A Winter Adventure in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Sunset between Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks — Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

The outdoors is still to be enjoyed in the winter. We recently ventured to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks for a winter adventure.

These parks have been on our list for a long time. After we were gifted an Airbnb gift card for Christmas, we thought it was time to go! With snow in the forecast, we packed up our base layers and gloves and hit the road.

Kings Canyon National Park

We started our journey in Kings Canyon National Park on a sunny afternoon. Our first stop was the Grant Grove Village where we popped into their visitor center and gift shop because we LOVE a visitor center for learning about the park and getting our bearings, and we love National Park Christmas ornaments.

Our main stop here was the General Grant Tree – the second-largest tree in the world! The beautiful giant also has the title of the Nation’s Christmas Tree. The tree is located in Grant’s Grove on a paved ⅓-mile path that also features the Fallen Monarch, a large sequoia that people once lived in, and more. This trail is mighty in its capacity for the natural wonders it holds – we recommend it!

Note: as you drive from Kings Canyon to Sequoia, there is an overlook where you stop to see THE Kings Canyon Overlook.

Three Rivers, California

After visiting Kings Canyon, we rushed to see the General Sherman Tree in Sequoia before nightfall, but the majority of our Sequoia adventure came on day two so next let’s talk about Three Rivers, California. Three Rivers is the closest town to Sequoia and it is quaint and cozy.

Three Rivers Choice Plate at Tony's Taverna on Wheels — Three Rivers Choice Plate at Tony’s Taverna on Wheels

We stayed in a nice little studio-style Airbnb in a home that has another rental above it. It is very close to all the restaurants and shops in the town and just 15 minutes from the entrance of Sequoia National Park. It was perfect for the night and we loved its rain shower!

The next morning it was rainy in Three Rivers as we made our way to Sequoia Coffee Company. We grabbed a delicious breakfast to-go (they only have outdoor seating and it was raining) from here! We had their huge yogurt Sky Bowl, Bacon Bomb sandwich, and must-try Griddle Donut, alongside an iced mocha and hot cup of coffee. It was sooo good, folks. Everything was delicious. Please do not skip the Griddle Donut! This was the perfect fuel to get our day started.

While it was raining in town, it was snowing in the mountains, and Sequoia requires you to have tire chains which we did not so we made our way to Three Rivers Merchantile. This is like an elevated hardware store that is home to the kindest employees and tire chains.

After the chains were secured, to the park we went, but first we must mention our stop made on the way home: Tony’s Taverna on Wheels, a Greek food truck planted in Three Rivers. We had the Three Rivers Choice Plate which comes with your choice of gyro, pita, hummus, and a Greek salad, and the General Sherman Burger which is a smashburger with gyro and bacon. This was an amazing meal that we enjoyed on some picnic tables outside of their food truck, and we could not recommend it more.

Sequoia National Park

We started this journey like the last, at the visitor center! This was a quick stop and up the mountain we went. This is an extremely curvy trip. Right where the rain transitioned to snow everyone was stopped to check for chains. We checked that box and ventured to the Giant Forest Museum. By this time, we were in a winter wonderland!

The beautiful Sentinel Tree stands in front of the museum, greeting you. The museum is full of information about the large trees in the forest that surrounds you. We were also lucky enough to be there during a 15-minute ranger talk about the Sequoias.

From the museum, we took the shuttle to the Lower Sherman Parking Lot where we hiked up to see the General Sherman Tree, the world’s largest tree and living organism, in the snow. What an amazing experience! We went on to do the Congress Trail, a paved 2.7-mile trail that features other impressive Giant Sequoias, including some of the top 5 biggest! It is a must-see! The snow made the trail slightly slick but nothing crazy for us personally.