Infos zum Sequoia & Kings Canyon NP

The Foothills Area of Sequoia National Park Reopening April 14

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Effective Friday, April 14, public access to the foothills of Sequoia National Park will be restored following massive flooding that caused major road damage last month. Access into the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park reopened last Friday, April 7.

The area to be reopened in Sequoia National Park extends six miles past the entrance station from Highway 198 in the town of Three Rivers, CA, to Hospital Rock. This area provides access to lower elevation trails, camping, river access, and more. Wildflowers are abundant in this area after a wet winter. There is no access to giant sequoias or snow from this area. The areas of Giant Forest, General Sherman Tree, Moro Rock, Wolverton Snowplay Area, and Wuksachi Lodge all remain closed and are not expected to open before Memorial Day.

The Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park is currently open to the public. Those who wish to visit giant sequoias, including the General Grant Tree, and play in the snow may do so here. Visitors should prepare by bringing sufficient water for their trip, snacks, a full tank of gas, tire chains or cables, and warm layers, expecting more than ten feet of snow in most areas.

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Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Provide Updates to Estimated Reopening Dates

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Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Tulare County, Caltrans, and others continue to make progress with damage assessments and repairs at a time when the public is eager to get out into their public lands and plan their summer vacations. Thanks to information provided by partner agencies we can share a couple significant updates as part of our weekly review of estimated reopening dates.

At this time, due to severe road damage along the Highway 180 corridor between Grant Grove and Cedar Grove, Caltrans does not expect repairs to be completed before the end of the summer season. This means public access is not expected into the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park for the 2023 summer season.

For Mineral King in Sequoia National Park, due to severe road damage along the Mineral King Road both inside and outside the park, public access is not anticipated before mid-June. Tulare County is working on temporary repairs to three sections of road damage outside the park boundary, these repairs are expected to continue into June. As soon as we’re able, the park will assess whether construction equipment will have the necessary access to begin repairs to severely damaged sections inside the park boundary. It is still unknown what, if any, public access will be possible this summer.

Link mit weiteren Infos und "Current status and projected reopening timeframes for 2023".

The Giant Forest Area in Sequoia National Park Reopens 6/2

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Access only from Kings Canyon National Park via Hwy 180

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Calif – The Giant Forest area of Sequoia National Park, home to the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree in the world (by volume), will reopen to the public on Friday, June 2. This area closed in early March in advance of what would become a catastrophic series of storms, 84 days ago. Those storms left behind severe road and infrastructure damage that continues to impact public access.

Access to the Giant Forest and Lodgepole areas will only be possible from Kings Canyon National Park, via the Big Stump entrance station on Highway 180. It is not possible to reach this area or giant sequoias from the Sequoia National Park entrance station on Highway 198 in Three Rivers. The section of the Generals Highway between the foothills area and the Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park remains closed and under active construction. This section of highway is estimated to reopen July 1.

Visitors are advised that although the Generals Highway from Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park to the Giant Forest has temporary repairs to restore public access, these repairs require caution and slower speed limits until permanent repairs are done later in the season.

The free park shuttle service will be in operation from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. This enables visitors to find parking and then explore the most popular sites via shuttle. Consider parking at Lodgepole Campground in the large lot just beyond the campground kiosk, then riding the shuttle to features in the Giant Forest area.

The Moro Rock/Crescent Meadow Road, leading to popular sites like Moro Rock and Tunnel Log, is closed to public vehicles on weekends and holidays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can access these areas by shuttle or foot. This road is open to public vehicles Monday through Friday when the area is typically less congested.

No camping will be available in this area until later in June. Reservations for Lodgepole Campground and other park campgrounds are required and can be made on Recreation.gov.

This year more than ever, we urge visitors to plan their trips in advance and become familiar with what areas are open. Many areas and services in the parks that would typically be open this time of year may remain closed through this summer season. For detailed information about where to enter the parks, what’s open, things to do, wilderness permits, accessibility, services, and more, visit our website at http://www.nps.gov/seki.

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Cedar Grove and Mineral King to remain closed until late spring or summer 2024

Due to road damage from extreme storms and flooding during winter 2022-2023, the Cedar Grove and Mineral King areas of the parks will remain closed and will not be accessible by car.

