#17: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

It was a close call for sure. Had the government not stepped in to protect the land that today makes up these magnificent parks, the Giant Sequoias may have been lost forever. These amazing trees are a natural wonder everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. And the trees in the parks are not the only natural wonder. As John Muir observed over 100 years ago, the valley of Kings Canyon, surrounded by its towering cliffs, is as equally breathtaking as Yosemite. Yet today, only a small fraction of the number of people who visit Yosemite make it to Kings. In this episode, we talk about our visits to these parks and what it’s like to spend a few days walking amongst giants.

Some topics we discuss include:

• When our Photo of the Day Contest began and how Karen ended up becoming the sole judge of our travel photos
• How we found out that Sequoia and Kings Canyon are managed as one unit
• Matt’s filing system for all of our park literature
• Hiking to the largest tree in the world in The Giant Forest in Sequoia NP
• Other must-see sites close to The Giant Forest like Moro Rock and a tree you can drive through
• Staying at the Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia and what Matt tried to buy in the gift shop
• Visiting Grant Grove in Kings Canyon NP and the 2nd-largest tree in the world
• Camping and hiking deep in Kings Canyon
• And in our mail bag segment, we answer a question about which is better for hiking The Narrows in Zion National Park, trekking poles or one of those long, wooden poles you rent from a local outfitter.

Links to more information:

• To see photos from our travels, visit our
• Instagram account, or
• TikTok account
• Sequoia and Kings Canyon official website.
• Where to learn more about our books and travels
• Join the conversation on Facebook

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices