It will be a while before you'll see a scene like this at Sunset Campground in Kings Canyon National Park due to hazardous trees that need to be removed/NPS

Sunset Campground in the Grant Grove area of the Kings Canyon National Park in California will remain closed until further notice. It was scheduled to open May 24, but many trees killed by drought, insect activity, and a heavy winter created far more hazards than expected.

“Other areas in the Sierra are starting to recover, and tree mortality rates are declining. Our area, however, is taking longer to recover, and tree mortality in these parks is predicted to remain extremely high this year,” said Christy Brigham, Ph.D., the park's chief of resource management and science. 

Campsite reservations for Sunset Campground between May 24 and June 7 have been canceled, and no new reservations will be taken until it is known how long the tree removal will take. Nearly half of the individual campsites in Kings Canyon National Park will be closed due to tree hazards over the Memorial Day weekend.

“We truly regret the inconvenience caused by the delayed opening, but it’s a necessary measure to decrease risks to visitors,” said Jason Watkins, acting Superintendent of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

The parks expect an extremely busy Memorial Day weekend, and locating a campsite will be challenging. Camping on a limited first-come, first-served basis will be available in Sheep Creek and Sentinel campgrounds in Cedar Grove, and in Azalea Campground in Grant Grove.

Check with the Forest Service for camping opportunities in the Sierra and Sequoia national forests.