Notes: Kings Canyon National Park, America's 25th national park, was established on March 4, 1940 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed legislation which preserved Kings Canyon and Evolution Valley (South Fork of San Joaquin River). The new park incorporated General Grant National Park, America's 4th national park (established on October 1, 1890), and smaller tracts to its south and east. Two months later, on June 21, 1940, President Roosevelt signed Proclamation 2411 which added Redwood Canyon, including a portion of Redwood Mountain Grove (the largest grove of giant redwoods), to the park.
On August 14, 1958, the park expanded again when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation which added Big Stump Grove. On August 6, 1965, the park expanded further when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed legislation which added Tehipite Valley (Middle Fork of Kings River) and Cedar Grove. On September 28, 1984, Kings Canyon National Park expanded for the last time when President Ronald W. Reagan signed legislation which transferred the Chimney Rock (also known as Jennie Lakes) Addition to the park.
Today, Kings Canyon National Park encompasses 722 mi2 (1869 km2) of terrain and receives nearly 600,000 visitors annually. Together, Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park contain 866 mi (1,394 km) of hiking trails.
Kings Canyon National Park includes the widest giant redwood (General Grant), 3 of the 20 largest trees on Earth (General Grant, Oregon, and Robert E. Lee), and 6 of the 30 largest giant redwoods (California, General Grant, Hart, Oregon, Robert E. Lee, and Roosevelt). The park contains 6 trees larger than 30,000 ft3 (850 m3), 4 trees larger than 35,000 ft3 (991 m3), 2 trees larger than 40,000 ft3 (1,133 m3), and 1 tree larger than 45,000 ft3 (1,274 m3).
General Grant is the largest tree in Kings Canyon National Park.
Kings Canyon National Park is directly in the path of the May 3, 2106 total solar eclipse.
Kings Canyon National Park includes 4 giant redwood groves:
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Kings Canyon National Park includes the following giant redwoods:
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Visit nps.gov/seki for seasonal hours, current entrance fees, and more information.
Drive: Kings Canyon Visitor Center in Kings Canyon National Park is located at 83918 California State Route 180 in Hume, California 203 mi (327 km) southeast of San Francisco.
Northbound: From U.S. Interstate 5 North, transfer to California State Route 99 North toward Bakersfield. Drive north 97 mi (156 km) on California State Route 99 and transfer to California State Route 198 East toward Visalia. Drive east 86 mi (138 m) on California State Route 198, past the Sequoia National Park entrance station (entrance fee required), and turn right onto California State Route 180 East toward General Grant Grove. Drive north 1.4 mi (2.2 km) on California State Route 180.
Southbound: From U.S. Interstate 5 South in Sacramento, transfer to U.S. Highway 50 East toward South Lake Tahoe. Drive east 1.7 mi (2.7 km) on U.S. Highway 50 and transfer to California State Highway 99 South. Near Fresno, transfer to California State Route 180 East. Drive east 58 mi (93 km) on California State Route 180, past the park entrance station (entrance fee required), toward General Grant Grove.
Turn right at the Kings Canyon Visitor Center near Grove Cabins.
Photos: Pictures of Kings Canyon National Park