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Road Construction Closures and Delays Anticipated to Begin Mid-April in Sequoia National Park

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Tentatively beginning the week of April 15 visitors to Sequoia National Park can expect weekday, daytime closures, and delays for an estimated 4-week period between Hospital Rock and the Giant Forest area. This is the last remaining section of severely damaged roadway along the Generals Highway from the early 2023 winter storms, out of over 20. All other damage along the Generals Highway was repaired in 2023, but this section is requiring significant drilling and rebuilding with large heavy machinery, in a narrow and windy section of the road.

“While still impactful, we are grateful that the timing of these significant visitor impacts will take place after most spring break visitation and before the Memorial Day weekend summer kick-off,” said Rick Hall, Chief of Facilities, Maintenance, and Construction. “A lot of critical work was accomplished last year, and thanks to the incredible hard work of our National Park Service, Federal Highways Administration, and dedicated contractor teams, we are hopeful that the remaining road work will be completed in about an eight-week period this spring.”

For the estimated last four weeks of the project after May 10, weekday, daytime, traffic delays near the construction site are not expected to exceed 30 minutes.

Access to the Giant Forest area of Sequoia National Park, featuring the General Sherman Tree, Wuksachi Lodge, Moro Rock, and more, will remain accessible at all times during this timeframe by entering Kings Canyon National Park from Highway 180 and driving over via the Generals Highway.

Similar road construction will be taking place along the Mineral King Road of Sequoia National Park, but a start date or schedule have not been set and is not expected to begin before the end of April. This work is also estimated to take about 8 weeks to complete. When public access opens to Mineral King this season, delays are not expected to exceed 30 minutes.

Road construction by Caltrans outside the park on Highway 180 to Cedar Grove continues, and public access to Cedar Grove is expected to reopen for the season shortly after Caltrans repairs are complete.

Delay and closure schedules are subject to change, and we urge anyone planning to visit during this time to check our park road construction web page for the most current information.

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Road closures, delays to start in Sequoia National Park

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Sequoia National Park warns visitors of extensive roadway repairs on Generals Highway, leading to weekday closures and delays for about four weeks

Embark on a journey through Sequoia National Park this spring, but be prepared for weekday daytime closures and delays between Hospital Rock and the Giant Forest area as the park undertakes vital roadway repairs along Generals Highway.

Starting tentatively during the week of April 29, visitors to Sequoia National Park can expect weekday daytime closures and delays for an estimated four-week period between Hospital Rock and the Giant Forest area.

Originally slated to start on April 15, this project is addressing the last remaining section of roadway that has been severely damaged along the Generals Highway from the early 2023 winter storms. This is the last section out of over 20 that were damaged.

While all other damage along the Generals Highway was repaired in 2023, this particular section needs some significant drilling and rebuilding with large heavy machinery, which will be occurring in a narrow and winding section of the road.

The Generals Highway construction is expected to impose the following – tentatively – scheduled closures from April 29 to May 23:

Sunday: None

Monday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday to Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Saturday: None

The project is estimated to take approximately eight weeks to complete. During the last four weeks after the Memorial Day weekend, traffic delays near the construction site are not expected to exceed 30 minutes on weekdays.

utside of the park, road construction by Caltrans on Highway 180 to Cedar Grove is continuing, with public access to Cedar Grove expected to reopen for the season shortly after Caltrans repairs are complete.

The schedules for delays and closures are subject to change, and visitors planning to visit during this period are advised to check the park website for the most current information: https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/road-construction.htm.

Access to the Giant Forest area, home to the General Sherman Tree, Wuksachi Lodge, Moro Rock and more, will remain available at all times by entering Kings Canyon National Park from Highway 180 and driving over via the Generals Highway.

Similar road construction is planned along the Mineral King Road of Sequoia National Park, although a start date or schedule has not been established and is not anticipated to commence before the end of April. This work is also estimated to require about eight weeks to complete. When public access to Mineral King opens this season, delays are not expected to exceed 30 minutes.

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Cedar Grove to Reopen in Kings Canyon National Park

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Cedar Grove will reopen to public access on June 10, 2024, marking the first time visitors can return since severe flooding during the winter of 2022-2023 that caused significant damage.

