hours.
Hospital Rock to Junction with Wolverton Rd	Foothills, Giant Forest	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 with minor construction delays	There may be one short delay for a traffic light where road damage makes the roadway less than two lanes wide. See the Road Construction page for more information about upcoming road construction delays and closures. Not recommended for vehicles longer than 22'
Junction with Wolverton Road to Wuksachi Lodge	Giant Forest, Lodgepole	This section of road provides access to Lodgepole Village, Lodgepole Campground, and Wuksachi Lodge	OPEN
Wuksachi Lodge to Montecito Sequoia Lodge		This section of the highway can temporarily close during snow storms in the spring.	OPEN
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
Quail Flat Snowplay Area to Junction with Highway 180	Grant Grove	This section of road provides access to Redwood Mountain Overlook and some portions of Sequoia National Forest.	OPEN

 

Highway 180

Road or Road segment	Park Areas	Road Description	Status	Conditions
Big Stump Entrance Station to Hume Lake Road	Grant Grove	Provides access to Kings Canyon National Park from Fresno and all points to the west. Subject to temporary closure due to snow events.	OPEN
Hume Lake Road to Roads End	Cedar Grove	Provides access to the Kings River Canyon and Cedar Grove area	SEASONAL CLOSURE	Expected to reopen late June at the earliest. See Road Construction page for more information.

 

Sequoia National Park Roads

Road or Road Segment	Park Areas	Road Description	Status	Conditions
Generals Highway	Foothills, Giant Forest, Lodgepole	This highway is the main access route to front-country areas of Sequoia National Park from both the south and north.	See Generals Highway table above	See the Road Construction page for more information about upcoming road construction delays and closures.
Middle Fork Road	Foothills	Unpaved past Buckeye Flat Campground.	CLOSED INDEFINITELY	Open to foot traffic. Closed due to washouts. Buckeye Flat Campground is also closed due to infrastructure damage.
Crystal Cave Road	Giant Forest		CLOSED FOR 2024	Closed due to extensive damage and hazard trees from 2021 KNP Complex Fire and flooding during extreme storms in winter 2022-2023. Repairs and recovery efforts will continue throughout 2024.
Crescent Meadow Road and Moro Rock Loop	Giant Forest	When closed to vehicles in winter, the road is open to winter recreation such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.	SEASONAL CLOSURE	Road is not plowed. There is not a set date for reopening. Spring reopening occurs after all winter snowpack has melted off the road.
Wolverton Road	Giant Forest	This road provides access to Wolverton snowplay area and, when it is open, the Sherman Tree Main Trail and Parking Area (see below)	OPEN
Sherman Tree Main Trail and Parking Area	Giant Forest	The main parking lot for walking to General Sherman Tree.	OPEN
Mineral King Road	Mineral King	This is a narrow road with many blind turns. Inside the park, the road is often less than two lanes wide, and there are no guardrails. Drive slow.	SEASONAL CLOSURE	Mineral King Road was damaged both inside and outside the park boundary. Mineral King Road typically reopens to public vehicles in late May. See the Road Construction page for more information.
North Fork Road	Foothills	Unpaved inside the park boundary	OPEN
South Fork Road	Foothills	Unpaved and impassable inside the park boundary.	CLOSED INDEFINITELY	Closed indefinitely. The road was completely destroyed during extreme winter storms of 2022-2023. Road repair options are still being assessed based on new landforms and instability following the storms.

 

Kings Canyon National Park Roads

Road or Road Segment	Park Areas	Road Description	Status	Conditions
Highway 180	Grant Grove, Cedar Grove	The main highway used to reach Grant Grove from Fresno and other points to the west	See Highway 180 table above	See Highway 180 table above
Generals Highway	Grant Grove	The highway route between Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park	See Generals Highway table above	See Generals Highway table above
Panoramic Point Road (Panoramic Drive)	Grant Grove	When closed to vehicles in winter, the road is open to winter recreation. Traction devices such as microspikes, snowshoes, or skis are strongly 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.	SEASONAL CLOSURE	Road is not plowed. There is not a set date for reopening. Spring reopening occurs after all winter snowpack has melted off the road.
Grant Tree Road	Grant Grove	Provides access to trails to General Grant Tree and surrounding sequoia groves.	OPEN
Redwood Mountain Road	Grant Grove	Unpaved road. Provides access to trails in Redwood Mountain sequoia grove.	CLOSED	Closed due to tread damage and tree hazards following the 2021 KNP Complex wildfire. No reopening date has been set.

 

Sequoia National Forest Roads and Other Roads Outside the National Parks

Road or Road Segment	Park Areas	Road Description	Status	Conditions
Highway 245	Near Grant Grove	This highway is often used to drive between Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks when Generals Highway is closed in the winter.	TEMPORARY CLOSURE	Closed between Highway 180 and Pinehurst through at least June 30 due to construction by Caltrans.
Hume Lake Road (Sequoia National Forest, northeast of Grant Grove)	Near Grant Grove	Paved road from Highway 180 to Hume Lake. Usually open year-round.	OPEN, call [phone] for conditions	Open from the junction with Highway 180 to around Ten Mile Campground. Please call the Hume Lake Ranger District for the most current road conditions: [phone].
Other Sequoia National Forest Roads		Paved and unpaved roads near the parks in the Hume Lake Ranger District of Sequoia National Forest		Call Hume Lake Ranger District at [phone]