Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Sequoia and Kings Canyon

The largest trees in the world – Sequoiadendron giganteum or the giant sequoia – are the top draw for many visitors to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. And this slice of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California is indeed one of the best places to see these incredible, awe-inspiring trees. As the audio guides play commentary based on your GPS location, you can create your own itinerary along the tour route to match your interests and schedule.

This impressive grouping of 4 trees form a natural entryway on the road to the forest in Sequoia National Park. They are famous for being successfully protected from the KNP Complex fire, thanks to the efforts of firefighters who wrapped their bases in aluminum blankets. The Four Guardsmen are part of the Giant Forest, a cluster of huge trees.

General Sherman, named for American Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman, is considered to be the largest tree in the world by wood volume and is estimated to be 2,200 years old. That makes it the most famous tree in the park, and it is surrounded by other amazing trees in the grove. Visiting the tree requires a half mile walk to the site, but is a not-to-be-missed sight.

Located at the Giant Forest, the museum is a fantastic place to begin your exploration of this unique area. Located in an historic market building, displays help demonstrate the story of the giant sequoias. A number of short, but worthwhile, trails complete with interpretive signage depart from the museum site.

Archeological evidence around the Hospital Rock provides insight to how different Native American groups lived in and used the area dating back to the 14th century. Our modern Hospital Rock name originated through incidents where on two occasions a pair of settlers were given treatment for injuries at the site by the then resident Monache band, including a gunshot wound from a trapping accident. Those two settlers then tagged the site: Hospital Rock. This location features ancient bedrock mortars and pictographs.

This is a fantastic small-ish granite dome that is able to be scaled using a 350 step staircase. Panoramic views from the top are impressive and include the Great Western Divide of the Sierra Nevada, the foothills, and the San Joaquin Valley. One of the top three best sights in Sequoia!

Unlike some other tunnel-though-a-tree locations, where a living tree was sacrifiiced for amusement, this car-sized tunnel was carved through a giant sequoia that had already fallen naturally. The park managers thought it was a good way to help visitors further understand the immensity of the giant sequoias, and also was a unique way to make the road passable once again. Don't worry if your vehicle is too large - there is a bypass option!

Though it can seem and feel a little sad visiting a tree graveyard, Big Stump also inspires us as to why it is so important for us to preserve these uniquely iconic trees that have taken thousands of years to reach their level of grandeur. Scientists are also learning how these big trees decay, and how we might re-generate the grove. The biggest tree in Big Stump was called the Mark Twain tree and measured 14 feet in diameter, possibly one of the biggest sequoias ever. The hiking trail can be accessed from either the picnic area or a trailhead near the Big Stump Entrance Station.

The Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon sits in a pretty setting and provides the last of available services, deep in the park, including campgrounds, a market and even a basic lodge. From the area there are a series of very nice hikes to choose from, ranging from short and easy to backcountry hauls. The river setting and several waterfalls add to the appeal.

The General Grant Tree, close to Grant Village and the Kings Canyon Visitor Center, is one of the world's largest. The parking area is conveniently located making this marvel very easily accessible. If you are willing to walk further, this grove contains other fantastic trees and formations well worth exploring. It was the goal to protect this particular tree and grove from logging that eventually lead to the creation of Kings Canyon National Park.

A very descriptive name for this elevated view that is expansive across the peaks of the high Sierras and the depths of Kings Canyon. The access road is located opposite the turn for the General Grant Grove. A very short hike is needed to open up the best views.

Just a short half mile walk on a paved trail gets you to enjoy Roaring Falls. The roaring gets very thunderous during the late spring melt and run-off. More serious hikers can continue on to Mist Falls, one of the biggest in the park.

Just before we reach the end of the canyon road at Kanawyers, Zumwalt Meadows is considered the best pick on the relatively easy hikes in the Cedar Grove area of the park. The trail is relatively flat and extremely scenic. This is one of the better areas for spotting wildlife, but keep in mind, wildlife tend to not be active at the hottest parts of the day. Unlike much of the canyon, these meadows are the remains of an old lake bed.