Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - Facilities

Foothills: the lower elevations of Sequoia National Park

Open
Foothills Visitor Center: Open daily

Phone
559-565-3135

Location
On the Generals Highway (main park road) 1 mile (1.6km) from Sequoia Park entrance at Highway 198. In the foothills oaks & chaparral; elevation 1500 feet (457m).

Exhibits
Summer: 8am-5pm. Fall - Spring: 8am-4:30pm. Focus here on the Sierran foothills, the most biologically diverse area of these parks! Stop and learn about this fascinating ecosystem; few acres of it are protected outside this park.

Available Facilities
Crystal Cave tickets sold until 3:45pm (summer only); tickets NOT sold at cave. Books, maps, educational materials for sale. Local wilderness permits issued. Bear canisters for sale or rent. Accessible restrooms. Pay phone.

Sequoia Groves: at mid- elevations of Sequoia & Kings Canyon Parks

Open
Giant Forest Museum in Sequoia: Open daily.
Grant Grove Visitor Center in Kings Canyon: Open daily.
Lodgepole Visitor Center in Sequoia: Daily in summer, winter weekends only.

The Canyon, namesake of Kings Canyon National Park

Open
Cedar Grove Visitor Center: Summer only.

Phone
559-565-3793

Location
In Cedar Grove Village on the floor of in the Kings Canyon.

Closures
This small visitor center is open late June through early September. Hours may vary. The road into the canyon closes mid-November to mid-April.

Available Facilities
Books, maps, & educational items are sold here. Accessible restrooms nearby. Pay phone.

RANGER STATIONS

Mineral King Ranger Station (in Sequoia Park)

Open
Late May - late September 8am-4pm
Hours may vary early and late in the season

Phone
559-565-3768

Location
On the Mineral King Road, 24 miles up this narrow, winding road from Highway 198. The road closes from October 31 to late May.

Exhibits
This small station houses some exhibits on Mineral King"s history & natural history.

Available Facilities
Books, maps, & educational items are sold. Local wilderness permits. Pay phone in nearby campground.

VISITOR CENTERS

Giant Forest Museum (in Sequoia Park)

Open
Open All Year
Summer 8am-6pm
Spring & Fall 8am-5pm
Winter 9am-4:40pm

Phone
559-565-4480

Location
The museum is housed in a historic building in the Giant Forest sequoia grove at 6500 feet (1980m) elevation. It is 16 miles (26km) from Sequoia Park"s entrance at Highway 198.

Exhibits
Wonderful exhibits tell the story of the sequoias of Giant Forest, and what we have learned about how to protect them.

Available Facilities
Books, maps, & educational items are sold here. Fully accessible restrooms and trails are available here. Pay phone.

Grant Grove Visitor Center (in Kings Canyon)

Open
Open All Year
Summer 8am - ~6pm
Fall & Spring 8am - 5pm
Winter 9am - 4:30pm

Phone
559-565-4307

Location
Three miles (5km) east on Highway 180 from the Big Stump Entrance Station. In the conifer zone; elevation 6500 feet (1980m).

Special Programs
Slide program on the sights and sounds of Kings Canyon Park in the auditorium.

Exhibits
The focus here is on the rich human and natural history of Grant Grove and its world-famous sequoia trees. New exhibits are being planned for this visitor center; they are scheduled for installation late in 2004.

Available Facilities
Books, maps, & educational materials for sale. Local wilderness permits issued. Accessible restrooms. Pay phone.

Lodgepole Visitor Center (in Sequoia)

Open
Summer 8am - 6pm
Spring & Fall 9am - 5pm
Winter open Fridays through Mondays 9am - 4:30pm

Phone
559-565-4436

Location
On Lodgepole Road, just off the Generals Highway (main park road) 21 miles (34km) from the Sequoia Park entrance on Highway 198, 2 miles (3km) north of the General Sherman Tree. In the conifer zone; elevation 6700 feet (2040m).

Closures
Closed Tuesday-Thursday in winter.

Special Programs
Slide show about fabulous Sequoia National Park, the country"s second-oldest national park.

Exhibits
Here you can explore the natural and human history of the southern Sierra Nevada.

Available Facilities
Crystal Cave tickets sold until 3:45pm (summer only); tickets not sold at cave. Books, maps, & educational materials for sale. Local wilderness permits issued. Bear canisters for sale or rent. Accessible restrooms. Pay phone.