Hike the Parks Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks. Scott Turner

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       Zumwalt Meadow’s lush vegetation is a haven for wildlife (Route 38).

       CRESCENT MEADOW

      Called the “gem of the Sierra” by none other than John Muir, this sprawling meadow is another focal point for hiking in Giant Forest. Several trails, including the historic High Sierra Trail, begin here, as does a spider’s web of footpaths that encircle Crescent Meadow and nearby Log, Huckleberry, and Circle Meadows. A picnic area and a shuttle stop add to the convenience of this essential Giant Forest destination.

       GENERAL SHERMAN TREE AND THE CONGRESS TRAIL

      This is the one destination that every visitor to Giant Forest must see, and for good reason. No single-stemmed organism on the planet is as large as the General Sherman Tree, and that alone is worth a bit of wandering. Combine your pilgrimage to General Sherman with a loop on the nearby Congress Trail. The Congress Trail visits several other impressive sequoias, including the President, the House, Senate, and Founders Group, and several other notable trees named after American historic figures.

       REDWOOD CANYON

      Considered to be the area with the largest concentration of sequoias in the world, the complex of groves within Redwood Canyon is also one of the best preserved. A network of trails explores the groves, which are at their loveliest in late spring, when thickets of mountain dogwoods blossom and Redwood Creek rumbles along through a corridor of towering sequoias. Even a short stroll along the Sugarbowl, Hart Tree, or Redwood Canyon Trails yields a wealth of beautiful sights and sounds. The nearby Kings Canyon Overlook and Redwood Canyon Overlook offer roadside stops that take in impressive vistas.

       GENERAL GRANT TREE

      This towering sequoia tree is the second-largest sequoia on the planet, and it is also the namesake tree of a small but beautiful grove of sequoias. The short loop that visits the tree and its attendant historical and arboreal highlights is easy enough for everybody, even toddlers. Fun fact: the General Grant Tree is the “nation’s Christmas tree,” and the park has held a ceremony at the base of the tree since President Calvin Coolidge formalized the tree’s honorary distinction in 1926.

       PANORAMIC VIEW

      Although there are viewpoints peppered throughout the Grant Grove and Hume Lake area, none encompass as impressive a view as Panoramic View on the north end of Park Ridge. Park Ridge itself is no stranger to impressive views. The Forest Service and Park Service jointly operate a forest-fire lookout on the ridge’s southern end, and the Park Ridge Trail has some of the best vistas in the parks. The easy, paved trail to the point makes this spot accessible to everybody. Come at sunrise to watch the rising sun transcend the fabled Kings Canyon high country.

       ZUMWALT MEADOW

      This can’t-miss destination in the heart of Kings Canyon is accessible by way of a short, easy looping hike. The sprawling meadow soaks in water from the nearby South Fork Kings River, attracting wildlife (and mosquitoes) like a magnet. Visit during the morning when wildlife are at their most active, and you may spot an array of songbirds, mule deer, and black bears foraging in the meadow.

       KEY STATISTICS

       Sequoia National Park

      •Established: September 25, 1890

      •Acreage: 404,064 acres (163,519 hectares)

      •Low point: Ash Mountain Entrance (1700 feet [520 meters])

      •High point: Mount Whitney (14,505 feet [4421 meters])

      •Average annual visitation: 1.2 million

       Kings Canyon National Park

      •Established: October 1, 1890 (General Grant National Park); March 4, 1940 (Kings Canyon National Park)

      •Acreage: 461,901 acres (186,925 hectares)

      •Low point: Kings River, west of Cedar Grove (4491 feet [1369 meters])

      •High point: North Palisade (14,248 feet [4343 meters])

      •Average annual visitation: 700,000

      •Combined designated wilderness: 93 percent (808,000 acres [327,000 hectares])