Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Park - Looking for recommendations

Not sure if this belongs in the Southern CA or Northern CA forum as it's sort of right around the middle/eastern part of the state, but if anyone has any recommendations on dispersed camping areas in or around Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Park I'd be grateful. Looking to avoid camping in big public campground areas with designated sites and all that.

From what I gather, there is no dispersed camping within the boundaries of Kings Canyon but should be some near Hume Lake. Having never been to the area before, we were hoping we could get some pointers on where best to look from those that have been there before.

Wife and I are headed up there for a few days on my birthday weekend at the end of April.

Thanks!

 

If it was later in the year I would suggest Kaiser Pass. Right now there here is a lot of snow in the Sierra. Be prepared. If you're doing any Wheelin' don't go up alone.

 

Yeah we drove up the 395 to Lake Tahoe in early Feb and the entire 395 was buried in snow from Bishop to Tahoe. Heard the mountains expect to keep the ski lifts open through July which is pretty unheard of.

Hoping by the time we go at the end of next month it'll be a little better with the Spring season but I imagine at a certain elevation there will still be a lot of snow

 

I recommend finding a copy of

$35 Backcountry Adventures: Northern California

Backcountry Adventures: Northern California. It's got a So Cal edition too. Offers information about all kinds of off roading with decent & consistent information.

 

I've had that book for a long time but haven't looked at it in awhile, I'll see if it has any info on the Sequoias.

 

I think Sequoia is on the border of the two books.

 

There's a lot of places. Im not familiar with that end of the valley. Might get some good tips in here. But there's a lot of snow up there right now. @Alfred https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/559-tw-members-thread.120089/page-360

Edit, if you have a facebook ask the in the 559yotas page. Might help

 

following.

 

May i also recommend checking out the sierras on Red Lake, dinkey creek, bald mountain, shut eye peak, edison lake. And there's more but they are all closed until summer but worth the experience.

 

Yeah I'm starting to realize that we might be pretty limited with what we're able to do/access even at the end of April, given how much snowfall the area has gotten this year. Probably going to have to call the forest service out there and see what's open and available

 

Most everything is closed until further notice. But still call them. Usually everything opens in June.

 

Yeah. This has definitely been a big snow year.

 

I worked out of Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon last summer. There is plenty of camping on Forest Service land, but no dispersed camping within NPS boundaries, anywhere. Rangers will be real quick to point that out. IF you can get into the canyon, you can camp along the river bottom in a few select pullouts along the highway. Up closer to Hume Lake there are a lot more options, but no river.

With the snow this year you're going to want to call ahead and see if you can even get into the area. Grant Grove is over 6,000', and then you drop down to 3,500' at the bottom of Kings Canyon. Spectacular drive, but with the snow CalTrans might keep it closed.

Last year it wasn't open till the last week in April. I believe that's pretty normal. There wasn't any snow in the canyon at that time, just a little bit near Grant Grove in the shady spots.

There is a lot of construction going on all over the roads up there, so be prepared and get info directly before you go. The whole middle section between the parks is Forest Service, and you can find forest roads with plenty of dispersed sites. The construction between Giant Forest and Three Rivers is pretty bad, but they're supposed to be done with that section.. There were 1-2 hour delays, and it was closed all night last year.

If you're really interested I know a way into the park that doesn't require entrance fees, it's up through Badger area into Redwood Canyon. It's hard to find your way, especially without service and no road signs, but it's a fun, kinda scrappy (I barely made it down in a 2018 Highlander) dirt road through a sequoia grove that is owned by the University of California. It'll spit you out at the entrance road to Redwood Canyon.

Of course as a former employee and public land supporter, I urge you to pay the entrance fees.

 

Thanks for the tips! I'm always up for a challenge and the the roads less traveled but I am fully behind supporting our national parks however I can. Going to talk it over with the wife and make some calls to the forest service to see what our options are come late April. I'll hit you up via PM if you don't mind in the days to come for some more info, I appreciate the advice.

 

The Eastern Sierra's are buried in deep snow and the snow pack may not dissipate at all this year . Kaiser pass and even Tioga pass may not even open this year . I've got a friend of mine who lives in Mammoth lakes called me a few weeks back and told me the snow pack is close to 35'-40' deep in some areas

He also mentioned he's not doing the Dusy irshim trail either do to the snow accumulation at higher elevations . I would call the Forest Service for road conditions / closures

 

Sure thing. At the very least, the road out of Redwood Canyon is a fun one to use to exit the park!

 

I think I know the road you are referring to. We got up to Kings after dusk and decided to look for dispersed camping before we hit the gate. Took a dirt road for a few miles (fun!) until we hit a clearing/camp spot. Didn't realize until the morning that we were a short ways away from the main road *after* the gate. Best camp spot I've ever stumbled onto, no one around and free.

 

Subbed. Been wanting to get down there myself along with the coastal Redwoods. Take lotsa pictures to share!

 

Appreciate the responses everyone, got a couple solid leads on locations that we're hoping to have access to come the end of April. Now to formulate a backup plan in case the gates to the good spots are all closed until summer...

 

how did it work out, did you go on the trip?