staying in 3 rivers in a little over a month.

anything specific I should know to hike these? I know nothing so anything is appreciated.

are there certain show up places or trails I need to hit?

thank you

Be careful for bears. When we'd go to Sequoia we saw some monster black bears around.

Haven't been there in 25 years, way too long ago. Looking forward to a post hike report.

SanAntoneAg said:

---

Don't get within 10 feet of the snow leopards.

---

with all due respect I would beat the **** out of a snow leopard

I'm sure you are aware that the high country will be under snow. Will you be snowshoeing? Some trails might need them but there are a few things you can do without.

Moro Rock - hike is longer to access but still very short even in winter
Trail of the Sequoias
During that make sure and see the Sherman Tree
Congress Trail


King's Canyon Specifically:
General Grant Trail
Mist Falls

I am trying to figure out what to do about the snow. are all of these you just sent in Sequoia?

we may not make the drive to Kings Canyon depending on the weather. it seems like its a 2 hour drive through the mountains from 3 rivers.

gigemJTH12 said:

---

I am trying to figure out what to do about the snow. are all of these you just sent in Sequoia?

we may not make the drive to Kings Canyon depending on the weather. it seems like its a 2 hour drive through the mountains from 3 rivers.

---

I edited to reflect the location. If the weather is ok and I heard as of last week the snow is still low (All Trails reports), you can do more. The drive to King's Canyon is just the start btw.

Without hiking into the backcountry KC is just HWY 180 to Roads End and then back. It is a beautiful drive but might not be worth your time.

that drive up to the park is short little switch backs so it takes a second especially with traffic. They also have pretty thorough restrictions on having tire chains if I remember but I lucked out and it wasnt snowing when I went around this time of year a few years back

You need to research what roads and hikes will be open or closed first. The road between the parks is usually closed until late spring.

Nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

It was closed just after the Sequoia visitor center when we went a couple of years ago because it was washed out ovwr the winter. Our nice little VRBO just outside the Sequoia main gate meant a 1.5 hour drive back around each time we went into the parks to access it from the north from King's Canyon.

The high country still had snow in July and it snowed on us during the trip. Made the hike to Tokopah Falls more challenging as it made it difficult to stay on the trail at times. Got to see a black bear through.

are you saying I wont even be able to get into Sequoia or just nothing beyond that?

There are two ways into Sequoia. So you should be able to drive in from where you are but the road that heads north and then NW and connects to Kings's Canyon closes near the Wuksachi Lodge. So you should be able to get up to the Giant Forest Area if nothing dumps on you before then but that can change.

You can't drive the road up to KC though. you would have to go the lon way around. The road into KC is closed at Hume Lake Road. So you can get to the General Grant Tree. Might not be worth the drive around to it though depending on your time.

I'm saying the link I posted will tell you.

is this the long way around you are talking about? looks like an hour and a half from my location

I keep looking at Moro Rock trail and it keeps saying closed. But they havent been getting snow. Is it a seasonal thing regardless of weather?

gigemJTH12 said:

---

is this the long way around you are talking about? looks like an hour and a half from my location

---

Yes.

And to the east you can see the scenic route that goes up to KC...and the middle part of that is what is closed in the winter.

As for Moro Rock...the road to the base is closed so you have to walk in from the gift shop. So instead of just .5 miles it will end up being ~4 miles total. People were doing it as of 3 days ago so it isn't "closed" due to snow/ice.

Take precautions for the altitude. I grew up in California, in the Bay Area near the coast, low elevation. My Scout troop would do a 5 day backpacking trip in the Sierra every summer, usually in Emigrant Wilderness or backcountry Yosemite.

We found it beneficial to spend a night prior to starting out on the hike just camping at altitude, to get the adjustment started.

Smeghead4761 said:

---

Take precautions for the altitude. I grew up in California, in the Bay Area near the coast, low elevation. My Scout troop would do a 5 day backpacking trip in the Sierra every summer, usually in Emigrant Wilderness or backcountry Yosemite.

We found it beneficial to spend a night prior to starting out on the hike just camping at altitude, to get the adjustment started.

---

we get in on Thursday and will have a nice relaxing evening around our camp site before starting some adventures on Friday

gigemJTH12 said:

---

is this the long way around you are talking about? looks like an hour and a half from my location

---

Yes. But that just drive time to the other gate. Now add the time down General's highway to all the things you'd want to see / do once inside the park. What was supposed to have been a 15 minute drive from Three Rivers to the Sequoia gate took closer to 2 - 2.5 hours up and around one way depending on where the roads are closed.

Crescent Meadow in Sequoia was one of the most peaceful solo hikes that I've ever done. It was around sunset and I had it all to myself (well, just me and the deer)…and this was over Memorial Day weekend when the park was packed. It's a 1.6 mile loop. I'm not sure how the conditions will be when you're there but check it out if you can.

There's a cave in the park too: Crystal Caves.

Also do everything else MPL posted.

I didn't find the altitude to be that bad coming from Houston the day before.