The reopening is planned to follow a phased timeline:

June 10:

Day use and wilderness access

Road's End Permit Station

Visitor Center (open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., June 10 – Sept. 22)

Cedar Grove Pack Station

June 15:

Cedar Grove Market

June 21:

Cedar Grove Lodge, Grill, Showers, and Laundry Services

The Sentinel Campground is projected to open no earlier than July 1, as crews address maintenance issues from the storms. Other campgrounds in Cedar Grove are not expected to open this year. Campground reservations will open once a firm opening date is set.

Wilderness permits are anticipated to be available today, June 7. As a reminder, a number of walkup permits are available for each trailhead. Wilderness and campground reservations will be available at recreation.gov.

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Cedar Grove Campground Reopens on July 3 in Kings Canyon National Park

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Sentinel Campground in the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park will reopen on July 3, just in time for the 4th of July holiday weekend. Reservations will open the morning of July 2 at 7 a.m. through Recreation.gov. During the busy summer months visitors expecting to camp in the parks should ensure they have a reservation prior to arrival.

This reopening announcement was initially scheduled for the week of June 24 but was delayed due to wildfire activity in the region. Wildfires are still active, but not threatening this area of the parks at this time. Campers and visitors can expect smoky conditions with poor air quality, although conditions vary day by day. Reservations will be available on a one month rolling window to allow flexibility should fire and smoke conditions change.

The Cedar Grove area was closed in 2023 due to severe road damage on Highway 180 outside the park from the early 2023 winter storms. This area of the parks reopened for the season on June 10 and will close for the winter on October 28.

Hiring the necessary staffing levels required to operate all Kings Canyon National Park campgrounds has been unsuccessful this season. The parks' short-term solution is to temporarily close Sunset Campground in Grant Grove (except for group sites) in order to open Sentinel Campground in Cedar Grove. Officials are actively working on an alternate staffing model that may enable the opening of all campgrounds later this season. Campers are advised to watch for updates.

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All Sites in Sunset Campground Reopen on August 23 in Kings Canyon National Park

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All sites in Sunset Campground in the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park will reopen on August 23. Reservations are now open through Recreation.gov. Visitors expecting to camp in the parks should ensure they have a reservation prior to arrival.

The Coffee Pot Fire located in Sequoia National Park is active but is not expected to threaten this area of the park. Smoke from the fire is visible from some areas of the park and Grant Grove is currently experiencing moderate air quality, although conditions can change at any time. Visitors are encouraged to check our website for current conditions at http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/conditions.htm prior to visiting.

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Water System Upgrades Completed at Popular Lodgepole Campground Area

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Visitors to Sequoia National Park, as well as park employees, will benefit from an upgraded water distribution system in the Lodgepole Campground area, thanks to a recently completed $11 million rehabilitation project.

The project, which included $1.6 million provided by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund, delivers code-compliant services for potable water, firefighting, and water storage. Additional financing was provided by the National Park Service Line-Item Construction Fund.

Near hiking trails and the Giant Forest Grove featuring the mighty General Sherman Tree, Lodgepole is one of the park's most popular destinations. Located at 6,700 feet in elevation along the scenic Marble Fork of the Kaweah River, the Lodgepole area includes a visitor center, concessions market, food services facility, concession maintenance facility, 214 campground sites, eight restrooms, and 40 employee residences. The upgraded components will reduce deferred maintenance and repairs and prevent shutdowns caused by leaks and failures in the remote water system.

“We expect this upgraded system to provide substantive benefits to employees and visitors,” said park Superintendent Clay Jordan. “Key improvements include the installation of fire hydrants, a water main replacement, and road surface repaving to reduce hazards related to driving and snow removal.”

The Great American Outdoors Act is part of a broad effort to address the extensive deferred maintenance and repair backlog in national parks. Supported by revenue from energy development, GAOA's Legacy Restoration Fund is allocating up to $1.3 billion annually for five years to enhance national parks, ensuring their preservation and providing opportunities for recreation, education, and enjoyment for current and future visitors.

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Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Change Visitor Center Operation Schedule

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The Foothills Visitor Center, Kings Canyon Visitor Center, and Giant Forest Museum are now closed on scheduled days each week. Additionally, ranger programs in the parks are cancelled until further notice. The adjusted schedule for these visitor services are as follows:

Foothills Visitor Center is open Wednesday – Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Giant Forest Museum is open Friday – Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Kings Canyon Visitor Center is open Thursday – Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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This California cave is finally reopening. Here’s how to explore the underground wonder

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The stalactites and stalagmites of Sequoia National Park’s Crystal Cave, a sprawling subterranean wonder that’s been closed for four years, will be accessible again this summer.

