Image
  • HOME
  • TRAVEL
    • HOUSESITTING
    • TRAVEL GUIDES
    • REVIEWS
    • NATIONAL PARKS
    • USA
    • EUROPE
    • ASIA
    • AFRICA
    • BAHAMAS & CARIBBEAN
    • CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA
  • ABOUT

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, California

By Wendy
Sunday, April 27th, 2014

“Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.”   – John Muir, Father of US National Parks

You don’t have to tell me twice, Mr. Muir. Last weekend I took yet another road trip, this time to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, just a four hour drive from my home in LA.

I entered the park from the Foothills Visitor Center and ascended up, up, up a beautiful winding road. I arrived just before sunset and couldn’t ask for a more spectacular view:

DSC_0049

The very next morning I visited The General Sherman Tree, the largest tree in the WORLD.

DSC_0070 DSC_0083

My best attempt at fitting the entire tree into one shot:

DSC_0092

Look at me! I’m in a tree!

I was totally there:

Every girl looks forward to doing laundry at a National Park, right? Hey, it beats fighting over an over-priced machine in LA. Here I am at Lodgepole Village after spending the previous night in Lodgepole Campground. At least they’re considerate enough to provide a panorama of the views you’re missing while you get your clean on:

DSC_0113

On the bright side, it gives this girl time to catch up on her journaling and post card writing:

After a picnic lunch of cheese, crackers, and sparkling water fit for a barefoot bunion queen, (yeah, I said it. Just call me BBQ)…

I did a little of what I do best: absolutely nothing.

DSC_0126

Feeling badly for doing absolutely nothing, (not really), or maybe for eating an entire wheel of cheese in one sitting, (maybe just a tad), I took to a hike. So if you’ve ever wondered: just what does a hiking guide do on her days off? There you have it: she hikes! I never claimed to be multifaceted.

Little Baldy Saddle Trail is a 2.7 mile trail that leads to…

DSC_0127 DSC_0141

These sweeping views:

DSC_0180

They make a person wanna go, Ommmmm…

I then continued north through the park entering Sequoia National Forest on my way to Kings Canyon and couldn’t resist this photo-op:

Kings Canyon is home to The General Grant Tree, the third largest tree in the world.

DSC_0209

 Wait a minute – I’ve now seen the first and the third largest trees, where is the second? After a quick Google search I’ve found out it’s called The President, is located in Sequoia’s Giant Forest, and apparently is rivaling the General Sherman in becoming the world’s largest. Watch yo back General Sherman!

Not first, second, or even the third largest but this tree deserves some lovin’ as well:

DSC_0213

Little Baldy Trail was so nice, so Big Baldy must be even nicer-er? I started my second morning on this 2.2 mile hike:

Which lead to some fabulous views:

DSC_0240 DSC_0246 DSC_0251

I even met a new friend on the trail, Andrew from Australia. Here he is taking a panorama shot:

DSC_0253

On my way out I stopped in at the Giant Forest Museum to purchase a magnet to add to my ever-growing collection:

So there you have it! My glorious two days spent in Sequoia National Park among the giant Sequoias. It’s been a dream of mine for a long time to make the trip and I still left much to see and do so you better believe I’ll be going back one day.

Final Thoughts: What can I say? I’ve never met a National Park I didn’t like.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Categories : California, National Park, Travel, USA

