Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park

(More pictures here). Took the family to visit Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park for the Labor Day weekend. This is Lucas’ first visit to a national park. Earlier this decade Lediya and I visited national parks so often that we purchased a “Passport” to keep track of the parks we’d visited. We hadn’t gone to a park since Joshua Tree in 2005 and we thought that it was time to introduce Lucas to the wonders of our nation’s wonderful parks. We came with my parents.

We arrived first in Sequoia National Park after driving 3.5 hours from Lakewood. We had a nice picnic lunch at the Pine Forest picnic area, amidst tall sequoias and pine trees. It was a great location to have a lunch of rice, pork adobo, cherry tomato salad, and beef tapa. Lucas enjoyed it there, and I was able to get great shots of him sitting on a fallen sequioa tree log.

After the lunch we then drove the short distance to the General Sherman Tree. The tree, which is the largest tree on Earth by wood volume, was a easy 0.4 mile hike away. We found out that the easy part was on the way downhill as the return back was strenous. Especially if you have a 25 pound toddler on your back (I used my REI kiddie back pack). But, the weather was perfect (75 degrees) and the tree was simply majestic. Lucas definitely was awed by it.

After the hike we drove an hour to Kings Canyon National Park where the John Muir Lodge is located. The lodge, while lacking in modern amenities (no TV, Internet, AC, or cell service), was a wonderful place to stay. Set in the middle of a forest, it is a short 10 minute walk from Grant Grove Village.

The next day we drove 1 hour east to Cedar Grove Village. While only an hour, the road is half the adventure as it was narrow, curvy, and downhill. It seemed that the granite cliffs were right on the road! Very scenic journey though, following the course of the Kings River most of the way. At Cedar Grove we picnicked at Roaring River Falls and hiked 5 minutes to get to them. After the falls we drove to the Zumwalt Meadow, which reminded me a lot of Yosemite Valley and El Capitan. The Kings River also flows through here and the river meanders through a lush meadow surrounded by granite walls. Lucas had a great time playing at the water here, and he even found a keepsake rock to take home. We also got Lucas his very own Passport to the National Parks, and promptly stamped it with the Cedar Grove Ranger Station stamp.

After Cedar Grove we returned to the Grant Grove area. With the zig zag road Lucas finally succumbed and got car sick. Poor guy. Once he got that out of his system he was fine and happy (after enjoying a lollipop of course). We then had a pepperoni pizza dinner at the Grant Grove pizzeria. Tomorrow we visit the second largest tree on Earth, the General Grant tree, which is a short drive from here. Then we head back home. It was a great road trip to introduce Lucas to the wonders of our national parks!