Absolutely stunning and incredible experience! I personally don't enjoy tours, but let me tell you…read moreeveryone needs to experience this tour at least once in their lifetime! My 5 year old and 7 year old did just fine. I honestly can't fully articulate how I felt during the experience, but it was 100% worth the drive. Our tour guide was amazing! She explained everything in such simple terms that even my children could completely understand what she was talking about. I was amazed knowing that I was standing underneath a natural cave it was such an incredible experience! It can get pretty chilly inside, but since we went during summer break, it actually felt perfect. Definitely an experience I'm glad we got to share as a family

First time for us four at Sequoia NP and we loved our experience in Crystal Cave. The staff overall…read moreloved what they do and you can tell. Right from the get go the staff welcomes your group and is telling you instructions to take care of yourself, your group and the caves/park. They greet you with enthusiasm and you learn so much. Please arrive on time! For parking there's quite a bit of spaces. There's restroom nearby so you can go before heading out. You can bring your backpack onto the trail but can't bring it inside the cave. So you can either bring it and leave it on the floor outside the cave or in your car. The trail can be a little challenging for some but very doable. Can be a little challenging for some children and some older adults. This also includes for the caves.The staff are there to watch for your safety but they do warn you about your surroundings. The cave is very cool to explore but there will be some tight spaces you will navigate through. So I don't recommend bringing a stroller and make sure your kids are able to walk and stay near. They will definitely enjoy the cool nature stuff inside! There's a gift shop stand near the entrance of the trail. You can buy nice souvenirs, snacks, and support! Overall we loved our tour and we would comeback again for this. Thank you to all the staff of Crystal Cave for all that you do and taking care of this natural beauty.

As part of our quest to visit all 63 U.S. national parks, we set off on a six week road trip. I…read morehave a personal rule: I only count a national park as "visited" if I actually spend time there, hike or walk through it, and truly experience it. On this trip, we visited 14 national parks, and Kings Canyon National Park quickly became one of my favorites. We stayed five days between Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, which gave us plenty of time to explore both at a relaxed pace. Staying in the middle made it easy to enjoy everything the area has to offer. Kings Canyon is simply breathtaking. The drive into the canyon reminded me very much of Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park. Around every curve, another spectacular view appears. Towering granite cliffs rise dramatically above the canyon, while the Kings River rushes below with crystal clear water, waterfalls, cascades, and rapids. It is one of those roads where you constantly want to pull over just to admire the scenery. Yes, the giant sequoias are magnificent, but Kings Canyon offers something different. The combination of the massive granite walls, the river carving its way through the valley, lush forests, and peaceful meadows creates an entirely different experience from neighboring Sequoia. The two parks complement each other beautifully. We were fortunate to drive into the canyon on a Sunday morning before the crowds arrived, making the experience even more enjoyable. The traffic was light, and we were able to stop often, take our time, and truly appreciate the beauty around us. The following day we returned, only to discover road construction and long delays, so we definitely felt lucky with our timing. One thing I would encourage visitors to do is not stop at Sequoia National Park alone. Many people come to see the giant trees and then leave, missing one of the most spectacular drives in California. Kings Canyon deserves just as much attention. In my opinion, the two parks should always be visited together. Whether you come for the towering sequoias, the dramatic granite peaks, the roaring river, or the incredible scenic drive, Kings Canyon National Park delivers an unforgettable experience. It is peaceful, majestic, and one of those places that reminds you just how extraordinary our national parks truly are.

I've been to Sequoia once, long time ago, and I just recently found out there's another side of the…read morepark where you can see beautiful mountains, waterfalls, and rivers. We came during Memorial Day weekend, and thank God the entrance was free. Surprisingly, it wasn't too crowded even though it was a long weekend. We didn't get the chance to explore all the scenery because the wait at the restaurant inside the park was super long -- around 2 hours or so. We still managed to do a short hike at General Grant Grove and explored Boyden Cavern afterward. That ended up being the highlight of our short trip. I highly recommend the cave tour -- it was absolutely beautiful inside, and the history behind it was fascinating. We'll definitely be coming back next time for camping!

