Operating Hours
Open year-round.

Visitation
Highest June to Aug. with Aug. being busiest; lowest Dec. to Feb.

Permits
Must obtain a free backcountry permit at any ranger station. Each trail has a daily entry quota, ~2/3 of which is available for $10 advanced reservations 5/21-9/21. At other times, all trail entry is first-come, first-served. Request reservations by mail or fax only, strongly recommended for groups and holiday weekends.

Visitors Center and Programs
Visitor Center: There are 5 visitor centers: Ash Mountain (open year-round); Grant Grove (year-round); Cedar Grove (late May-Sept.), located at the bottom of the Kings Canyon; Lodgepole (April-early Nov. and weekends in snowy season); Mineral King (June-Labor Day). Roadside exhibits along the Generals Highway and Highway 180 interpret the natural and human history of the Sierra.

Programs: Ranger-led walks, talks, and evening programs are offered primarily during the summer. The second Sun. of Dec. is the Christmas Tree Ceremony held at the General Grant Tree in Kings Canyon National Park.

Food Supplies and Concessions
Food/Supplies: In summer, food and supplies are sold at Giant Forest, Lodgepole, Wuksachi Village, Stony Creek (Sequoia National Forest), Grant Grove, and Cedar Grove. In winter, food and supplies are available at Wolverton, Grant Grove and Wuksachi Village. Gasoline is not available within the parks; gas is at Hume Lake and Kings Canyon Lodge along Highway 180 in Sequoia National Forest.

Concessions: During the summer, concessionaire-operated bus tours and horseback rides are available. The Sequoia Natural History Association offers field seminars and tours of Crystal Cave in summer.

Visitor Impact
Be prepared for delays due to a multi-year project to rehabilitate the Generals Highway. Most work will be done on weekdays in the fall, winter, and spring.

Pets are not allowed on any trails in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. In developed areas, pets must be kept on a leash at all times.

Additional Information
2 areas have seasonal closures: the road to Mineral King (in southern Sequoia National Park) is open from Memorial Day weekend to November 1, weather permitting, and Highway 180 to Cedar Grove (down in Kings Canyon) is open from mid-April to early November. During the winter, the Generals Highway between Lodgepole and Grant Grove may close due to snow. Vehicles longer than 22' are not advised on the Generals Highway between Potwisha Campground and Giant Forest Village in Sequoia.