Autumn In Sequoia And Kings Canyon National Parks

Most of the park units you might visit for fall color within the National Park System will be in the East and Midwest. Deciduous trees rule out there and the colorful foliage at Acadia, Shenandoah, and Great Smoky Mountains national parks, as well as along the Blue Ridge Parkway, is spectacular.

However, there are parks out west with beautiful fall flora as well, and I wrote about one of them — Yosemite National Park in California — after driving there along the Wawona Road and spending a day exploring Yosemite Valley before heading home the next morning.

After publishing the Yosemite article, I realized I needed to write about autumn at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, also in California. While there is not as much fall color in these two parks dominated by sequoias and other conifers, you’ll still be delighted by the patches of autumnal color provided by mountain dogwood, bigleaf maple, and quaking aspen trees. Fall colors in these parks are an unexpected treat to be savored when seen.

Where can you spot fall color at Sequoia and Kings Canyon?

The Generals Highway — Capturing fall colors along the highway is best done during the early morning hours when there is little to no traffic. Around 9 a.m., the vehicles are wending their way toward park destinations, and standing in the road will become hazardous to your wellbeing.

At view areas along Generals Highway — All along this park road linking Sequoia and Kings Canyon are view areas looking out toward Kings Canyon on one side of the highway, and the San Joaquin Valley and Great Western Divide on the other side. Bits of fall color will contrast with the stark reminders of past wildfires.

Beetle Rock — This area of granite rock surrounded by forest is a short walk from the Giant Forest Museum parking lot. During the fall, you'll see a smattering of leaf color here and there, made all the more saturated by a fantastic sunset.

Crescent Meadow Trail — You’ll notice fall colors in the bushes and vegetation, especially within the meadow. You won’t see as much on the trail, itself, although there will be smears of leaf color along Crescent Meadow Road.

Big Trees Trail — Patches of autumn leaf color are everywhere along the short trail from the Giant Forest Museum parking lot on down to the Big Trees Trail, where you will then spy colorful vegetation here and there along the trail as well as around the perimeter of Round Meadow.

Congress Trail – You won’t see as much fall color here, but still, there is some to surprise the hiker along this trail.

General Grant Tree Trail – Like Congress Trail, there won’t be as much autumn-hued vegetation, you’ll still spot a little, especially around that portion of the trail leading you to a view of this behemoth’s burn scar.

You might even catch some color while climbing the steps of Moro Rock, and you’ll see areas here and there in the forest below while making your way to the top of this granodiorite dome.

Autumn is a great time to visit Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. The air is crisp and clear (well, except for the “valley haze” in the San Joaquin Valley some 5,000 feet/1,524 meters or more below), and there is fall color to marvel over and enjoy.