SA Report: The little things

Trip Date: 7/31/2016

Location: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park

Permit/Pass: $30 Vehicle Pass - valid 1 through 7 days. Valid for Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and the Hume Lake District of Sequoia National Forest/Giant Sequoia National Monument.

$15 Individual Entry Pass - valid 1 through 7 days. Per person entrance fee for a visitor traveling on foot, bicycle, or for individuals traveling together in a vehicle as a non-commercial, organized group.

Trail Map: NPS Map, AmericanSouthwest.net

Directions: From California Highway 198 in Visalia take California Highway 63 north for 29 and a half miles to a junction with CA Hwy 180 (Kings Canyon Road). Turn right on 180 and proceed about 25 miles to a junction with in CA Hwy 198 on the right. Continue on Hwy 180 as it veers left (north) and travels 1.4 miles to a right turn into the Grant Grove visitor area. Follow the road as it circles to the north past some of the visitor cabins. Just before you reach the John Muir Lodge there is a right turn with a sign for Panoramic Point. Turn right here and continue along the narrow road for just over 2 miles to the small parking area. 

Synopsis: If, when you visit this spot, you can catch a beautifully clear day or an especially nice sunset that would be ideal. It's a short stroll to a pretty viewpoint, and the parking area looks to be a shady, less-crowded location for a picnic during busy summer days.

Trail sequence: Panoramic Point trail / loop trail

Type: Lasso loop

Distance: 0.6 miles

Elevation: Min. - 7349', Max. - 7456'

Rating: Easy (factors: altitude)

Notes: Don't try to drive your RV, or possibly even some large trucks, up to this trailhead.

Track: Panoramic Point - Kings Canyon NP: GaiaGPS, Everytrail

Turn by Turn:

  -- Find the trailhead on the east side of the parking lot. Head up past the signboard, following the paved path as it first heads south then circles to the northeast. 

  -- Skip the first right turn onto the loop trail and continue up to the vista point. After admiring the view, head back down, then turn left to take the loop trail from the higher junction.

  -- Follow the loop trail as it descends south, then hairpins back to rejoin the original path. Then retrace your outbound steps to the parking area.

Photos: Flickr