But to get in during the open season of May 23 through Sept. 7, you’ll need tickets, which are available now.

Visitors will walk through the cave on 50-minute guided group tours, inspecting mineral formations and hearing about the cave’s history and rare geology. Rangers describe the trail — a steep half-mile to reach the cave, then a half-mile loop inside — as “strenuous,” featuring possible encounters with poison oak, bees, rattlesnakes and falling rocks. It’s not suitable for young children or anyone with claustrophobia, rangers say, and the stairs are roughly as tall as a 20-story building.

The cave is one of about 275 known caves in Sequoia and neighboring Kings Canyon National Park. The park’s only publicly accessible cave, it has been open to visitors since the 1940s, making it one of the most visited subterranean landmarks in California.

Savannah Boiano, executive director of the Sequoia Parks Conservancy, said many trees died near the cave in the drought of the 2010s, then ignited in the 2021 KNP Complex fire, forcing the cave’s closure. Next came winter storms in 2023, further damaging the 6-mile road to the cave. To prep for reopening, Boiano said, crews removed hazardous dead trees, repaired roads and replaced the cave’s solar-powered electrical system.

“It really has been the epicenter of some natural disasters,” Boiano said.

Crystal Cave includes more than 3 miles of surveyed passageways, carved by water over roughly a million years. Its temperature is a steady 50 degrees. Its walls are marble — not the granite that dominates the Sierra Nevada range — and an underground stream runs alongside much of the cave trail. The last and largest “room” is known as Marble Hall.

The Sequoia Parks Conservancy is handling the reservations for tours ($21.20 for adults, $11 for children under 10; pets forbidden), which are offered from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. In May, the tours are offered Friday through Monday, closed Tuesday through Thursday. From June through Sept. 7, tours are daily. Photography is allowed — but flashes, tripods, monopods and selfie sticks are banned. If weather forces a cave closure, refunds are offered.

Tickets will not be sold at the cave, the conservancy said. Park rangers advise visitors to buy cave tour tickets two months ahead, noting that historically, tours have sold out in July and August.

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Cedar Grove to reopen on April 25 with limited services

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After a seasonal winter closure, the Cedar Grove area in Kings Canyon National Park is set to reopen to visitor day use on Friday, April 25, at 7 a.m.

The reopening is a collaborative effort involving the National Park Service, California Department of Transportation, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company. These teams are crucial in ensuring the roadway is cleared of debris and rockslides that may have occurred over the winter, as well as restoring power and utility services.

Currently, the return of power to Cedar Grove is underway and is projected to be completed this Friday. Once power is restored, park staff can work to activate utility services. At this time, only vault toilets will be open. Visitors are advised to plan accordingly by bringing enough water, food, and other essential supplies for their visit.

Additional services and facilities will become available as repairs progress and conditions permit, beginning May 9, with the scheduled opening of Sentinel Campground. The Cedar Grove Market and Lodge are anticipated to open May 10. Sheep Creek, Canyon View, and Moraine campgrounds are expected to open later in 2025 after repairs and safety measures have been completed.

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Mineral King Road construction closures and delays in place through 2027

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This work does not impact the majority of visitors to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

A major rehabilitation construction project for Mineral King Road in Sequoia National Park began on April 1 this year and is planned to continue through the fall of 2027. Work will happen year-round, although this area of the parks is only open to public vehicle traffic from late May through October annually. Most visitors who come to the parks will not be impacted by this project, as the Mineral King Road turnoff from Highway 198 is located two miles prior to the main entrance of Sequoia National Park.

“This important project has been a long time coming,” Superintendent Clay Jordan said. “I am excited that we have been able to secure the funding and complete the planning to move forward. We’re collaborating closely with the Federal Highway Administration and are optimistic that visitors will be able to experience this iconic part of these parks even as the project progresses.”

Visitors to the Mineral King area should read the following information carefully, be aware of the delay schedule, and plan the timing of their visit accordingly.

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