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 Photo courtesy of Inyo National Forest, Mt. Whitney

Sequoia National Park is the second oldest national park in our country, established in 1890. It was organized to protect the giant sequoia trees from permanent destruction.  Kings Canyon National Park didn’t come along until 1940 to protect spectacular Kings Canyon area. Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park are co-managed and therefore, often treated as one park.

At Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, you’ll find the five largest living giant sequoia trees in the world. Located just west of Death Valley, the two parks also offer plenty of outdoor adventure for everyone. Spring and summer brings sensational hiking, camping, rock climbing, horseback riding, fishing, kayaking, and cave tours.  Winter boasts some of the finest cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snow play to be found in the Sierras. All seasons bring breathtaking views too numerous to name.

Go and explore the underground beauty of Sequoia National Park. Marble is metamorphosed limestone and Sequoia and Kings Canyon together contain more than 200 marble caves. Walk by scenic waterfalls on the half-mile trail to Crystal Cave. Beautiful stalactites and curtains, impressively large rooms, and ornate marble polished naturally by a subterranean stream make a tour of Crystal Cave an unforgettable experience. The longest cave in California, Lilburn Cave has nearly 17 miles of surveyed passage. Lilburn is a very complex maze cave with beautiful blue- and white-banded marble. Nearby mines attest to the unusual geology in the Lilburn area and the cave has a display of rare and colorful minerals including green malachite and blue azurite. Soldier's Cave has been a favorite with California cave explorers since its discovery in 1949. Three rope drops must be negotiated to reach the cave's lowest and most extensive level. Several outstanding formation areas exist, one of which has high quality "dog-tooth spar" crystals.

Kayaking is popular on some rivers in the parks, but involves high risk and requires advanced skills. There are no beginner kayaking rivers in the parks. If you’re going to travel the rivers in these parks keep in mind it is extremely hazardous to canoeists and kayakers and river travel should only be attempted by the very experienced. All park rivers are open to floatation devices with the exception of the South Fork Kings River through the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park.

Rock climbing is another great activity in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. The rock here is similar to Yosemite in quality. One can enjoy an endless variety of climbs from easy to extremely challenging; without the crowds and pressure of more famous climbing areas. Outstanding routes include the Obelisk, Grand Sentinel, and Chimney Rock. Most climbs require at least a day's hike in.

In Kings Canyon a good place to look for climbs is along Bubbs Creek. On the north side of the Bubbs Creek Trail, just before it crosses Charlotte Creek, are Charlito Dome and Charlotte Dome. The hike in is about 8 miles, but the multi-pitch possibilities are worth the haul. In the Sequoia’s the easiest site to access is Moro Rock, just off the Generals Highway near Giant Forest. The west face offers 1,000 vertical feet of cracks and knobs. For a more remote climb, hike the High Sierra Trail to Angel Wings. At roughly 2,000 feet, this is one of the park's biggest walls. It's an 18-mile hike from Crescent Meadow. Other Sequoia highlights: Little Baldy and the quartzite Hospital Rock, both off the Generals Highway.

There are year-round foothill trails that are accessible for hiking. Numerous dayhikes and backpacking options abound. The fall season brings cooler temperatures for hiking in this diverse environment. In winter and spring, the foothills are clothed in a glorious array of wildflowers. Late March through late May is especially colorful.

Hike into Redwood Canyon, home to the world's largest grove of sequoias. Visit Converse Basin where a ghostly forest of sequoia stumps surrounds the massive Boole Tree. Stand in awe of gigantic Kings Canyon.  Sequoias, easy trails, and solitude are all available on trails in the vicinity of bustling Grant Grove Village. Giant sequoias, cool conifer forests, sun-splashed meadows, and exhilarating vistas are all available in the Giant Forest/Lodgepole area. Check with a visitor’s center for trail guides or check out the Sequoia Natural History Association's bookstore online for guides you can purchase.

Many people climb Mt. Whitney. In fact, it is the most frequently climbed peak in the Sierra Nevada, if not in the US. It is the tallest mountain in the "lower 48" states. The best place from which to see Mt. Whitney is the Interagency Visitor Center on Highway 395, just south of the town of Lone Pine on the east side of the Sierra. Highway 395 can be reached via Tioga Pass in Yosemite National Park (open summer only), or by going around the southern end of the Sierra from the town of Bakersfield. Mt. Whitney can be most directly reached by a 10.7 mile (17.1 km) trail from Whitney Portal, 13 miles (21 km) west of the town of Lone Pine on the east side of the Sierra. Ice axes and crampons are needed in spring and early summer, but technical climbing equipment is not usually necessary between mid-July and early October. The elevation at the trailhead is 8,360' (2550 meters). The elevation at the summit is 14,491' (4417 meters). Permits for this trailhead must be obtained through the Inyo National Forest.

Don’t forget about horseback riding. There is one pack station and one stable in Kings Canyon National Park, and one pack station in nearby Sequoia National Forest. All are closed from late fall to spring, but exact dates vary. Each offers specific services; check with them for details and prices. In Kings Canyon National Park there is Cedar Grove Pack Station (1-559-565-3464-summer; 1-559-337-2314-off season) and Grant Grove Stables (1-559-335-9292-summer; 1-559-337-2314-off season). In Sequoia National Forest there is Horse Corral (1-559-565-3404-summer; 1-559-564-6429-off season).