3 Days in Sequoia & Kings Canyon: Itinerary for Hikers

Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park looks relatively straightforward on a map until you realize the parks are massive, disconnected, and packed with slow mountain roads.

If you have your heart set on visiting, you probably have a lot of questions – is it one park? Why aren’t they fully connected? How far away are the main sights?

And you’d be right to ask! SEKI (seh-key), for short, is huge, so it can be hard to figure out what to do, where to spend the most time, and what is actually worth your time when you only have a few days to explore the parks. And if you’re an active traveler, you might be wondering if the only thing to do is drive up to sequoia trees.

I’ve visited both of the parks numerous times in summer and winter in the “frontcountry”, and have extensively backpacked in the wilderness in both parks. I love both of these parks for very different reasons, and I do think they’re both worth visiting.

I’m going to show you my exact 3 day route through these parks. This itinerary is best for active first-time visitors who really want to immerse themselves in the parks and are looking for more adventure besides drive-up stops. You’ll hit iconic giant sequoias, alpine scenery, and some of the best hikes in the parks without wasting half your trip driving.

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Quick Overview of This Itinerary

This is a fully-packed itinerary, and it’s the exact trip plan I followed on my 3 day visit in July 2025. You’ll be hiking moderate-level hikes each day, but also have enough down time to relax, and not spend all day driving around looking for parking.

I want to quickly touch on lodging before fully diving in: I camped in my campervan for this entire trip, spending one night at Azalea Campground in Kings Canyon and two nights at Lodgepole in Sequoia. I drove home to the SF Bay Area in the morning on the 4th day.

3 Day Sequoia & Kings Canyon Itinerary At a Glance

How Many Days Do You Need for Sequoia & Kings Canyon?

The truthful answer is a lifetime. SEKI is a huge park and the vast majority is designated wilderness. But for National Park lovers and day hikers with limited time, 2-4 days across the parks will give you the best overview of the highlights while still exploring the park on a deeper level besides driving through.

Can You See Sequoia & Kings Canyon in One Day?

You could do it if all you cared about was seeing a couple of sequoia trees and wanted to spend most of your time driving, but I wouldn’t recommend it. 

You could spend one day in Kings Canyon and one day in Sequoia and see the main highlights in each park, but I’d still recommend a little more time for a more holistic and less rushed experience.

Is 3 Days Enough for Sequoia & Kings Canyon?

I think 3 days across both parks is the best option for the majority of people, and especially first-time visitors. It allows you time to hike some great trails, see the famous sequoia trees, and drive down the deepest canyon in the USA without feeling so rushed.

If You Have More Time

If you have an extra day or two, there is still so much to see beyond what I’m going to share here. You could explore the other areas of Sequoia National Park, the Giant Sequoia National Monument that bridges the gap between the two parks, or even combine this trip with a visit to Yosemite National Park.

Day 1: Kings Canyon – Cedar Grove

Today is actually more like a half day to be honest. I drove directly to Cedar Grove and Road’s End in Kings Canyon from the Bay Area. 

I made my usual stops along the way like my favorite coffee shop in Fresno, Qamaria Yemeni Coffee (get the milk cake as a dessert for later tonight), and filling up gas at Costco before entering Kings Canyon at the Big Stump Entrance on Highway 180.

Mid-day: Kings Canyon Scenic Byway

This road is such an amazing scenic drive into Kings Canyon. You’ll actually exit Kings Canyon shortly after entering, and the majority of this road is within the Giant Sequoia National Monument.

Even though you’re going to drive past all the Sequoias near the entrance, just trust me and keep driving: you’ll hit these spots tomorrow!

You should definitely get out of the car at a pullout and just take in the view before you drive down to the bottom of the canyon – it’s pretty spectacular! And then to feel the awe of the canyon walls the further down you drive.

Afternoon: Hike the Paradise Valley Trail to Mist Falls

In my opinion, this is the best hike you’re going to do on this itinerary in SEKI, because it has all of my favorite things: a stunning waterfall, beautiful creek, and crazy mountain views. It’s also the hike that makes you feel the most connected with the rest of Kings Canyon: the wide open wilderness.

• Distance: 8 miles
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,000 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail type: Out-and-back
• Check current conditions on AllTrails

While this trail seems longer and more difficult, it’s actually mostly flat and gradual except for the last mile approaching Mist Falls. 

Evening: Zumwalt Meadow & Roaring River Falls

These are both quick jaunts with flat trails as you leave the Cedar Grove area, and parking won’t be an issue later in the day in these smaller lots.