The panoramic point was closed in last April and finally we could check it out this time. My hubby…read morehas been there before so he wanted to take me there. This place is hidden gem! You can choose to hike start from the trailhead at the end of Panoramic Point Road, 2 miles up from the park visitor center and market at Grant Village. We chose to drive up to the parking lot instead. It was about a 10 minute drive up on a narrow road from the John Muir Lodge. Gorgeous overlook and amazing views from the top. Highly recommended!

Panoramic Point maybe previously had the potential to be a worthwhile attraction right in the heart…read moreof Kings Canyon National Park. Before I discuss why I was a little frustrated with my experience, let me just give a few details and background about coming here. For my journey exploring Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP's...I stayed in this Grant Grove Village area right in between the border of both parks. I actually rented a tent cabin for a couple of evenings. Panoramic Point was situated just behind Grant Grove and the John Muir Lodge. It was relatively easy to find as there was a sign for it right along the road. If you have any difficulty locating it, the Kings Canyon Visitor Center is situated on the grounds of Grant Grove Village. Just go inside and ask a park ranger and they'll know exactly what you're talking about. Getting here....it was a straightforward drive of 1 - 2 miles up the mountain. Once I arrived, the parking lot was relatively empty around 9am as this was one of the first sights of the day I decided to uncover since it was in the vicinity of my cabin. Getting out of the car, I found the Panoramic Point Trailhead and a description of what the area was all about with what to expect along a short hike. Well, the hike was so quick....it was a 0.5 mile round trip walk. That's how short.... There were 2 main reasons why I was disappointed with Panoramic Point.... 1. Well, I could sense this area could have once been great for panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.....now it looked like over due time the natural skyline appearance had been tainted by trees. To clarify....during my visit a lot of random protruding trees and forest shrubbery appeared in my sightline from the overlook, which ultimately disturbed the scenic aspects of the landscape and beyond. These "unannounced" trees sort of hindered the entire background. I was left puzzled as to what was so special about this spot? I thought in my head...."well, had these trees not been in the way...the potential was there for Panoramic Point to be memorable". Continuing with this idea.....the views were just okay at best. And...the reason I'm convinced Panoramic Point was mediocre was because.....later on in the day I drove fabled 30-mile Generals Highway throughout Kings Canyon which ended at Zumwalt Meadow. Along this parkway I discovered magnificent views and majestic terrain much more inspiring than the short walk up here. In comparison some people may say Panoramic Point is recommended, but for me it was an afterthought especially after stopping at the many beautiful roadside pullovers on Generals Highway like.....Junction View, Yucca Point and Hotel Creek Overlook. My 2nd letdown about Panoramic Point (but this can be easily remedied, lol) was I visited here first thing in the morning over the summer time and I had the sun facing directly into my eyes. Grrrr....this made for picture taking to be difficult especially with the mountainous setting in the distance appearing fuzzy and hazy. So....if you do decide to visit here, I'd certainly suggest stopping on by in the afternoon time with the sun at your back to enhance photographic opportunities. Overall, Panoramic Point could have been momentous back in the day, but with all the new growths of trees rising high into the skyline....it interfered with the whole ambiance and made for a deflating experience. But hey, it's a part of nature. I was in acceptance of it and better to see growth of the forest rather than any wildfires destroying the land.....even if it's at the expense of a place aptly named Panoramic Point.

The staff were the nicest we could've ever hoped for. Made the poor judgement of driving into…read moresequoia in a Tesla and were desperate for EV charging (none in the park), but these guys had a charger and were so kind as to let us use it. Alexis and Nancy were absolute angels. Naturally, we ordered some good as our car charged, the quesadilla was great! I had the French dip sandwich and it was a little salty for my taste but pretty good otherwise. Also really quick service.

