Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 275 million visitors every year. But our work doesn’t stop there.
We are proud that tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individual citizens ask for our help in revitalizing their communities, preserving local history, celebrating local heritage, and creating close to home opportunities for kids and families to get outside, be active, and have fun.
Taking care of the national parks and helping Americans take care of their communities is a job we love, and we need—and welcome—your help and support.
The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.
How do I obtain a park entrance pass?
Only 118 of your 417 park sites charge entrance fees. You can obtain park entrance passes by visiting a park site that charges an entrance fee. Entrance fee sites have passes available; we recommend calling a park prior to your visit. (See the park search to locate a specific park.) There are a number of entrance passes available, including park-specific passes as well as passes that offer entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites in addition to the national parks (Annual, Military, Senior, 4th Grade, Access, and Volunteer passes). Learn more about the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.
About this location:
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
These parks are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Rarely, extreme weather conditions may cause roads into the parks to be closed.
Standard Hours
A Land of Giants
This dramatic landscape testifies to nature’s size, beauty, and diversity–huge mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, and the world’s largest trees. These two parks lie side by side in the southern Sierra Nevada east of the San Joaquin Valley. Weather varies a lot by season and elevation, which ranges from 1,370′ to 14,494′.
Two highways enter the parks. Hwy 180 from Fresno leads east to Kings Canyon National Park, then continues 30 miles east to Cedar Grove. Hwy 198 from Visalia leads east to Sequoia National Park via Three Rivers. Inside the parks, Highway 198 becomes the Generals Highway, which connects 198 to 180. Vehicles over 22-feet long should enter the parks via Highway 180. In winter, the Generals Highway between the parks often closes. Chains may be required on park roads. No roads cross these parks east to west.
Foothills Visitor Center
In the foothills oaks and chaparral; elevation 1,500 feet (457 m). Focus here is on the Sierran foothills, the most biologically diverse area of these parks. Giant Forest Museum
Housed in a historic market building in the Giant Forest sequoia grove at 6,500 feet (1,980 m) elevation. Learn about sequoia groves and fire. Get park information and browse books in a small bookstore. Kings Canyon Visitor Center
This visitor center is in Grant Grove Village at an elevation of 6,500 feet (1,980 m). Stop here to learn about three magnificent regions in Kings Canyon National Park: giant sequoia groves, the Kings Canyon itself (often called Cedar Grove), and the High Sierra. Watch a 15-minute movie (English/Spanish). A park store sells books, maps, and educational materials. Other services include accessible restrooms, a pay phone, local wilderness permits, and an AED for cardiac emergencies. Lodgepole Visitor Center
In the conifer zone; elevation 6,700 feet (2,040 m). Explore the natural and human history of the southern Sierra Nevada and view a short video, “Bears of the Sierra.” Cedar Grove Visitor Center
This visitor center is next to the South Fork of the Kings River in mixed conifer forest at an elevation of 4,600 feet (1,400 m). Learn about the natural and cultural history of the Cedar Grove area. A bookstore offers books, maps,and educational items. Other services include accessible restrooms and a pay phone. Mineral King Ranger Station
In the mixed-conifer forest; elevation 7,600 feet (2,320 m).This small station houses some exhibits on Mineral King’s human and natural history. Books, maps, and educational items for sale. Bear canisters available. Pay phone in nearby campground. First aid. Local wilderness permits.
Because of the extreme elevation range in these parks, weather conditions vary widely between areas. In summer, the sequoia groves have comfortable temperatures and the foothills are hot and dry. Snow lingers on high-mountain passes well into summer. In fall, some areas close or reduce their hours. Winter brings snow to sequoia groves and rain to the foothills. Be prepared for tire chain requirements. Spring is a great time to hike in the foothills and snow begins to melt at higher elevations.