2014 - September 9th-11th - Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

After enjoying our three nights at Yosemite, it was time to take off for our final destination of The Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. We headed for Three Rivers CA and our accommodations at the Sierra Lodge. We enjoyed the ride through the countryside absorbing the great California agricultural farmland. The drive into Three Rivers is scenic on a winding road. Three Rivers is at the South Entrance to Sequoia National Park. We arrived in Three Rivers and checked into our room at the lovely Sierra Lodge, sitting on a hill with mountain and meadow views. The décor is lovely, fitting right in with nature theme. Our room was on the corner with great views and poolside.

As it was early afternoon, we drove into the Sequoia National Park to look around a little.

                 
Shortly after entering the Park we came upon Tunnel Rock where the old road used to run under. It was definitely a photo-op moment!
Continuing our drive we took in so much of the beauty of the park. We pulled over to take-in the breathtaking views from the Sequoia Overlook.
               
                          
We scouted out all of the areas that we would visit on Thursday so that we would be prepared. It was just a glorious afternoon driving, walking, and looking at all that Sequoia offers. Our Sierra Lodge had a book at the front desk containing all of the eating establishments of the town. The office folks were so friendly and gave us great suggestions. We decided to have breakfast at the We Three Bakery and Restaurant which was about a half mile up the road. We Three was established in 1979 and coined its name in honor of the original owner's three children. Through the years they have created their own lives while maintaining their ties to the family business. Today, it is owned and operated by the original owner's son and employs second and third generation family members. The food is great, much like your family would cook (if they are good cooks!). It became our breakfast place while in Three Rivers!

We had stopped at the Ranger Station on our way out of the Park on Wednesday and spoke to a Ranger about visiting Sequoia's Crystal Cave. He had told us that we buy tickets at the station to get on a tour and to allow and hour after purchasing the tickets to drive and arrive at the cave. So, our first stop this morning was at the ranger station to get our tickets. Because of the winding scenic roads, it takes about 45 minutes to drive there. We arrived about 15 minutes before our reserved time for the docent talk and instructions.

The path to the cave is fairly steep and about a half mile long. As the cave is cool, jackets are recommended. Water is also recommended for the hike down and back up. The uphill climb is fairly strenuous and everyone was warned to take their time after the tour to climb the hill. The tour is given by the Sequoia Natural History Association. Crystal Cave is spectacular in all respects ... words cannot do it justice!
The entrance to Crystal Cave ...

The "Spider-Web" Gate entering Crystal Cave ...
Some of the formations inside carved out over the years from the rushing waters and glaciers and the growth of the rock and calcium formations ...
               
                         
                            
 
                 
After the hour walking tour, it was time to hit that up-hill climb. We did rest along the trail and took-in a lot of the beautiful sights along the path!
               
               
               
We drove the road through the area known as The Giant Forest traveling to Wuksachi Village where we were having lunch.
Wuksachi Village really the only eating place in this part of the Park. We were very happy with this choice for lunch. The Wuksachi Lodge is quite beautiful nestled among the Giant Sequoias and other forest trees. We enjoyed our lunch and the fabulous window view of the forest.

We found this postcard that speaks to the difference in the Coastal Redwoods and the Giant Sequoias. It is quite interesting to compare.

GIANT SEQUOIA TREES
*height up-to 311 feet, width up-to 40 feet
*the largest living trees (more wood than redwoods due to length and height)
*live in the Sierra Nevada between 5000 - 7000 feet
*sequoias often get mistaken for redwoods (they are in the same family & are more like a "cousin" to them)
*may not be used for lumber and are a protected resource
*have a cone the size of a chicken's egg

COAST REDWOOD
*height up-to 367.8 feet, width up to 22 feet
*the tallest trees in the world
*live on the Northern coast of California
*often used for lumber
*they can grown not only from seed, but also from sprouts
*have a cone the size of an olive

Size comparisons ...

