Motorists entering the parks from the west are required to carry chains at all times, even if their vehicles are equipped with four-wheel-drive. The road from the Y-junction between the Kings Canyon Highway (Highway 180) and Wuksachi Village is usually closed during winter storms (sometimes for days), reopening after snowplows have safely cleared the snow. During snowy periods, the road may be open only to guests staying at Montecito Sequoia Lodge, who are allowed to travel the road only in caravans at three scheduled times during the day.
As well as lodging and dining, Montecito Sequoia Lodge offers 30 to 50 kilometers of groomed trails for cross-country and skate skiing. Other winter activities at the lodge include snowshoeing, snowboarding, tubing, sledding, sleigh rides, snow biking, ice skating, and snow play. Rentals and lessons are also available. Check out their website, www.montecitosequoia.com, for rates and more information.
Long and sometimes difficult access, combined with reduced commercial activity, ensures that the east side of the High Sierra sees few winter visitors. Away from the hubs of Mammoth Village and June Lake ski areas, the range can seem totally deserted from December to April. Consequently, winter recreationists have the opportunity to enjoy the dramatic scenery of high peaks, steep-walled canyons, and frozen lakes in solitude. Getting to snow that is deep enough for skiing or snowshoeing is oftentimes the most challenging aspect of an eastside trip. Few roads other than the major north-south thoroughfare of US 395 are plowed during the winter. The only SnoPark on this side of the range is Rock Creek, located west of Toms Place, well north of the Sequoia-Kings Canyon region. For those willing to endure such obstacles, the High Sierra backcountry abounds with possibilities during the winter. Within the greater Sequoia-Kings Canyon region, the town of Bishop offers the widest range of services for winter travelers on the east side of the Sierra.
About This Guide
This guide is designed primarily for hikers in search of dayhiking opportunities in and around Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and for backpackers looking to explore the area’s majesty on anything from short weekend trips to multi-week excursions. Some aspects of the evaluations of the trails in this guide are subjective, but every effort has been made to ensure that the descriptions are meaningful to the average trail user.
The 122 trips described in this guide are divided into two main sections: west side trips include 88 hikes or backpacks in 11 subregions. East side trips cover 34 excursions in 2 subregions. A brief introduction to each subregion precedes the trip descriptions, which will familiarize hikers with the area. Information regarding access, services, campground locations and facilities, and nearest ranger stations follows, along with helpful tips specific to the area.
Symbols
Each description begins with a display of symbols, denoting the following characteristics of each trip.
Trip Difficulty
Type of Trip
Duration
DH = Dayhike (single-day outing)
BP = Backpack
BPx = Extended backpack (overnight trip with three or more nights in the backcountry)
X = Cross-country route (backpack requiring some cross-country travel)
Trip Information
Each trip description includes the following information:
Distance
Distances are listed in miles. The mileage value for each trip is the total round-trip mileage.
Elevation
Elevation figures listed are in feet. The first set of numbers represents the starting elevation, followed by all the significant high and low points. The second set of numbers represents the elevation gain, elevation loss, and the total combined elevation gain and loss. (To convert feet to meters, multiply by 0.3048).
Season
This entry lists the general period for when the trail should be open and mostly free of snow. However, these conditions vary considerably from year to year, depending on a particular winter’s snowpack and severity.
Use
This entry gives you a general idea of the trail’s popularity (light, moderate, heavy, and extremely heavy) and an idea of how many other people to expect along the way. Packed trails are tourist destinations, which may have hundreds of people during the most popular season. On heavy and packed backpack trails, campsites may be in short supply on weekends though probably not on weekdays. Some of this book’s hikes have sections that vary significantly in usage.
Map
USGS 7.5-minute topographical maps covering the area are listed in this category. Occasionally, supplemental maps are also recommended.
Trail Log
Many of the longer trips have a trail log that lists the trail’s highlights, such as trail junctions, stream crossings, lakes, summits, and campsites, along with their corresponding mileage. Shorter trips with only a single destination as a point of interest do not have a trail log.
Options and Regulatory Information
Options, indicated by
Regulatory information, indicated by
Map Legend
This map legend identifies the symbols and styles used on the maps.
Generals Highway Road Log
The Generals Highway connects the two prominent generals of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, the General Sherman and General Grant giant sequoia trees. The highway begins at the Ash Mountain Entrance in Sequoia at the park boundary with the community of Three Rivers, after State Highway 198