Sequoia National Park Partially Reopens
Editor’s Note: All areas of the park have fully reopened.
After being closed due to the aftermath of the KNP Complex Fire, parts of Sequoia National Park have now reopened. It’s important to note that some of these roads and facilities may close due to severe winter weather, so it’s best to check with the park before you depart to avoid disappointment. Call (559) 565-3341 for current road conditions.
The Giant Forest
The Generals Highway at Hospital Rock will open at 8:00 AM on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays to allow day use visitors access to the Giant Forest. Additionally this highway will be open every day from December 24, 2021 to January 2, 2022.
These wheelchair-accessible facilities in the Giant Forest will be open on the days that the highway is open.
- Giant Forest Museum
- Big Trees Trail
- General Sherman Tree
This section of the Generals Highway will close at sunset, so visitors are advised to plan ahead, to avoid being caught behind the locked gate. There are no services — including lodging, campgrounds of food services — in the Giant Forest, so remember to pack along sufficient food and water.
And remember to always carry snow chains or cables during winter visits to Sequoia National Park, as they may be required at a moments notice.
Foothills Area
The Ash Mountain entrance is currently open, as is the six mile stretch of the Generals Highway to the Hospital Rock Picnic Area.
These wheelchair-accessible facilities along that highway are currently open.
- Foothills Visitor Center
- Foothills Picnic Area
- Tunnel Rock
- Hospital Rock and Hospital Rock Picnic Area
Potwisha Campground, which is located between the Foothills Visitor Center and the Hospital Rock Picnic Area, is also open on a first-come first-serve basis. This campground has two accessible campsites (39 and 40), which are located across from the accessible family restroom. It should be noted that this campground may close in severe weather.
Closed Areas
Several areas of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks remain closed, due to fire damage or seasonal weather closures.
Although the Grant Grove entrance to Kings Canyon National Park is currently open, Highway 180 to Cedar Grove is closed for the season. It’s gated approximately six miles north of Grant Grove Village, and will not reopen until the road is cleared in Spring 2022.
Likewise Mineral King Road, which runs from Highway 198 to Mineral King, is closed for the season, and will likely reopen in spring 2022. It should be noted that there was some fire damage along the road, so it’s possible that it will remain closed longer for assessment and mitigation.
Finally, Lodgepole and the section of national forest between Sequoia and Kings Canyon will remain closed indefinitely due to fire damage.
New road closures are usually announced on https://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm. And for wheelchair-accessible itinerary suggestions in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, visit http://barrierfreeyosemite.com/suggested-itineraries.
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