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Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park Hiking Tour

The mighty sequoias, the largest living things on earth, are just the start for this hiking tour. We climb to the heights of Alta Peak, and to the depths of Kings Canyon, we enjoy alpine lakes, waterfalls, and historic lodges, and learn about the diverse ecology of the area.

Average Climate

Dry Climate

legend

Double Booking
$3395

Single Booking
$4225

Roommate Rebate
$790

Trip Type

Hiking

Difficulty Level

3

Trip Length

6 Days, 5 Nights

Distance

48.7 Miles
78.4 Kilometers

Meeting Time

Hotel 8:30 am

Drop-off Time

4:00 pm

Assembly Point

Fresno, CA

Inclusions

Includes all lodging, all meals, park entrance fees, leaders, tour maps and narratives.  Timberline van shuttle is included between Fresno and Sequoia prior to and following tour.

Not included: Airline service to Fresno Yosemite International Airport; Guide Gratuity.

Lodging Highlights

Have questions? We’re here to help! Call us at 303-664-8388 or reach out online.

Reserve This Tour

Sequoia and Kings Canyon, the twin national parks situated at the southern extremity of California’s Sierra Nevada Range, exemplifies the concept of diversity.  The extreme contrasts in climate, topography and vegetation expressed in this region are astounding.  Consider the rise in elevation from 1,700 feet at park headquarters at Ash Mountain to the summit of Mt. Whitney at 14,495′ on Sequoia National Park’s eastern fringe, and then contemplate how that differential impacts the ecology of the parks.  Rarely does snow fall in the foothills near the western entrance, nor does the snow ever completely melt in the park’s higher reaches.  Spring flowers bloom from January through October.  Sequoia National Park contains the highest peak in the lower 48 – Mt. Whitney at 14,495′, and the deepest canyon – Kings Canyon – 8,200′ – even deeper than the Grand Canyon.  And then there are the mighty sequoias, the largest living things on earth.  Reason enough for Timberline to cherish Sequoia and Kings Canyon as a part of its adventure hiking program.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Tokopah Falls

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Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Distance: 4.2 miles

Elevation Gain: 620 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 300 feet

Our program headquarters at the Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia, where we’ll spend the first three nights. We’ll van shuttle from Fresno to Sequoia early enough to head to Lodgepole and hike along the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River. Our goal for Day 1 is Tokopah Falls, and a short final boulder scramble will bring us to the base of this 1,200-foot marvel.

Day 2: Lakes Trail - Heather Lake - Emerald Lake

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Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Distance: 10 miles

Elevation Gain: 2,720 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 1,850 feet

Day 2 requires a short shuttle to the Wolverton Trailhead. The Lakes Trail offers another perspective on the beautiful Kaweah River and Tokopah Valley. Today our trail snakes along a ledge on the Watchtower itself, before descending to Heather Lake. We’ll continue on to Emerald Lake, nestled at the base of the mighty Alta Peak – our destination in a couple days.

Day 3: Giant Forest - Moro Rock and The General Sherman Tree

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Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Distance: 5.8 miles

Elevation Gain: 1,325 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 260 feet

We’ll devote much of Day 3 to the awesome sequoias as we explore the trails of the Giant Forest. We’ll hike the Congress Trail, view The House, The Senate, The President, and of course, The General Sherman Tree, “the largest living thing on Earth”. We then follow the Trail of the Sequoias to Crescent Meadow. Later that afternoon, we’ll also climb to the top of remarkable Moro Rock for one of the park’s most incredible views.

Day 4: Alta Peak summit

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Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Distance: 14 miles

Elevation Gain: 3,985 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 1,900 feet

Our challenge for Day 4 is one of the park’s greatest trails. We’re headed for the 11,204′ summit of Alta Peak on a 14-mile round trip trek that offers some of the finest alpine vistas in the Sierra. From Alta’s summit, we’ll see the towering peaks of the Mt. Goddard region to the north and those of the Great Western Divide rising out of Mineral King to the south. Whitney’s crest dominates the eastern horizon and far below rests shimmering Emerald Lake. Several turnaround points are available if you are not feeling up to the summit. This afternoon we will transfer north to Grants Village and the John Muir Lodge.

Day 5: Mist Falls in Kings Canyon

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Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Distance: 8.7 miles

Elevation Gain: 960 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 450 feet

We’re off to Cedar Grove in adjacent Kings Canyon on Day 5. From our trailhead at Roads End, we’ll trace the course of the Kings River upstream to Mist Falls and then cross the river at its confluence with Bubbs Creek as we return to our trailhead.

Day 6: Panorama Point Trail

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Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Distance: 6 miles

Elevation Gain: 635 feet

Largest Single Elevation Gain: 200 feet

The adventure continues on Day 6 on a trail straight from Grant Grove Village. We climb to the Park Ridge Trail for sweeping views from Panormaic Views, and circle back to the village on the Azalea Trail. We'll take a side trip to visit Grant Grove and “General Grant” before our return to Fresno.

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