SEQUOIA & KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS WITH PETS
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are a very underrated park and if I’m honest, I can understand why but only from a pet owner’s perspective. With very limited pet-friendly trails, due to the parks' efforts to protect wildlife and preserve the natural environment; it is one of the national parks systems least pet friendly parks. That being said, there actually are a few areas where you can experience the parks with your pet and it and is absolutely possible to have a great time, even with pets in tow. I’ll show you how but first let me explain a little about each of the two parks first, which are both run by the National Park Service under one unit. This means visitors get the best of two worlds! Each park has its own areas and features that make it completely unique.
Sequoia National Park includes the Foothills, Giant Forest, Lodgepole, Wuksachi, and Mineral King areas. Some important features in the area are the Hospital Rock, General Sherman Tree, Crescent Meadow, and Moro Rock.
Kings Canyon National Park includes Grant Grove and Cedar Grove areas. Grant Grove features the General Grant Tree and panoramic views of the parks. Cedar Grove offers riverside trails, the iconic Zumwalt Meadow, and acts as a portal to the wilderness of the High Sierra.
OK, back to why we are here, to learn about the areas where you can bring your furry best friend! :)
Pet-Friendly Areas:
1. Pets are allowed on paved roads, parking areas, picnic areas and campgrounds, as long as they are on a leash (no longer than 6 feet) and under control.
- This does not include access to hiking on paved paths like many other parks. Also, check out camping available before showing up at the parks you can look into that information—-> HERE
2. National Forest Areas: Pets are allowed in the surrounding Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument, which have more lenient pet policies. This includes several trails outside the national park boundaries.
3. Certain Picnic Areas: Some picnic areas within the parks, like those near parking lots, may allow pets on leashes.
4. The Hume Lake area is my absolute favorite area to visit when visiting these parks. This is located within the Giant Sequoia National Monument area. Not only is there a beautiful hiking trail around the lake, but there’s also beautiful natural water slides and waterfalls and several beach areas along the lakes shore. We brought our paddle boards and paddled around after doing the lake loop hike.
Hume Lake Loop Snapshot:
Trail length: 2.9 miles
Rated: easy
Elevation Gain: 150 feet
Trail type: Loop
Another hike you can do in these parks is River Road Trail. Below is the snapshot for that hike. This one is specifically within Kings Canyon Park and is also an access road and accessible to mountain bikers; so keep that in mind in case your fur baby is skittish.
River Road Trail Snapshot:
Trail length: 6.5 miles
Rated: Easy
Elevation gain: 344 feet
Trail type: out & back
Other Nearby Alternatives:
*Grant Grove Village (Kings Canyon): This area has a few short walks and paved areas where pets are allowed.
*Quaking Aspen Campground (Sequoia National Forest): This campground is a good base for pet-friendly hiking in the national forest.
It's always a good idea to check the latest regulations and guidelines before you visit, as park rules can change and roads can be closed for a variety of reasons. Additionally, always ensure that you clean up after your pet and respect the park's natural environment.
I’ve added a couple of reels videos from my Instagram page for you to check out from of our last visit to these parks. Check them out —-> HERE & HERE.
Always remember that there are fees associated with entering our national parks. To learn more about those, check out this link —-> HERE.
Have you visited either of these 2 parks with pets? Did I miss anything? Leave it in the comments of this post for us. :)
