Ranger-Led Snowshoe Walk - Kings Canyon National Park

Since we both wanted to snowshoe, but I had no previous experience, we signed up to go on a Ranger-led snowshoe walk. The walk started at the Kings Canyon Visitor Center in Grant Grove Village. There was no fee for the walk or the park-owned snowshoes. Once we picked up the snowshoes, we walked across the plowed street to the snow before putting on the snowshoes. After ensuring everyone had their shoes on correctly, the leader explained that we would be walking through and around the meadow behind the restaurant. We walked single file and stopped often to learn about trees, animals, and water hazards in the meadow. We learned how to walk up a short, but steep, hill and how to glide down it on the far side. This was one of the best experiences we've had in any park and we look forward to doing it again. We visited Kings Canyon National Park in March 2018.

Snowshoes stored in the visitor center

Our leader ensuring everyone is on the trail

Blue and green reflectors mark two different trails

View across the meadow

Snow falling behind the restaurant

It would be easy to get lost as the snow covers our tracks

A pair of cedar trees grew too far out in the meadow and "drowned"

 

Cross-country ski tracks parallel ours

  

Water is a deadly hazard in winter, but we crossed over a culvert

 

The stream is barely visible under the snow

Our previous tracks are nearly obliterated

 

Back to the back of the village

 

Looking back at our current tracks

 

End of the walk

Entrance to Sequoia and/or Kings Canyon National Parks requires an entry fee of $30 per passenger vehicle for a 7-day pass. Any of the America the Beautiful passes may be used instead.

The park website is https://www.nps.gov/seki.

General Grant Tree Trail - Kings Canyon National Park

The General Grant Tree Trail is an easy, paved ½ mile loop in summer. In March 2018, when we visited Kings Canyon National Park, before the snow was plowed off the trail, it was a bit more difficult. Because the snow kept many visitors away, we were able to see a grove of mature Giant Sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) almost in solitude. Although we couldn't see the asphalt, the snow wasn't so deep that we couldn't follow the fences that have been erected to keep visitors on the trail.

We hiked in a clockwise direction, which meant we approached the Fallen Monarch from the root ball end first. This sequoia was used as both a cabin and a stable in the 1800s. No one knows when it fell. The Centennial Stump was not visible under the snow, but it was very obvious where this 24 foot diameter sequoia stood until it was cut in 1875 with a portion displayed at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition of 1876. The Gamlin Cabin was about halfway around the loop. Built in 1872 by Israel Gamlin, it was the quarters of Israel and his brother Thomas until 1878 as they grazed cattle in the area. Since the park was established in 1890, it has been used as a storehouse and as a ranger residence. Continuing around the loop, we decided to circle around the "back" side of the General Grant tree to see the fire scar. This part of the trail did not seem to have been plowed all winter. Designated the Nation's Christmas Tree by President Calvin Coolidge in 1926, the General Grant is either the second or third largest sequoia in the world. In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower declared the tree a "National Shrine" to those who died in war.

Topographic Map with GPS route

Trail head

Typical trail conditions

Twin giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) beside the trail

Compare the ten foot wide trail to the size of a sequoia

Images can't convey the immense size of the giant sequoias

This base of another sequoia

Approaching the Fallen Monarch

Root ball end of the Fallen Monarch

Inside the Fallen Monarch

The snow covered Fallen Monarch

Looking skyward

The 24 foot diameter Centennial Stump is covered in snow

Approaching the Gamlin Cabin

Fireplace from the doorway

The roof was built to handle the winter snows

A final look at the cabin

General Grant Tree

Branches and foliage of the General Grant Tree

Two hundred sixty-eight feet tall

Fire scar near the base of the General Grant Tree

Another view

General Grant Tree from the "front" side

Trail conditions

Two visitors seem so small

Snow drifts along the fence row

Approaching the Fallen Monarch from the other end

Fallen Monarch from the top

Sequoia standing tall beside the Fallen Monarch

Back at the trail head, our previous path has been plowed

Entrance to Sequoia and/or Kings Canyon National Parks requires an entry fee of $30 per passenger vehicle for a 7-day pass. Any of the America the Beautiful passes may be used instead.

The park website is https://www.nps.gov/seki.

Grant Grove Village - Kings Canyon National Park

Our March 2018 visit to the Grant Grove section of Kings Canyon National Park continued with a stop at Grant Grove Village. Operated by the park concessionaire, the gift shop and restaurant are both open daily throughout the year. Besides merchandise for sale, the gift shop also rents seasonal items such as snowshoes. The restaurant food was good and reasonably priced for the location. While the service was friendly, food delivery was very slow. This may have been due to a skeleton crew or might be normal for the facility. If you have to wait for your food, this is a beautiful facility with great views out the large windows.

Gift shop from visitor center

Gift shop entrance

Jackets, mugs, and sunglasses

Jackets, sweatshirts, and t-shirts

Additional merchandise

Restaurant viewed from the visitor center

Icicles above patio dining

Restaurant entrance

Dining room

Outdoor dining in season

View from the deck

Dining room with stone fireplace

Another view with the buffet line

Picnic tables covered in snow

Sidewalks had been cleared

Ramp from village to the parking area with a view of the visitor center

Entrance to Sequoia and/or Kings Canyon National Parks requires an entry fee of $30 per passenger vehicle for a 7-day pass. Any of the America the Beautiful passes may be used instead.

The park website is https://www.nps.gov/seki.