Current Conditions

Giant Forest Museum Is Closed On Wednesdays And Thursdays Until Further Notice

Weather

• Check weather forecasts. Temperatures in the sequoia groves and the mountains are significantly colder than temperatures in the Central Valley and the Sierra foothills. Temperatures are especially cold in the mornings and evenings. Expect any storms in the area to produce snow. Bring extra layers of clothing to be prepared for all weather conditions. As always, make sure to protect yourself with sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of water.

Roads

• See the Road Conditions page.

Wuksachi Lodge and Restaurant

• Overnight lodging and food service offered. See visitsequoia.com for more information.

Parking

• Expect parking at the Giant Forest Museum and General Sherman Tree to fill early on weekends and holidays.

Trails

• Trails within the Giant Forest and Lodgepole areas are open.

Camping

• Lodgepole Campground is now closed for the season. It is the most popular campground in the parks and site availability may be extremely limited, especially on weekends and holidays. Reservations must be made in advance through recreation.gov.
• Dorst Creek Campground is closed. It is unknown if it will be open in 2025.

Lodgepole Concessions

• Lodgepole Market and Grill are closed for the season. When it is open you can find a large selection of supplies and services, including clothing, groceries, grab-and-go food, an ATM, and a payphone. Lodgepole Grill offers casual food including burgers, sandwiches, salads, and snacks. Showers and laundry facilities are also available here.
  • Market, Showers, Laundromat: CLOSED
  • Lodgepole Grill: CLOSED

Free Ranger Programs

• All Ranger-led programs are canceled until further notice. When programs are available again they will be posted on our events calendar. *Ranger programs are posted online about one week in advance.

Kings Canyon Visitor Center Is Closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays Until Further Notice

Weather

• Check weather forecasts. Temperatures in the sequoia groves and the mountains are significantly colder than California's Central Valley and the Sierra foothillls. Temperatures are especially cold in the mornings and evenings. Expect any storms in the area to produce snow. Bring extra layers of clothing to be prepared for all weather conditions. As always, make sure to protect yourself with sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of water.

Roads 

• See the Road Conditions page.

Trails

• Trails within the Grant Grove area are open. Check at the Kings Canyon Visitor Center for the most up-to-date trail conditions.
• Trails in the Redwood Canyon area are closed following damage from the 2021 KNP Complex Fire and will not reopen until conditions are safe.

Camping

• A portion of Azalea Campground is open through the winter. Through May 7, twenty sites are available first-come, first-served. The campsites are not cleared of snow. During winter expect to be winter camping with tents pitched on snow.  
• During the spring, summer, and fall, most campgrounds fill well in advance of weekends and holidays. Reservation windows vary between campgrounds, see each individual campground page or recreation.gov for more information.

Free Ranger Programs

• All ranger-led programs are canceled until further notice. When programs return, the schedule of ranger talks and programs are posted on our events calendar. *Ranger programs are posted online about one week in advance.

Foothills Visitor Center Is Closed On Mondays and Tuesdays Until Further Notice

Weather

• Days are mild in the Foothills, with cool nights. Pack for all weather conditions when visiting the parks. Dress appropriately and always bring plenty of water. 
• Stay safe in the foothills. View the rivers from a distance. The water is very cold and swift. The soil near and along the rivers can be unstable. It can collapse unexpectedly under the weight of people, including children, and result in falls into the river. Learn more about river safety

Trails

• Check our Foothills Trails page for ideas to help you plan your trip.

Roads

• See the Road Conditions page for detailed information.

Camping

• Potwisha Campground is open.  Reservations are required. Visit recreation.gov to reserve your campsite.
• Buckeye Flat Campground is closed until further notice due to damage from repeated winter storms in early 2023.
• South Fork Campground is currently closed due to damage from flooding and landslides from past winter storms. Repairs to the campground and the access road are being assessed. At this time, it is unknown when the campground will re-open.

Free Ranger Programs

• All ranger programs are canceled until further notice. When programs become available again they will be posted on our events calendar. *Ranger programs are posted online about one week in advance.

Fire Restrictions

• See our fire restrictions page for details.

Highway 180 into this area is closed for the season. The highway typically reopens in mid-April depending on snow conditions.

Information below is available for backcountry wilderness travelers in the Cedar Grove area.

Weather

• Check weather forecasts. As always, pack for all weather conditions. Be prepared for cold temparatures and winter weather as you hike into the high country of the Sierra Nevada. Pack layers. As always, make sure to protect yourself with sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of water.

Trails

• While trails within the Cedar Grove area are open, with the winter closure of Highwy 180 the trails are inaccessible for day hiking. Overnight wilderness travel is required to reach the trails. 
• Wilderness permits are available for self-issue at Kings Canyon Visitor Center in Grant Grove Village.

The Mineral King Road inside Sequoia National Park is closed to vehicles for the winter season.

Wilderness Permits

• Mineral King wilderness permits are available as self-issue permits obtained in front of the Wilderness Office behind the Foothills Visitor Center on Generals Highway. To reach the Foothills Visitor Center and Wilderness Office, enter the park at the entrance station on Highway 189 and travel approximately one mile into the park.

Facilities

• Visitors to this area should be self-reliant and expect rustic conditions.

Weather

• Between 7,500 to 14,000 feet elevation, Mineral King is characterized by cold winter temperatures and deep winter snow. Check weather forecasts.

Winter Recreation

• The Mineral King Road is open to day use crosscountry skiiing and snowshoeing. Overnight camping is not allowed along the road corridor.