9-16 and 9-17-2016 King’s Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, California

On 9-16 we traveled a back road to King’s Canyon National Park.

These two parks are adjacent to one another—King’s Canyon is north of Sequoia—and both are located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Giant Sequoias only grow naturally on the west slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains between 5,000 to 7,000 feet of elevation.  There are several in Grant’s Grove in King’s Canyon,… 

…including “General Grant,” the world's third largest tree...

…and the “Fallen Monarch,” hollowed by fire, and used as shelter by both Native Americans and pioneers, and even housed a hotel and saloon at one point.

The largest concentration is in what John Muir named the “Giant Forest” in Sequoia National Park,…

 …which includes “General Sherman,” considered the largest tree in the world by volume.