wendywhim

🔜 Slovakia 🇸🇰
Founder: @girlaboutslovakia

Instagram post 1932874040097924955_5494376307 On top of the #ufotower in #bratislava #slovakia 🛸 #slovensko #thisisslovakia #eurotrip2019#eurotravel#visiteurope#traveleurope
Instagram post 1780928271043838895_5494376307 Almost that time again... 😋 #ohiofindithere#girlaboutohio
Instagram post 1754855817498519835_5494376307 #Sentosa Island, #Singapore 🇸🇬
Instagram post 1806271209479325673_5494376307 🦁 #joshuatreenationalpark
Instagram post 1997391138085739575_5494376307 Sweets with my sweetie in the restaurant car during my first ever European #trainride from #Bratislava, #Slovakia to #Prague, #CzechRepublic. 🚞 ☕️ 🍰
Instagram post 2001966735558673359_5494376307 👋🏼🐶🌲🌊 I love #dogsitting @roverdotcom
Instagram post 1996128534260440438_5494376307 ❤️🔒 A beautiful heart full of locks located on top of the UFO Bridge in #Bratislava, #Slovakia. #slovensko #thisisslovakia #eurotrip2019#eurotravel#visiteurope#traveleurope
Instagram post 2074249791453412997_5494376307 It’s that time of year again! 🍓🍓🍓
Instagram post 1660383046169466906_5494376307 In love with this Shiba Inu! 🐶
Instagram post 1682011874230774502_5494376307 It may be just New Years Eve to you, but today is also my dog Faith’s 17th Birthday!!! 🎂🎈
Some fun facts about Faith: 🔸She was named after one of my favorite country stars at the time, Faith Hill. 🔸I had no intentions of bringing a dog home the day I saw her, but something came over me and I just had to have her. I guess it’s called fate! 🔸She has hiked the Appalachian Trail while carrying her very own pack, food, and water. 🔸She once moved to Nashville, TN to support her momma’s dreams. 🔸She has hiked all over Ohio, Pennsylvania, and even Maine! 🔸She once ran in a 5k with her momma! 🔸She loves her grandparents and they love her! 🔸She plans on living long enough to beat the World Record of longest living dog, currently held by “Bluey” at 29 years and 5 months. 😍
Instagram post 1659897085526379115_5494376307 The #Seabourn Sojourn entertainment team 2015. Where does the time go? 🤷🏻‍♀️
Instagram post 1629760343746095936_5494376307 #Amish Country, #Ohio 🐴 #myohioadventure#ohioisbeautiful #discoverohio#ohiofindithere#girlaboutohio#amishcountryohio
Instagram post 1628537596336418131_5494376307 I've always thought Marylin Monroe to be the most beautiful woman. Marylin in the great outdoors? Perfection!
Instagram post 1637810115115727284_5494376307 Skull Rock, Joshua Tree National Park
Instagram post 1624930161793391848_5494376307 There's only a few places in the world I'd return to again and again. The coast of #Maine is one of them. ⛰🌊🌲
Instagram post 2177808439378552504_5494376307 I traveled a little closer to home to take in this view. 👀 @carnegiemnh
.
.
.
#pittsburgh#pgh#carnegiemuseumofnaturalhistory
Instagram post 1759655628579845769_5494376307 #JoshuaTree 💚
Instagram post 1608322506178146287_5494376307 Happy to have the family join Faith and I on a beautiful fall romp this afternoon. 🍃🍂
Instagram post 1860399994537216986_5494376307 Image for post 1860399994537216986_5494376307
Instagram post 1780928781264128311_5494376307 My beautiful girl.
Instagram post 2119451861588154565_5494376307 Taking in the views from the top. 👀 #pittsburgh
Instagram post 1931418673895938804_5494376307 The most spectacular view 😍 #prague #czechrepublic December, 2019 #eurotrip2019#eurotravel#visiteurope#traveleurope#hello_cities
Instagram post 2072093838801051242_5494376307 🎈 Hi #Nashville, good to see you again. We’ve both stayed the same and changed a bit since last time.
Instagram post 1660278814485464040_5494376307 It was so nice to hear from this lovely little lady recently. ☺️ Here we are about to enjoy a wonderful meal at a beautiful resort in #Oman. 🇴🇲
Instagram post 1656702646733511655_5494376307 Digging into the archives again. #Goa, #India, 2013.
Instagram post 2073462021202090960_5494376307 All smiles 😁😁🐶 at #mammothcavenationalpark
SEE MORE
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: API requests are being delayed for this account. New posts will not be retrieved.

There may be an issue with the Instagram access token that you are using. Your server might also be unable to connect to Instagram at this time.

2019 - © Wendy Wills. All Rights Reserved. Designed by Wendy