Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Mike White
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Sequoia Kings Pack Train
800-962-0775 (summer)
760-387-2627 (winter)
Additional Park Facilities
To reduce environmental concerns, gasoline is not available within park boundaries, except for in emergencies. Motorists approaching the parks from the west will find the least expensive fuel in Visalia or Fresno. Closer to the parks, prices tend to rise. Gas is available in Three Rivers, Hume Lake, Clingan’s Junction, and at Kings Canyon Lodge.
East side travelers won’t find any bargain prices in the towns along US 395, but Bishop is the least expensive.
Here are a few other key park facilities on the west side:
Post offices: Lodgepole and Grant Grove
Showers and laundry: Lodgepole, Grant Grove, and Cedar Grove
Groceries and supplies: Lodgepole, Grant Grove, and Cedar Grove
Snack bar and deli: Lodgepole, Grant Grove, and Cedar Grove
Restaurants: Wuksachi Village and Grant Grove
Nonprofit Organization
Sequoia Natural History Association (SNHA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting education, interpretation, research, and the natural and historic preservation of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Devils Postpile National Monument, and Lake Kaweah. SNHA is committed to enriching the experiences of visitors and promoting public awareness of the significance of public lands through educational programs, publications, and financial support.
The SNHA participates in the following activities:
Operation of visitor center bookstores
Operation of the Sequoia Field Institute and Beetle Rock Education Center
Publication of the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks newsletter
Free and low-cost school programs
Tours of Crystal Cave
Operation of the Pear Lake Ski Hut
Purchasing supplies for ranger programs
Financing active protection of black bears
Field seminar courses
Funding visitor center and trail exhibits
Providing information staff at visitor centers
Publishing books and maps of the parks
Funding scientific research within the parks
Membership categories include: park partner for $25 per year, green partner for $40 per year, supporter for $65 per year, business sponsor for $150 per year, and park guardian for $300 per year. Membership benefits include the following: a 15-percent discount on visitor center and online purchases, discounts at Pear Lake Ski Hut and on all Sequoia Field Institute seminars and naturalist services, copies of the biannual Seedlings and Nature Connections newsletters, a monthly email newsletter, a 10- to 20-percent discount at most other national park visitor center bookstores, connection coupons, volunteer opportunities, and discounts on local lodging. For more information, contact them at: 47050 Generals Highway #10, Three Rivers, CA 93721, 559-565-3759, 559-565-3728 (fax). Email them at [email protected] or learn more at www.sequoiahistory.org.
Wilderness Ethics and Trail Courtesy
The American wilderness evokes notions of wild and undeveloped places, where humans are simply visitors who leave no trace of their presence. The “leave only footprints, take only photographs” motto popularized during the back-to-earth movement of the 1970s embodies just such a principle. The goal of all visitors, hikers, backpackers, and equestrians should be to leave a wilderness area as they found it, if not better.
The following backcountry guidelines should keep the wild in wilderness. When camping:
Camp a minimum of 100 feet from any water source.
Choose a campsite away from trails.
Never build improvements (fireplaces, rock walls, drainage swales, etc.).
Camp on exposed dirt or rock surfaces not on vegetation.
Use only downed wood for campfires; never cut trees (dead or alive).
Use only existing fire rings.
Never leave a campfire unattended.
Fully extinguish all campfires by thoroughly soaking them with water.
To keep yourself healthy and the wilderness pristine, please:
Bury waste in soil six inches deep, a minimum of 100 feet from trails, and at least 500 feet from water sources.
Pack out toilet paper in heavily used areas.
Cook only the amount of food you can eat to avoid having to dispose of leftovers.
Wash and rinse dishes, clothes, and yourself a minimum of 100 feet from water sources; never wash in lakes or streams.
Pack out all trash—do not attempt to burn plastic or foil packaging.
Filter, boil, or treat all drinking water.
On the trail, always:
Stay on the trail; do not cut switchbacks.
Preserve the serenity of the backcountry; avoid making loud noises.
Yield the right-of-way to uphill hikers.
Yield the right-of-way to equestrians; step well off the trail on the downhill side.
Avoid traveling in large groups.
Because trail conditions can change, either from natural or human causes, hikers should check with ranger stations for updates before starting a hike.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks have some park-specific regulations:
Group size is limited to 15 (8 for parties traveling off of developed trails).
Pets, weapons, wheeled vehicles, hunting, and motorized equipment are prohibited.
Campfires are prohibited above 10,400 feet in Sequoia National Park, above 9000 feet in the Kaweah River drainage, and above 10,000 feet in Kings Canyon National Park. Campfires are also prohibited at Mineral King Valley, Nine Lakes Basin, Hamilton Lakes, Upper Big Arroyo, Pinto Lake, Lower Crabtree Meadow, Granite Basin, and Redwood Canyon.
Food must be stored so that it is completely inaccessible to bears. Food must be stored in bear canisters or food lockers on the Rae Lakes Loop, in Dusy Basin and Palisade Basin, and along Rock Creek.
Do not camp within 100 feet of lakes and streams.
Camping is limited to 25 people per night at Pear and Emerald Lakes at designated sites only. Advanced reservations are not available for these sites. Permits are issued by the Lodgepole trailhead office.
Stock users should consult the park website for current grazing regulations.
Inyo National Forest has its own regulations:
Group size is limited to 15.
Bear canisters are required for the Cottonwood Lakes, Mt. Whitney, Kearsarge Pass, and Bishop Pass areas.
Campfires are prohibited in