Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, California

These two parks are adjacent to each other in the Sierra and Inyo National Forests, just a short drive from Death Valley National Park and the California/Nevada state line. Because these parks range drastically in elevations - 1300 to over 14,000 feet in elevation - their activities vary greatly, depending on the season you chose to visit. These parks are a testament to nature’s size, beauty, and diversity; boasting of immense mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, and the world’s largest trees. Recreation and park activities include ranger programs, camping, picnicking, scenic drives, cave tours, skiing and snowshoeing, rock climbing, hikes and nature trails, wildlife watching and birding, horseback riding, kayaking and canoeing, and much more.

Humans have traveled or lived in the Southern Sierra for at least 6-7,000 years. During those days the parks were home to hunters and gatherers - the Monache or Western Mono, and the Yokuts. In the late 1700s and early 1800s the Spanish began exploring the region. Soon after their discovery of this area, trappers, miners, herders, and loggers poured into the region seeking to make a living by exploiting whatever natural resources the mountains had to offer. By the end of the 19th century the surrounding communities exceedingly looked to this area for water and recreation. In this ongoing struggle for the resources and keeping the natural environment intact, the two parks were established and today they protect 265 Native American archeological sites and 69 other historical sites.