What to Expect this 2024 Labor Day Weekend at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

Date:
August 29, 2024
Contact:Sintia Kawasaki-Yee, Chief of Communications, (559) 679-2866

SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS - Labor Day Weekend marks the end of the summer season and is historically a busy time at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. This year it is very important for visitors to plan ahead and understand how smoke and air quality may impact their visit. The Coffee Pot Fire continues to grow in Sequoia National Park wilderness, and although the main corridor through the parks to popular areas like the Giant Forest, Grant Grove, and Cedar Grove will remain open and accessible, planning ahead is highly recommended.

Coffee Pot Fire Impacts and Resources Recreational access to the Mineral King area of Sequoia National Park will be closed to the public beginning Friday, August 30. This applies to Mineral King campgrounds, trailheads, and area trails. All other areas of the parks will remain open through the holiday weekend but are likely to be impacted by varying levels of smoke and poor air quality. To monitor fire activity and updates visit inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/caknp-coffee-pot-fire. For air quality updates and forecasts visit fire.airnow.gov.
Tips for Planning Ahead and Navigating Congestion

1. Purchase an entrance pass in advance at recreation.gov and arrive before 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m. to reduce wait times at entrance stations.
2. Consider entering the parks through the Big Stump entrance via highway 180 to avoid fire traffic and smoke impacts.
3. If visiting the Giant Forest area, park your vehicle in a designated parking space and then use the free Sequoia Shuttle to explore the most popular sites.
4. All campgrounds in the parks require reservations. To look for available campsites visit recreation.gov. Do not arrive planning to camp without a reservation.
5. Be sure to Leave No Trace. All food must be kept in vehicles out of site or stored in designated food storage lockers. If a trash can is full, find another, or take trash with you.
6. Visit the parks website www.nps.gov/SEKI for trip planning and current conditions.
7. Download the free official National Park Service app that includes a map and information about all areas of the parks.

Overall, visitors should come prepared for a busy and likely smokey holiday weekend, but ready to experience the majestic nature of these parks.

-NPS-

About Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

These two parks, which lie-side-by-side in the southern Sierra Nevada in Central California, serve as a prime example of nature's size, beauty, and diversity. Nearly 2 million visitors from across the U.S. and the world visit these parks for the world's largest trees (by volume), grand mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, the highest point in the lower 48 states, and more. Learn more at http://www.nps.gov/seki

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