Great pricing for being so close to the park and portions are REALLY HEARTY! Food and staff were…read moreamazing! The chicken fried steak was outstanding, and I'm super picky about my fav road food. Cobb salad and wings, chef's kiss. Thank you, chef Lisa and staff! This was our first time visiting this entrance to the park and we 100% will be returning! Sarah, Paul, and service dog Jim

We visited on Jul 4, 2025 ... Happy Independence Day,…read moreAmerica! The General Grant Tree is located in Grant Grove in the Kings Canyon National Park. You will need to enter the gate of Kings Canyon National Park or Sequoia National Park to see it. Once inside either of these National Parks, you can traverse to the other without going through another entry gate. We arrived at the gate to Kings Canyon National Park by 8:38 in the morning. I highly suggest arriving as early as possible to avoid slow-moving traffic and potential line of stopped vehicles on the road with a prolonged wait time at the gate. We stopped in at the Kings Canyon Visitor Center & Grant Grove Village for a potty break and to check out souvenirs and information there. There's also a restaurant here if you need sustenance for your day. If you need Wi-Fi, you can connect here. Otherwise, reception is spotty at best out in the park! There are so many majestic Sequoia Trees to enjoy! This park is home to a famous tree named General Grant. We came to take in its grandeur! This is the second largest tree in the world by volume! By viewing this tree, I've now seen the world's widest-known Sequoia! After viewing this tree, we went over to Sequoia National Park to see the largest tree which is the General Sherman Tree. General Grant Trail is completely paved and is accessible by wheelchair. There is a parking area there as well. There are information signs pointing out things of interest. The signs are in English & Spanish and also include Braille. Things to see while taking the leisurely stroll around the approximately 0.5-mile loop General Grant Trail are - *General Grant Tree: a) named after General Ulysses S. Grant in 1867. b) In 1926, then President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed it the National Christmas Tree. Instead of taking the tree to a Christmas celebration, it is brought to the tree. A wreath is placed at its' base every second Sunday in December during the "Trek to the Tree". c) It was also named a Living Shrine in memory of the men and women of the Armed Forces who fought & died to keep this Nation free ... by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. It's the only living shrine in America! *Centennial Stump - the tree was cut in 1875. Part of it was sent to PA. *Gamlin Cabin - built in 1872 by the Gamlin brothers, who lived there until 1878. This park was established as General Grant National Park in 1890. The cabin was turned into a store and later became the first Park Ranger's quarters. It was inducted into the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. *Fallen Monarch - The trunk was hollowed by a fire and is on its' side. You are able to walk through it and get a sense of how massive these trees really are! There's a large hole (skylight) at what is now the top. Fun Facts: The Fallen Monarch was once used as a Saloon! It was also used as a stable for the horses of the Cavalry that guarded the park. FYI: Dogs are not allowed on the General Grant Trail. The General Grant Tree was way less busy than the quite congested General Sherman Tree.

The General Grant Tree Trail is a must go place for all visitors to the national park. It is…read morewell-paved, not too incline. you will first see the Fallen Monarch which is a fallen sequoia tree so huge that you can walk thru it like a tunnel, it's very photoworthy. Continue walking and you will see Centennial Stump and Gamlin Cabin (closed for repair), then you come to the General Grant Tree, it's huge and if you walk around the tree, you will see the huge fire scar on the tree trunk. Michigan tree is further down the trail, overall this is an interesting trail, don't miss it when you visit the national park Fun fact: General Grant Tree is world second-largest tree by volume, it is also known as the Nation's Christmas Tree.

Go on the week days! The weekend brings people that are there to party rather than camp. It's…read morehonestly not that loud and if you are staying up later it's no issue. The bathrooms are solid(not amazing but usable haha). The grant's grove village is a 10 minute walk from the camp ground and is a cute visitor center! Definitely gonna go again soon!!

Is it beautiful? Yes But the camp sites are a little close…read moretogether. The bathroom really needed a deep clean by the time we checked in on Sunday and two out of the four stalls were out of order. The bear boxes were very large, which we appreciated. But our site (60) was right on the road, so lots of road noise at night. Also, very close to the main road so you could hear cars driving. People were very loud after hours, and kept lights on their RVs. So this took away from the experience for sure. Overall, it's a national park campsite so you get what you get to be in the national park It was reasonably priced