Park at the Zumwalt Meadows parking lot and walk along the river and cross the bridge, turning left after crossing. The full loop was closed on my trip, so I just walked a little bit of it, but it was enough to get views of the towering North Dome above the meadow – a spectacular sight, especially at golden hour.

My final stop was at Roaring River Falls – a short ¼ mile walk with a bit of uphill to a small waterfall with a nice pool of water at the base. Remember to look behind you when you’re at the waterfall: there are views of the canyon walls and like in Zumwalt Meadow, the view is amazing at golden hour.

Sunset: Junction View on Kings Canyon Scenic Byway

This viewpoint is along Highway 180 as you drive back up to the Grant Grove area of the park. I loved pulling over at this huge pullout and watching the sun turn the canyon walls orange and pink. It was stunning and I had it all to myself that night, which was pretty magical. 

After sunset, I went to my campsite at the Azalea Campground near Grant Grove.

Add This If You Still Have Energy or Extra Time

In case you don’t want to do the Mist Falls hike, or you drove to the park much earlier in the day, I’d check out a couple of the sights in Giant Sequoia National Monument:

• Grizzly Falls
• Boyden Caverns

I haven’t had the chance to visit either of these spots since I prioritized hiking Mist Falls, but I’ve heard they’re both great stops. Grizzly Falls is a really short walk from the road, and Boyden Caverns is a little more involved and you need to buy tickets in advance.

What I’d Personally Skip

I don’t really get the hype of Hume Lake. The private camp in the area makes it a bit odd to know where you’re allowed to be, and there are better views, so I’d pass on it.

Food Options on Day 1

There are 2 restaurants in Kings Canyon: the Cedar Grove Grill near Road’s End and the Grant Grove restaurant. Both spots serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I personally haven’t eaten at either spot but they have the standard National Park concessionaire fare: burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, etc.

If you’re relying on these spots for food, make sure you check the open/close times and make sure it works with your activities for the day!

There’s a private campground on the side of the road before you really descend into the canyon (I’ve stayed in it last minute before a backpacking trip) that has some snacks and ice cream if you’re looking for a little treat, but don’t rely on it for a meal or later in the day.

Daily Tips

Day 2: Kings Morning + Sequoia Sunset

Today is a split day exploring a little bit more of Kings Canyon and then driving south to Sequoia! The activities are spaced out a little bit more as well, allowing for a good mix of activity and rest.

Morning: Grant Grove & Big Stump Trail

I’d head to Grant Grove first thing in the morning to avoid crowds. The parking lot here is huge, but the General Grant Tree is the most popular sight here and it gets busy. The General Grant Tree, also nicknamed “The Nation’s Christmas Tree” is the only living national shrine and the second largest sequoia tree in the world.

The hike is only ½ mile long around the grove, and you do get the option to walk through a fallen sequoia tree, so even though you’re going to hike in the sequoia groves in Sequoia, I’d still stop here and walk it just for the experience!

The Big Stump Trail is actually an important piece of history, and I highly recommend hiking the loop trail to the Mark Twain Stump – where you can actually walk on top of the stump. I was very moved by this hike, which surprised me because I didn’t think too much of it until I hiked it.

This meadow trail is important and sad: sequoia trees were being chopped down and logged and this trail is like a memorial to that – a good reminder of beauty lost and the importance of fighting to protect our wild spaces! 

• Distance: 1.4 miles
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 210 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trail type: Lollipop Loop
• Check current conditions on AllTrails

Mid-day: Grant Grove Visitor Center & Village

The National Park visitor center at Grant Grove is pretty small, but I think it has one of the most important educational signage and interpretations, making it a worthy stop. 

You’ll learn about the history of protecting this park and about all of the extraction and building that money-hungry individuals and government powers wanted to do in this park: including building a trans-Sierra highway here and building multiple dams in pristine wilderness valleys. If that happened, Cedar Grove, where you hiked yesterday, wouldn’t exist today. 

This is also a great place to get snacks at the store, eat in the restaurant, use WIFI, or use flush toilets.

Afternoon: Buena Vista Peak

As you drive south on the Generals Highway, your last hike in Kings Canyon will be Buena Vista Peak – a short jaunt up a rise with views of the mountains in Kings Canyon and the Redwood Canyon (which sadly burned badly during the 2021 KNP Complex Fire and is still closed).

Even though this hike was short I was feeling pretty tired getting up to the peak because the climb is pretty exposed to the sun, so make sure you’re drinking plenty of water and wearing sun protective clothing!

• Distance: 2.1 miles
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 400 feet
• Difficulty: Easy+
• Trail type: Out-and-back
• Check current conditions on AllTrails

After this hike, you’ll drive down to Sequoia National Park, witnessing more of the fire impacts from 2021. If you’re low on gas, make sure you stop at the Stony Creek Inn to fill up – it’s the last gas option – there is no gas in Sequoia.

