Be prepared for a busy July 4th weekend at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks / NPS - Rebecca Paterson

Summer is in full swing at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Fourth of July weekend is expected to be extremely busy, and visitors are strongly encouraged to plan ahead to ensure an enjoyable and safe holiday weekend.

Campgrounds

Advance reservations are required to camp in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Campground reservations can be made up to one month in advance using www.recreation.gov, or by calling (877) 444-6777. Do not arrive planning to camp if you do not have a reservation. At this time, campsites for the holiday weekend are fully booked throughout both parks. All park campgrounds are open except for Dorst Creek Campground, which will remain closed for the entirety of the season. 

There are currently no public showers or laundry facilities available in the parks. Portable showers are permitted, but campers must collect the water and dispose of it in one of the outdoor sinks. 

All vehicles (2 allowed per site) must fit onto the parking pad. Overflow parking for cars that cannot fit onto parking pads is limited. All food, scented items, and coolers, including bear-proof ice chests, must fit into the metal storage box at your campsite (most are 47" long x 33" deep x 28"high). Quiet hours for campgrounds are 10 p.m. through 6 a.m. 

Prescribed Fire, Fire Restrictions, and Fireworks

Ignitions on the Tharps-Hazlewood Prescribed Burn in the Giant Forest area of Sequoia National Park were completed earlier this month. The area continues to be in patrol status. This does not affect access to the General Sherman Tree or the Congress Trail. Visitors may see burned areas, pockets of smoke, smoldering materials, or active flame within the prescribed burn area. Please honor trail closure signs and stay off the closed trails. If you are hiking an open trail in a recently burned area please stay on the trail and do not venture off of the trail.

Stage 2 fire restrictions are in effect in the parks, which means that wood and charcoal fires and barbeques are prohibited in Potwisha, Buckeye Flat, and South Fork Campgrounds, as well as the Hospital Rock and Foothills picnic areas. Fireworks are strictly prohibited in the parks. NPS firefighters thank you for your cooperation. 

Driving

Expect congestion and lines at park entrances. Avoid long waiting periods by arriving prior to 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m., and have your method of payment ready when you arrive at the gate. Save time and take advantage of an additional entry lane to the parks by purchasing your park pass online ahead of time at www.recreation.gov/pass. Bring snacks, water, and a full tank of gas.  

RVs and trailers longer than 22 feet are advised to enter through the Big Stump Entrance Station in Kings Canyon National Park. Vehicles longer than 22 feet are not advised on the Generals Highway between Hospital Rock and Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park, due to the many sharp curves in this section. 

Shuttles

Tickets to enter the parks using the Sequoia Shuttle are $20.00 per person, and reservations are required - visit www.sequoiashuttle.com for more information. Shuttles within the Giant Forest area are free to use. All parking areas are expected to be crowded throughout the weekend. When parking lots near the General Sherman Tree are full, visitors are advised to park at Lodgepole or the Wuksachi Lodge and use the shuttle.

The Moro Rock/Crescent Meadow Road will be closed to personal vehicles from Saturday, July 2, to Monday, July 4. To access these areas, visitors can catch the shuttle at the Giant Forest Museum. 

River and Lake Safety

Visitors recreating near bodies of water must exercise extreme caution. Rocks along the edge can be extremely slippery, and banks above flows can collapse. Most people who have ended up in water-related emergencies were not attempting to swim. Drowning is the number one cause of fatalities in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Please maintain space from the edge and be especially mindful of children in your group. 

Wilderness

Wilderness permits can be reserved through www.recreation.gov up to six months in advance of your entry date. Reservations close one week prior to entry dates. A limited number of first-come, first-served permits are available daily at permit issuing stations in Cedar Grove, Grant Grove, Lodgepole, Ash Mountain, and Mineral King. Reservations are the only way to be assured of a wilderness permit. Walk-up permits are in extremely high demand. If you don’t have a reservation, have alternate plans in case your first or second choice of entry points is unavailable.

For more information and the latest updates, please visit our website, www.nps.gov/seki. When you are in the parks, refer to the map and newspaper that you receive at the entrance station for a wealth of trip planning information.