Kings Canyon in April

[kkfinley]

My DH would like to drive to Kings Canyon to see the General Sherman when we visit LA/Disneyland the first week of April.

What are the chances that we will be able to get into the park at that time? Will we need to rent a 4x4 type vehicle?

Thanks for your help!

 

[PrincessInOz]

I would recommend that you check the Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Park Service for information on road open/closures. They would be best placed to provide you with up to date information about access.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I agree. Check with the parks. They never know if it's going to snow at that time.

The General Sherman is located in Giant Forest, in Sequoia. You'd need to take the General's Hwy from Grant's Grove in King's Canyon to the Giant Forest. The road may not be open. However, you might be able to visit Grant's Grove, itself, which has a beautiful trail around these giants.

http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/road-conditions.htm

 

[kkfinley]

I agree. Check with the parks. They never know if it's going to snow at that time.

The General Sherman is located in Giant Forest, in Sequoia. You'd need to take the General's Hwy from Grant's Grove in King's Canyon to the Giant Forest. The road may not be open. However, you might be able to visit Grant's Grove, itself, which has a beautiful trail around these giants.

http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/road-conditions.htm

Thank you for the link and the beautiful picture. DH says we will try to go to Grant's Grove as it will probably be the easiest route. I have bookmarked the info page and will check back as our trip gets closer.

 

[BW DISfan]

This year you will probably be fine. There hasn't been much snow in the mountains this season. I live in the very bottom of the Sierras in Tehachapi.

 

[MaryJ]

This year you will probably be fine. There hasn't been much snow in the mountains this season. I live in the very bottom of the Sierras in Tehachapi.

We are thinking about going to Sequoia and Yosemite in June. I would assume that we should be fine then too.

 

[bcla]

We are thinking about going to Sequoia and Yosemite in June. I would assume that we should be fine then too.

This year? Not a problem. The last couple of years Tioga Road opened in May. The only issue you might have is that the waterfalls might be a little bit sad looking. I've been to Yosemite in a low snow year and Yosemite Falls was looking pretty weak by mid June.

SEKI should be fully open by late May.

 

[BW DISfan]

We are thinking about going to Sequoia and Yosemite in June. I would assume that we should be fine then too.

Greetings fellow Hoosier! And yes June is a good time to see Yosemite and Sequoia. Just note that the The Valley floor in Yosemite is usually very busy. Besides all the big sights like el capitan and half dome, soda springs is also pretty cool. It is on the east side by the Dog Lake trail, which is my favorite trail in Yosemite.

 

[MaryJ]

Thanks for all the information. We are thinking about going the first week of June. Hopefully there will still be school in session in some parts of the country, so the crowds may be less.

Our next step in the process is to find a place to stay. I get the feeling from my hubby that he would like to stay somewhere between Yosemite and Sequoia and drive in, but I'm not sure how practical this would be. It isn't necessary for us to stay in the national park, but we might like to visit the lodge in Yosemite for lunch.

Can anyone give us some recommendations about where we could stay in each place?

BW DISfan....where in Indiana do you call home?

 

[bcla]

Thanks for all the information. We are thinking about going the first week of June. Hopefully there will still be school in session in some parts of the country, so the crowds may be less.

Our next step in the process is to find a place to stay. I get the feeling from my hubby that he would like to stay somewhere between Yosemite and Sequoia and drive in, but I'm not sure how practical this would be. It isn't necessary for us to stay in the national park, but we might like to visit the lodge in Yosemite for lunch.

Can anyone give us some recommendations about where we could stay in each place?

BW DISfan....where in Indiana do you call home?

The place you describe would be Fresno.

If you're going to be spending multiple days, then I wouldn't stay in Fresno unless it's a decompress day in between. It'll take hours to get to each park from Fresno.

The usual places to stay near Yosemite would be Mariposa or Oakhurst. Staying inside the park would be ideal but isn't easy to get for the peak season. There are some places just closer to the Arch Roch Entrance including Cedar Lodge and Yosemite View Lodge. Both are basically large motels with motel standards but hotel prices. Of course they can do that given their location.

In SEKI it's a bit easier to find a place. The cabins at Grant Grove village aren't too bad, if you like a rustic cabin experience. They also have the newer John Muir Lodge there. There are other places to stay in the area, including Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia NP and Cedar Grove Lodge in Kings Canyon NP. There are also various lodges in national forest land in between, such as Stony Creek Lodge, Montecito Sequoia Lodge, and Kings Canyon Lodge (which comes with lots of warnings).

http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/lodging.htm
http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/lodgingoutsideparks.htm

I'm looking to go camping this year. Campground reservations become available tomorrow morning (7 AM Pacific Time) for stays starting on June 15. It's basically a free for all.

This is a review of Kings Canyon Lodge. When I drove by, it seemed a little bit odd.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/kings-canyon-lodge-kings-cyn-nationl-pk

Stopped for some ice cream, $2.50 for one scoop. The guy that waited on us gave me the distinct impression that he did not want to be bothered by us or our business.

Kind of a funny little place with lots of religious plaques with godly little sayings, mixed with lots of stuffed dead animals. Don't get it.

The restroom was dingy, no toilet paper, trash on the floor - you get the picture.

Apparently you can stay at the so called lodge here; reminds me of the Psycho movie set. Couldn't pay me to stay here.

** **

Service was fine in that you're-interrupting-my-nap-on-the-couch-in-the-*noon-day-heat-you-sonoffa***** type of way. Lots of monosyllabic words, chin points, nods.

 

[BW DISfan]

BW DISfan....where in Indiana do you call home?

I am from the little town of Clay City in south Clay County. The farm land.

 

[MaryJ]

I am from the little town of Clay City in south Clay County. The farm land.

I know Clay City! The pastor who married us was from there. Last name was Yegerlehner. I'm in Mt. Vernon, near Evansville.

 

[gister]

Thanks for posting, I always wanted to go there myself.

 

[BW DISfan]

I know Clay City! The pastor who married us was from there. Last name was Yegerlehner. I'm in Mt. Vernon, near Evansville.

That's cool, not many people know Clay City. I went to school with a bunch on Yegerlehners.