The Redwoods and the Sequoias: Our visit to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park

The California trees "redwoods" are actually two distinct species:

1. Sometimes called simply the "big trees," giant sequoias (sequoiadendron giganteum) grow only in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains toward the state's eastern border. The most massive living things, they can reach 280 feet tall and 23 feet across. The largest rise a little over 300 feet and spread almost 30 feet across. The oldest have been around over 3,000 years

2. Coastal redwoods (sequoia sempervivens) are the tallest living things on our planet, growing 300-350 feet tall and 16-18 feet across, with record specimens soaring 360 feet. They are the primary tree in the redwood forests that grow from near the California coast from the northern border down to Big Sur.

One of the best places to see Sequoias is the Sequoia National Park, CA. We visited the park in mid-May. The weather was perfect except for the unexpected snowfall! We woke up on the last day of our 2-night trip to white grounds and blocked roads. We stayed at Wuksachi Village and lodge inside the park - a nice, clean lodge but expensive in spring through summer.

Places we visited in Sequoia Park:
1. Tunnel rock.
2. Crystal Caves: Ask for tickets right at entrance. There are no tickets available once you reach the caves which is almost 14miles from the gate.
3. General Sherman Tree: The largest tree (by volume) on Earth - 2000-2300 years old - 36.5 feet diameter at the base.
4. Morro Rock: A steep hike with stairs. Beautiful at the top.
5. Crescent Meadow Loop: Nice peaceful walk from tunnel log to the meadow.
6. Hospital rock: The creek/river down there is beautiful.

The park has sequoia tree which fell down almost 100 years ago with diameter around 22 feet and more than 2000 years old.
The Kings Canyon National Park which borders the Sequoia park is a must visit. Full of rocky mountains and waterfalls, it is a beautiful place. Map at the entrance should be good enough for guidance. The Grizzly falls and Rushing River are not to be missed.

As it snowed on Sunday - the day when we were to go to Kings Canyon from within the Sequoia park and since the roads were blocked, we could not make it to Kings Canyon through the park. Sequoia is at a higher elevation than Kings Canyon. So, we decided to get out of the park, coming to a lower elevation, and then drive through the outer periphery of the park and we made it to Kings canyon! Though it was a single-lane road and very winding, but it was well worth it. The route was quite scenic which it is from the inside of the park as well.