Near the bathrooms bordering a large parking lot, a trail will lead you to some cool sights. The…read moretrail has 200 feet of elevation gain and about 1.5 miles round trip. It is not well-marked, which sucks because it can be a bit of a maze, so if you don't want to miss anything, you could drive 2 miles up the road to the Kings Canyon visitor center for a map. Bring bug spray and be sure to get your ears because that is where the weird rectangle flying things will hover and buzz near you like police helicopters over Long Beach at night. Sights: Just past a meadow is OLD ADAM, a forty-foot hollow but imposing piece of fire and lightning-scarred, centuries old wood that is not a tree, but merely a piece of one of the largest trees likely to ever exist. A ranger climbed inside to shine a light and found the carved names of history's passersby, including "Sparrow 1758" but they recommend a selfie instead. It is one of the oldest written histories of a European in California. If you pass a sign designating a mill that was once there (which is silly, they could say, hey, look at this big hole, it used to have a giant carved blood-soaked eagle used in Native American sacrifices, but yeah, it's a hole), you will find MARK TWAIN STUMP. Once one of the largest sequoias, the tree was cut down in 1891 so that a cross-section could be displayed in natural history museums in New York and London. The rest became grape stakes and fence posts. They added stairs so that you can climb it. On the way to the Stump I followed a sign to Feather Bed. I didn't see anything of interest. Maybe it's called FEATHER BED because you will fall asleep it is so boring. However, at the end of the trail I found SAWED TREE. Sawed Tree is a giant sequoia stump, spiked like Bart Simpson's hair, bearing the scars of a crosscut saw. I don't know if you are allowed to climb it, but it's climbable. I guess anything is climbable, really. Except my sister. Big Stump Grove is one of many sites on the north half of the park including General Grant Tree and Panoramic Point (3.7 mi), Junction View (15 mi up), Hume Lake (16mi), the Scenic Byway and Boyden Cavern (24mi), Grizzly Falls (29mi), Roaring River Falls (36 mi), and Mist Falls near Road End (40mi).

Never say never! In 2020 I wrote a review on Sequoia National Park and essentially mentioned that I…read morewould never come back for various reasons. I can honestly say that six years later, my perspective completely changed. The first time we went, I was with my young boys and they did not enjoy the long hike. The Park Ranger had given us a suggestion to go through trails that were too difficult for our family. This time, we parked at the Giant Forest Museum and followed the trail to the Big Trees Trail. This trail is 1 km long and the trail circles the Round Meadow. It was amazing! This was exactly the type of trail would have loved in 2020. This time, I brought my aunt with me and we did our research to ensure we embarked on a trail that was easy for everybody. The Big Trees Trail is exactly that! There were people on wheelchairs, young children, and families. There are plenty of large sequoias for amazing pictures, fallen over trees that children can walk through like a tunnel, and there was even a tree trunk with a smooth interior, and children were using it as a slide. Big rocks were sprinkled throughout the trail, and kids and adults were climbing on them and taking amazing pictures. It took about one hour to get through this trail, and it was breathtaking. After that, we drove to the General Sherman Tree parking lot and walked to see it. One thing I would change for our next visit: purchase pass online to save some time at the gate.

I've never seen a Sequoia tree and we were going to fix that. I absolutely love this national…read morepark. There were so many different hiking trails and great for people of all activity levels. I like meeting all the trees and some were named. It was like a scavenger hunt to see the creative names. The trees are just spectacular. I am definitely coming back and want to hike all the trails. I'm not a camper and while my friends camped, I slept in the car. We spent time at the Sentinal camp grounds and I made my first fire. They were busy during Labor Day.... Please come and create your own adventure.

Great place to stay at the heart of Kings Canyon! Easy to access and close to many beautiful trails.read more

It was my first time camping in awhile. It was great! The restrooms were clean and the area to…read morestore food had more than enough room! You will definitely see a bear or two just make sure to make loud noises to scare them away! But I highly recommend this place!

Less than 10 minutes drive from Cedar Grove visitor center,…read more parking at the Roaring River Trailhead Parking lot, then 5 minutes walk to Roaring River Falls, it's an easy walk and not crowded.

Well worth the drive up there. Such a beautiful and peaceful place. Quick walk from the parking lot…read moreand connected to 2 other short trails if you want to continue hiking.