At this point on my trip, I checked into the Lodgepole Campground, set up my camp area for the next 2 nights, ate some lunch, and relaxed a little bit before the evening.

Evening & Sunset: Moro Rock Hike

The hike up Moro Rock is so amazing at sunset time. You get to watch the sun set behind the Central Valley – your main view. The foothills are silhouettes in front of the setting sun and the layers upon layers of these glowing hills is spectacular. 

And then behind you, you’ll see some of Sequoia’s most grand mountains – the Great Western Divide – glowing pink in the alpenglow. Having both of these views while standing on top of Moro Rock is so special. 

• Distance: 0.5 miles
• Elevation Gain/ Loss: 200 feet
• Trail Type: Out & Back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Check current conditions and download on AllTrails

While Moro Rock may be more busy at sunset, I think the views are better and it’s worth the crowds! The parking lot for Moro Rock was pretty small. I scored one of the last spots in the lot, but there were people walking down the trail as I was going up. Since this hike is so short, you’ll probably have luck getting a spot as long as you’re patient.

A small warning: Moro Rock is exposed and can be a scary hike for some people because of the drop offs. I never felt unsafe because there is a railing, but people who are afraid of heights might be more sensitive to this, especially the ridge at the top.

Add This If You Still Have Energy

If you want to skip Buena Vista Peak or have lots of time once you make it to Sequoia, I’d hike the Big Trees Trail or the short loop at the General Sherman Tree. Both of these hikes are short, easy, and have lots of interpretive signage, making them great options for families and people who want to learn more about what makes sequoia trees so incredible!

If you’re up for a longer hike, you could swap Buena Vista Peak for Little Baldy or Big Baldy instead! Big Baldy and Buena Vista have similar views since they’re closer together, but Little Baldy is closer to Sequoia and has views of different mountains.

What I’d Personally Skip

This isn’t so much of an overall skip – but if the air quality is bad and you can’t see views of Kings Canyon on your drive leaving the Grant Grove area, I’d skip Buena Vista Peak because you won’t be able to see the views, and the hike otherwise isn’t exciting. 

Food Options on Day 2

There aren’t a ton of great food options. It’s more than yesterday, but basically the same types of food since it’s the National Park concessionaire fare. You’ve got the Grant Grove Restaurant in Kings Canyon, then the Wuksachi Lodge Restaurant (breakfast + dinner only, reservations required for dinner), the Wuksachi Pizza Deck (lunch only), and the Lodgepole Grill and Market.

Be sure to check the hours of operation here for Sequoia options as it does change seasonally.

Daily Tips

Day 3: Sequoia National Park Highlights

Your final day is filled with hiking and seeing the best of Sequoia National Park in just one day!

Morning: Giant Forest Thru-hike

This is a bit of a DIY hike day, but the main goal is to hike through the Giant Forest and escape the crowds.

If you want the most solitude on this hike, get to the General Sherman Tree parking lot by 7 am. I had this insanely popular spot all to myself at this time even in summer. If a few people won’t bother you, just try to get to the parking area by 9 to get a spot.

You’ll enjoy the view of the world’s biggest tree, and then follow signs for the Congress Trail nearby. You’ll hike to the McKinley Tree, then do a small loop to the House and Senate groves, the President Tree, and the Chief Sequoyah Tree before looping back near McKinley and following signs to the Cattle Cabin.

From the Cattle Cabin, you can take any combination of trails: the goal is to end up at the Crescent Meadow shuttle stop so you can take the free park shuttles back to your car at the General Sherman Tree!

I would personally hike to the Pillars of Hercules past Circle Meadow and to Chimney Tree and Tharp’s Log – but you can make this as long or short as you’d like! Just make sure you download offline maps of the area on AllTrails or GaiaGPS or have a real paper map with trails on it – you could easily accidentally walk in circles if you’re not paying attention here – there are a lot of trails that aren’t explicitly marked.

This is the exact route I took through the Giant Forest.

• Distance: 4.3 miles
• Elevation Gain/ Loss: 435 feet
• Trail Type: Point-to-point
• Difficulty: Moderate

Mid-Day: Lunch & Relax

I know on my trip it was hot and I was craving food. I went back to camp to relax, eat lunch, and then I got some delicious huckleberry ice cream at the Lodgepole Market. I also wandered around the Lodgepole Visitor Center reading about the park and was being nosey and watching people pick up their wilderness permits for their hikes beginning tomorrow.

