Stand in awe of the tallest trees on Earth
Adjacent to mighty Yosemite National Park, but no less majestic, the twin parks of Sequoia and Kings Canyon are a study in superlatives: Nature is at its deepest, tallest, strongest and widest here. Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the continental U.S., is found in Sequoia, while Kings River Canyon – which rivals the Grand Canyon in sheer size – is found in Kings. Whether you limit yourself to one park or the other or try to tackle both, you’ll need a couple of days minimum to take in the splendor. And you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find half as many visitors as at Yosemite.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks lie side-by-side in the southern Sierra Nevada region of California, east of the San Joaquin Valley. This landscape testifies to nature's size, beauty, and diversity — huge mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns and towering sequoia trees.
Only one road, the Generals Highway, loops through the parks. Don’t stay in your car because you’ll miss the grandeur of the experience: feeling yourself to be a small and humble creature at the ankles of the giant sequoias. To experience their magnificence, plan to hike along the Redwood Canyon trail or the Big Trees trail; or, if you come in winter, explore the park by snowshoe or cross-country skis. The park also offers opportunities to horseback ride, rock climb and picnic
A forest with giant sequoias the largest trees in the world, is a feast for the senses. Take the time to experience the beauty of these trees and the other plants and animals that live in these forest.
Giant sequoiad grow at middle elevations along the west slope of the Sierra Nevada. While not the world´s oldest trees they are known to reach ages of up to 3,400 years. Tree ring studies of giant sequoias provide a long record of climate and fire history, helping park mangers and scientists better understand relationships of climate, fire, and the giant sequoia life cycle.
Credit: Visit The USA
