Three Rivers Things to Do

Kings Canyon National Park is a bit far from Three Rivers, but the good scenery is worth the drive. From Three Rivers, it's almost a two-hour drive on Generals Highway through Sequoia National Park to Grant Grove, where it's still an hour away from Cedar Grove, the heart of Kings Canyon. Kings Canyon is the deepest canyon in the US, at over 8,000 feet deep (the Grand Canyon is a little over 5,000 feet, and Hell's Canyon in Oregon is 6,500 feet). The Kings Canyon Road itself is scenic, but getting out and hiking is rewarding. Trails lead to waterfalls (Mist, Roaring River, Grizzly) and meadows. While it's a good day trip, it's a better overnight stay.

Lake Kaweah,a reservoir, isn't too attractive, though it is close to Three Rivers. On a weekend, you'll find many people boating on this large lake. From the western edge of the lake, you get a great view across the reservoir to Alta Peak, one of the most prominent peaks in Sequoia. If you enlargen my photo you can see it.

Do the foothills look bleak and unattractive? Think again... although they are not as sublime as the high peaks of the Sierra, they have their own beauty, ranging from canyons and waterfalls to Native American artifacts. The foothills are often hot and dry in summer, but temperatures are usually more moderate in spring and autumn. The main visitor center for Sequoia National Park is the Ash Mountain/Foothills Visitor Center just 5 miles from Three Rivers. Also in the foothills are the Kaweah River, Hospital Rock, and the Sequoia National Park entrance sign. So while many other visitors would just pass by this area, the foothills of the Sierra still merit a stop.

Mineral King Valley is one of my favorite places on earth; it is a tiny subalpine hidden in Sequoia National Park, 25 miles from Three Rivers via a winding and narrow road. The scenery of Mineral King justifies the drive, though; the road dead-ends in the end of the valley, where you can hike from green meadows up to lakes hidden in tarns. Mineral King is the only place in Sequoia National Park that provides direct access to the Great Western Divide. Some of the more prominent features of the valley are Farewell Gap and Sawtooth Peak, both of which have been photographed many times. Good trails in the area include a 7-mile round trip hike to Eagle Lake, and the short Cold Springs Trail.