Afternoon: Hike Tokopah Falls

After cold ice cream reinvigorated me, I was ready for another 4 mile hike: this time to Tokopah Falls. The trailhead is at the back of the huge parking lot in the middle of the Lodgepole campground, so I just walked from the visitor center there.

I loved that this hike was mostly shaded until the last half mile or so push to the falls. It was a bit crowded in the afternoon, but I still enjoyed my hike and felt like I had enough space on the trail. In July, I was sad to see the waterfall was barely flowing, but I still loved seeing the mountain views around me.

The best part of this hike was towards the end: you’re hiking right along a creek, so I pulled off to the side and found a really nice boulder and swam around in the (ice cold) creek, laying out on the rocks to dry, and overall just enjoying my time outside, cooling off after the hike. 

• Distance: 4.25 miles
• Elevation Gain/ Loss: 650 feet
• Trail Type: Out & Back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Check current conditions and download on AllTrails

Sunset: Beetle Rock

Ok so in reality, I was so exhausted by this point and I actually just decided to make a campfire, make dinner at my campsite, and read my book as the sun set (I know, very out of character for a photographer like myself).

But I did consider driving to Beetle Rock because I went there in the winter and knew how easy it would be to get parking and the walk is so short to the viewpoint. I didn’t, but it’s what I would recommend doing if you are feeling tired but still want to watch the sun set. The views are similar to Moro Rock looking west to the Central Valley.

Add This If You Still Have Energy

If you’re not tired, I would recommend a few other stops for today:

• Giant Forest Museum if you’re still looking for more educational material, want to chat with rangers, or want to pick up a few trinkets.
• Drive to Tunnel Log in the evening after the Crescent Meadow road opens to private vehicles.
• Sunset Rock hike for sunset.
• Hanging Rock for sunset.

If you’re staying in Three Rivers and don’t want to hike for sunset but still want to watch, the view from Amphitheater Point on the General’s Highway is beautiful. You get to see Moro Rock from below glowing in the sunset!

And if you’d rather have a longer day hike into the alpine today instead of the Giant Forest and Tokopah Falls, I’d hike to Pear Lake from the Wolverton trailhead.

What I’d Personally Skip

In all honesty, there are no skips today – just add ons if you’re feeling up for it! If you don’t want to hike through the Giant Forest, you could just hike the Congress Trail to get a taste, but I’d encourage you to hike through because I think the solitude is worth it.

Food Options on Day 3

The food availability is the same as yesterday, just minus the Kings Canyon fare: the Wuksachi Lodge Restaurant (breakfast + dinner only, reservations required for dinner), the Wuksachi Pizza Deck (lunch only), and the Lodgepole Grill and Market.

If you’re staying outside the park like in Three Rivers, you’ll have more dining options. I haven’t personally eaten at the restaurants in Three Rivers yet, so can’t recommend anything, but every time I drive by the River View Grill it looks like it’s poppin’!

Daily Tips

What I’d Add With 4+ Days

If you have a bonus day, there are a few things you can do depending on how much you want to hike, drive, and the season.

Hike to Pear Lake or Alta Peak

These are challenging day hikes in the Lodgepole area that would be great for ambitious hikers who want a challenge and want to experience Sequoia’s alpine!

→ Get all the info about Sequoia’s best hikes.

Mineral King Valley

This would be a full-day activity depending on how much you want to hike once you arrive. Mineral King Valley is south of the Lodgepole area and takes 1.5 hours to drive one-way from the Ash Mountain Entrance/ Three Rivers area.

Once there you can simply enjoy the views and the river, or you could take on a challenging hike to Eagle Lake, Monarch Lakes, Franklin Lakes, or even Sawtooth Peak if you wanted a scrambling challenge. You are almost guaranteed to have solitude on these trails: most people rarely venture out to the Mineral King Valley.

I’ve backpacked the Big 5 Lakes Loop out here and can confidently say that this region is so underrated in Sequoia – but I know it is quite the hassle to get here, so not something I usually recommend for first-time visitors to the park.

If you do venture out here, the Silver City Resort serves up yummy food, so grab it for lunch or dinner as you drive back to Three Rivers!

Crystal Cave

The Crystal Cave is a unique marble cavern in the foothills of Sequoia and is definitely worth a trip if you have more time or have already seen Sequoia’s highlights. 

The basic cave tour takes about 3.5 hours start to finish including driving, so it’s more of a half day activity. I did this tour on a separate visit to Sequoia right before they closed the tours for 2025. The cave finally re-opened after the 2021 fire and it was a hot ticket to book in summer 2025. 