After lunch we proceeded to the Giant Forest with the Sherman Trail leading through many of the Giant Sequoias and the General Sherman Tree which is touted as the biggest tree in the world. The General Sherman Tree's claim to the biggest tree in the world comes from the volume of its trunk. A few other tree trunks are bigger around. Some trees are taller. But no other tree has more wood in its trunk than the Sherman Tree.

The Sherman Tree's top is dead, so the tree's trunk no longer gets taller. However, its volume keeps increasing. Each year the trunk grows wider, adding enough wood to equal another good-sized tree.
              
               
               
Giant Forest Trees
               
               
               
When we just about finished our trail hike from seeing the General Sherman, out of the woods appeared this black bear about 25-30 feet off of our path. I snapped a couple of pictures which he didn't seem to mind! He continued on his way and we continued on ours ... opposite directions, please note!
On our way back to Three Rivers though the park, we pulled into the scenic overlook parking inlet to view the mountain ranges as shown on the graphic.

More Rock ...

Castle Rocks ...

Milk Ranch Peak ...

So ended our day in Sequoia. We returned to Three Rivers and after a little rest time, we ventured down the road to another great restaurant for dinner. It sat on the river and there was a beautiful view. It was great that there was water and a flow in the river considering the drought conditions. Loved it here.

Thursday we set our sights on Kings Canyon National Park which is really in the northern middle of the Sequoia National Park. Looking at the maps, we decided not to repeat the drive through Sequoia but to take the route to the northern entrance driving the farm land of the area. It was an hour and forty-five minute drive with farm land and a few houses. There were no gas stations and virtually no towns along this back-roads route. It was a peaceful scenic drive. We entered Kings Canyon National Park.

The drive to the park's Cedar Grove Village followed the Kings River and granite bluffs. It is a two lane road with a lot of scenery. There is one point that we crossed the Kings River on a one-way vehicle bridge. Each way has a traffic light about two miles from the bridge stopping traffic that way to allow the other direction traffic. The road between the two points is a one lane road so it would be impossible for opposing traffic to go at the same time. We looked around the general store/gift shop at the Cedar Grove Lodge before ordering lunch. We paid for our choice of BBQ which was being cooked out-back by the Kings River. We took our order to the cook by his outdoor BBQ grill and he had it ready in sort order. We lunched at the picnic tables provided and enjoyed the sounds and views of Kings River while we ate.

                
We explored and enjoyed Kings Canyon rock formations and Kings River.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon - these National Parks share the dramatic landscape of the Sierra Nevada ---huge sequoias, deep canyons, and the High Sierra. Our final stop in Kings Canyon was at the Giant Sequoias to walk around one last time in the giant trees and love nature. Kings Canyon has the General Grant Tree which is the third largest tree in the world. It's massive trunk makes it the third-largest tree in the world, by volume. 40 feet in diameter at ground level, it is the worlds widest known sequoia. It is not the oldest but 1500 years younger than the oldest known sequoias.
               
On this trail we found the Gamlin Cabin which was built in 1872. Israel and Thomas Gamlin filed a timber claim to 160 acres within the Grant Grove. They quartered here until 1878 while grazing cattle in the mountains. After General Grant National Park was established in 1890, the cabin was used as a store-house by the US Cavalry who patrolled the park until 1913. Later it became the quarters of the first park ranger stationed here.

Life after Death ... even after they fall, sequoias endure. These trees resist decay, sometimes lasting for hundreds or even thousands of years on the forest floor. This is what this sequoia did as served for two years as the home of the Gamlin brothers while they built their cabin. It is hollow, long, pretty tall inside and completely walkable!
                
                

Thus ended our day at Kings Canyon National Park. We arrived back in Three Rivers and went to another scenic restaurant set in the forest surroundings. Tomorrow will be the 5 hour drive back to Lakewood and ending this marvelous three weeks.

Friday morning we packed up the Prius and said good-bye to the Sierra Lodge. We also made our last breakfast stop at the We Three Bakery & Restaurant. This was a glorious trip from beginning to end ... sister Barb's in Great Falls Montana, Calgary, Banff and Lake Louise, Alberta Canada, The Redwoods State and National Park, Yosemite National Park and the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. There are several more pictures in the photo album link.