The Generals Highway connects Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks through groves of giant sequoias, the largest trees on Earth by volume. Named for the two most famous trees along its route, the road climbs from the Sierra foothills at 1,700 feet through chaparral and oak woodlands into mixed conifer forest, reaching the Giant Forest at 6,400 feet. The southern section is notoriously winding, with over 200 curves and switchbacks, but the payoff is standing beneath trees that were seedlings when Rome was an empire. General Sherman is the largest. General Grant is the widest. Both have been standing for over 2,000 years.
Parks Along the Way
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
See General Sherman, climb Moro Rock, and drive into Kings Canyon to Cedar Grove if time allows.
Notable Stops
Foothills Visitor Center
The main entrance station and visitor center at the southern gateway. Exhibits on the parks' ecology and geology. The last reliable restrooms before the climb. Rangers can advise on road conditions and sequoia grove status.
30 minutes
Tunnel Rock
A granite boulder beside the road that once had a tunnel carved through it, allowing cars to pass. The tunnel was widened and the roof removed in 1997, but the formation remains. A remnant of an earlier era of park roads built for smaller vehicles.
5 minutes
Hospital Rock
A granite outcrop with Native American pictographs, painted by the Potwisha people who lived here for thousands of years. Mortar holes used for grinding acorns are visible in the rock. Picnic area with Kaweah River access. Named for an 1873 incident when an injured surveyor was treated here.
20-30 minutes
Amphitheater Point
A pullout with views of the Kaweah River canyon and Moro Rock in the distance. The transition from foothill vegetation to montane forest is visible from here. One of the better viewpoints on the climbing section of the road.
10 minutes
Giant Forest Museum
Exhibits explaining sequoia ecology: how they grow, why they need fire, how they survive for millennia. The museum sits in the heart of Giant Forest, surrounded by the trees it describes. Several trails begin here, including Big Trees Trail and the Congress Trail.
30 minutes to 1 hour
General Sherman Tree
The largest living tree on Earth by volume: 52,500 cubic feet of wood, 275 feet tall, 36 feet in diameter at the base, approximately 2,200 years old. A half-mile paved trail descends from the parking area. The scale does not compute until you're standing beside it.
45 minutes to 1 hour
Moro Rock
A granite dome rising 6,725 feet above the Kaweah River canyon. A stairway of 400 steps carved into the rock leads to the summit with panoramic views of the Great Western Divide, the Sierra crest, and on clear days, the Coast Range 100 miles west. Not for those with a fear of heights.
1 hour
Tunnel Log
A fallen sequoia with a tunnel carved through it in 1938, still large enough for most cars to drive through. The tree fell in 1937 and rather than remove it, the park created a tourist attraction. An 8-foot height limit applies. Larger vehicles use the bypass.
15 minutes
Crystal Cave
A marble cave with stalactites, stalagmites, and polished formations. Guided tours only, tickets must be purchased in advance online. The half-mile hike to the cave entrance descends steeply through forest. Tours last about 50 minutes. The cave maintains 50 degrees year-round.
2-3 hours including hike
Lodgepole Visitor Center
The park's largest visitor center with extensive exhibits, a bookstore, and ranger programs. The Lodgepole area includes a campground, market, and deli. Tokopah Falls Trail begins here, a 4-mile round trip to a 1,200-foot cascade.
30 minutes to 1 hour
The Peaks at Wuksachi Lodge
The only full-service dining in Sequoia, at Wuksachi Lodge. Pan-seared trout, grass-fed burgers, and Sierra-sourced ingredients. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Reservations recommended for dinner in summer. The best meal option within the park.
1-1.5 hours
Grant Grove
The northern hub, in Kings Canyon National Park. The Grant Grove contains the General Grant Tree, the second-largest sequoia and the Nation's Christmas Tree since 1926. A half-mile loop trail passes the Grant Tree and other giants including the Fallen Monarch, a hollowed log large enough to stable horses.
1-2 hours
Gateway Restaurant
The best dining option in Three Rivers, at the southern gateway. Continental cuisine on the Kaweah River. The fine-dining option in an area with limited choices. Reservations recommended. A good choice before or after a long day in the parks.
1.5 hours
Pro Tips
- Vehicles over 22 feet long are prohibited between the Foothills area and Giant Forest due to tight switchbacks. This includes most RVs.
- The southern section has over 200 curves. The speed limit is 10-25 mph in places. Allow more time than mileage suggests.
- Gas is not available in either park. Fill up in Three Rivers (south) or Fresno/Clovis (north) before entering.
- Crystal Cave tickets must be purchased in advance online. They cannot be bought at the cave. Plan ahead.
- Winter requires chains on all vehicles when snowfall is active. Check conditions at nps.gov/seki.
- Kings Canyon Scenic Byway continues 30 miles deeper into Kings Canyon from Grant Grove, ending at Cedar Grove. Worth the extra drive if time allows.