Beginning in 2026, the cave is open May – November 1, but with varying days of the week and tour availability. They also introduced a much longer, more expensive cave tour option for the serious cave fans. You must book tickets online ahead of time, so make sure you check the website before adding this to your itinerary.

→ Want some more ideas? Read my guide on the best things to do in Sequoia.

Best Time to Do This Itinerary

This itinerary, as written, will be best completed between late spring and early fall when all of the roads in the park are open and shuttle service is available. Generally between late May and early September.

There are modifications you can make if the free shuttle isn’t running – namely you’ll want to do a loop hike in the Giant Forest instead of a point-to-point on day 3.

Because the park is higher in elevation, the weather will get colder in the fall, and there will be more unmelted snow on the trails in the spring, but you could still do the vast majority of this itinerary from mid-April to late October. I think June and July are some of the best months to be in Sequoia-Kings Canyon, but they’ll also be some of the busiest!

Where to Stay While Visiting Both Parks

This is the big question! Because the parks are pretty spread out with a good amount of driving time, it can be hard to figure out the best place to stay to minimize driving time. I think there’s 2 great ways to do this depending if you want to move lodging or not.

Best Home Base for This Itinerary

Alright. I haven’t had the chance to stay here yet, but solely based on location, I would give a gold star to the John Muir Lodge and Grant Grove Cabins located in the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon. 

Staying here for your entire trip is very doable because I think the drive between Kings and Sequoia on the General’s Highway is really not a challenging drive – the 45 minutes flew by for me. The drives between Grant and Cedar Grove in Kings and Lodgepole and Three Rivers in Sequoia are much more tedious with how windy the roads are. 

There is another private lodging option that is in between the two parks and closer to Sequoia: the Stony Creek Resort. It’s a very small, rustic motel, and I haven’t personally stayed there, but it’s another option.

If you’re more of a camper and want to save money, staying at the Azalea or Sunset Campgrounds in the Grant Grove area would be great alternatives.

Should You Move Lodging During the Trip?

I moved campsites from Azalea to Lodgepole during my trip because everything I needed was inside my campervan, so that made it very easy – I didn’t have to pack up anything because everything was in my car!

Another option would be to move to Three Rivers as your home base on day 2: you’ll drive down the General’s Highway after your Moro Rock sunset hike. But you’ll need to drive back up for all of the sights on day 3, and this section of road is long and winding. The drive takes about 1 hr 15 min to the Lodgepole area vs. the 45 min from Grant Grove to Lodgepole. 

I do think Three Rivers is a great home base during the winter and spring months when the foothills temperatures are cooler, or if you plan to stay a few extra days in Sequoia exploring Mineral King or Crystal Cave.

Before You Go: Important Things to Know

A few reminders before you head off on your trip:

Leave No Trace

It’s so important to follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles when you’re visiting all of our National Parks and forests – and really any outdoor space. Doing things like staying on the designated trails, not littering, not playing music out loud, and adhering to fire restrictions, are all examples of “leaving no trace”.

The 7 principles are:

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Bears & Food in Cars

Do not leave any food, wrappers, or toiletries in cars overnight. That includes dirty baby car seats as well. Bears are all over the place in SEKI and they will break into your car if they smell something attractive in there. And by “break in”, I mean completely mangle your car’s door frame, and a hefty bill from a towing company.

Use provided bear lockers at trailheads, and bring all your scented items with you into your lodging. You don’t need to worry about this during short day hikes, but make sure nothing is visible from peering into your car.

Download Offline Maps

There’s WIFI in Grant Grove Village and Lodgepole Market, but that’s it. I would download your entire driving map area on Google Maps, and all of the trails you want to hike on AllTrails. 

AllTrails Plus has a neat feature where you can download an entire National Park – so in case you want to hike a different trail or get off track, you have the whole area downloaded! You can get 30% off AllTrails Plus with the code backcountryemily30.

Planning More of Your Sequoia & Kings Canyon Trip?

Sequoia and Kings Canyon are the kind of parks that reward slowing down — even if you only have 3 days. Between giant sequoias, alpine hikes, canyon drives, and sunset viewpoints, this itinerary gives you a taste of both parks without spending your entire trip in the car.

But honestly? This trip barely scratches the surface of what SEKI has to offer.

If you’re still planning your trip, start with my full guide on how to visit Sequoia National Park to figure out the best entrances, logistics, and where to stay. If you’re trying to decide what to prioritize, check out my guide to the best things to do in Sequoia National Park. And if hiking is your main goal, don’t miss my roundup of the best hikes in Sequoia — including alpine trails that go far beyond this itinerary.

And if you’re turning this into a bigger Sierra Nevada road trip, Yosemite National Park pairs perfectly with Sequoia and Kings Canyon.