Kings Canyon National Park

Three Rivers, California: Again, settle-in. Remember how yesterday to visit Sequoia National Park we drove up and up? Well, Kings Canyon National Park is the complete opposite! We started at the 7000-foot-in-elevation Visitor Center and drove down into the canyon. Fabulous - and what a contrast! Where Sequoia is lush and tropical, Kings Canyon has rock cliffs with a wild river tearing through the canyon.

We took Highway 245 up to the park, drove every road and came back to Three Rivers through Sequoia National Park, and covered over 200 miles! The two parks are managed as one, they abut one another - but wow, are they two different experiences! I will post (probably too) many photos, and I will sneak-in a few more flower photos.

A view into the start of the canyon (notice the road!)


St. John's Wort


Grizzly Falls

Today, we were clever enough to bring food along with us! This morning, while I prepared my shipping labels, DT packed a gourmet repast including cheese & crackers, figs & dates and fresh cherries. Very yummy - and just the perfect snack to enjoy at Grizzly Falls. This was as close as I could get to Grizzly Falls - sorry - but with so much water going over the falls that a heavy mist was everywhere. While it did make my hair nice and curly, I don't think my camera would have enjoyed a bath.

Below the Canyon: the wild and fabulous Kings River

 
Above the Canyon: Sheer cliffs and deep canyons


A view from Kings Canyon Scenic Byway
(notice the road and the car)...


...and the river canyon directly below the road


Deer Brush


A pretty view to the waterfall that becomes Ten Mile Creek

Kings Canyon also has many Sequoia trees above the 6000 feet elevation mark. Sequoia National Park has the Sherman Tree; Kings Canyon has the Grant Tree. As you can see, we had sunny, warm (not too warm) weather all day - until we returned to the Visitor's Center at 6,800 feet. (The road into Kings Canyon is a dead-end - out-and-back.) It was cloudy and cool - and there was still so much snow on the ground.

The "Oregon Tree" in Grant's Grove

The drive back to Three Rivers was not very exciting. We thought it would be a good idea if we could stop back to Moro Rock and (if it the weather was good) hike up. Wrong. Below is a photo taken through the Honda window - on a clear spot on the road! Not only was the road fogged-in, we came upon a very recent landslide. A boulder, the size of a Volkswagen, filled half of the road, along with assorted other rocks, dirt and debris. It scared us to think what would have happened if we were driving through five minutes earlier! Luckily, no one was injured. Then, at the base of Moro Rock, an ambulance was taking away a tourist! People, I tell you, it is dangerous out here in the wilderness!

Our view on the way back to the campground through Sequoia National Park

We arrived safely home, went down the street for a decent pizza and will call it a night. We are watching the Mariners lose to New York. It is warm enough to have the windows open - a bit. Perfect sleeping weather.

Today was another fabulous day - DT saw a Golden Eagle - and we enjoyed the stark differences of the two adjoining parks. What a beautiful part of the world. Load up your RVs and get up here!

RV Park: Kaweah Park Resort