Leigh Bernacchi - Moon Sequoia & Kings Canyon

Congress Trail.

Your experiences in Sequoia and Kings Canyon can be like the features of the parks themselves: the biggest, highest, and deepest.

Sequoia National Park houses the two largest living trees in the world: General Sherman and General Grant. The tallest peak in the contiguous United States is Mount Whitney, soaring above the Sierra Nevada at 14,505 feet high. Driving the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway drops you into one of the deepest canyons in the United States, even deeper than the Grand Canyon. From the top of the Sierra Nevada down to the Kings River, countless waterfalls hurtle off cliffsides. Towering above the giant trees are granite spires and marble walls, carved by glaciers into natures immense sculptures.

Most of the parks two million annual visitors come for the giant sequoias. Of all the denizens of earth, sequoias are among the oldest, rarest, and largest. The sheer magnitude of these giants defies description and confounds cameras. These remnants of an ancient time once covered the northern hemisphere. Most of the groves remaining in the world persist in a narrow band in Sequoia and Kings Canyon. You cant help but be awestruck when youre standing at the base of General Sherman Tree, the largest living thing on earth.

taking a rest on General Grant Trail

Wuksachi Lodge in winter

stream fed by Sierra snowmelt

The natural world awaits around every bend of river, road, and trail. Wildflowers paint hillsides along the Kings and Kaweah Rivers in spring. Squirrels chatter and jays shriek. Bears shuffle along the same trails as we do.

Human history is preserved here, too: Among the oaks are grinding stones, where Native Americans once processed acorns to feed their families. Underneath it all lies a system of 200 caves, many of which remain untouched by humans.

These are your parks. Get out there and explore! Gawk up at thousands of giant sequoias. Find unparalleled solitude in the open expanses of windswept granite in the backcountry. Walk along narrow wooded trails, glimmering gold meadows, or snowy paths. Peer up at ink-dark skies and try to count all the stars. Sequoia and Kings Canyon contain enough adventure for a lifetime.

staircase up to Moro Rock

General Sherman Tree.

Indian paintbrush flower

See Giant Trees: Behold the two largest living trees on earth: the

Venture Underground: Explore the otherwordly rock formations inside .

: The ink-black skies of Sequoia and Kings Canyon are framed by granite peaks. Stare in awe and try to spot a shooting star or the Milky Way.

Take a : Take a short stroll to a waterfall or spend the whole day on the trail.

Feel the Spray of a Waterfall: Hear the boom of Roaring River Falls (pictured) or hike all day to .

Go .

: To immerse yourself in the wilderness of these magnificent parks, pack up your gear and hit the backcountry trails. Theres nothing quite like the solitude here.

Drive : Explore one of North Americas deepest canyons from the comfort of your car on this gorgeous winding road.

: Youll find gorgeous displays in meadows, along river banks, and in countless other spots throughout the parks.