Vacation 2013: Sequoia & Kings National Park

Sequoia National Park

We arrived at Dorst Campground in Sequoia National Park after a scenic drive through the high Sierra mountain range. We were surprised and pleased with the cool air up here making for great day hikes and pleasant sleeping weather. Although we have been to Sequoia 20 years ago we are still amazed at the size of the giant Sequoia. Many live to over 2000 years old and grow to amazing heights leaving one with a sense of wonder. The bears up here are numerous requiring us to take precautions by storing our food in metal bear boxes while we are here. We have not seen a bear yet but the rangers tell us they make trips across the campgrounds daily night and day. Today 8/11/2013 we plan to travel to Sequoia's sister park Kings Canyon.

Big Tree Trail

Dorst Campsite Sequoia National Park

General Grant Tree, Nations Christmas Tree

General Sherman Tree, Worlds largest tree

Our drive down to Kings Canyon was spectacular driving down the slopping and winding Kings Canyon Highway. We stopped along the way to view the vistas while Barbara was anxious due to the many steep canyons we passed through. After we emerged past the canyons the road became a little less thrilling but very scenic as we traveled along the rapids of the Kings River. We stopped by several falls before we came to the end of the road at Zumwalt Meadow. We took the 1.5 mile hike around the Zumwalt Meadow loop marveling at the views of the surrounding mountains and the lush vegetation of the meadow. We both enjoyed our day trip to Kings Canyon as we will be bring back many memories of our journey.

Kings River Canyon

North Dome near Zumwalt Trail

Zumwalt Meadows Loop Trail at roads end

Kings Canyon views

Roaring Falls

Grizzly Falls

On our last day in Sequoia National Park we drove out to the Moro Rock area to explore the parks trails, meadows and alpine trails. At this point we saw our first bear on a hike to Moro Rock on the Moro Rock Trail. We turned back as the bear was with her cub and we did not want to risk her motherly instincts. I was not able to get a photo as we were concerned about our safety however I was able to get a photo of a buck on the trail. We enjoyed driving through the Sequoia Tree Tunnel and I climbed up to the top of the tree for a photo. The hike up to Moro Rock was breathtaking in more than one way with 350 steps and beautiful vistas of the General Highway and the peaks of the high Sierra.