The Yosemite Alternative That Has Stunning Views Without The Crowds
By Mina Elwell
VACATIONS
The National Parks Service (NPS), reports that in 2023, Yosemite National Park saw almost 4 million visitors, while Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks had only about 645,000.
Sequoia & Kings Canyon aren't just a less impressive alternative to Yosemite, though, they are some of the only places in the world to see giant sequoia trees.
Specifically, Kings Canyon's Grant Grove has some of the world’s biggest sequoias growing close together, including the 267-ft tall General Grant Tree that’s 2,000-4,000 years old.
Equally impressive is the Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park, with more towering titans than anywhere in the world, including the planet’s largest sequoia, the General Sherman.
In Sequoia, you can see Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous U.S. If you're hoping for incredible views, Kings Canyon Overlook is a fantastic choice.
For an experience like no other, you might prefer to head down, not up. Boyden Cavern in Kings Canyon takes you into the chilly depths to admire stalactites and stalagmites.
In Sequoia, you can sometimes explore the beautiful white marble cavern known as Crystal Cave, which looks almost like the halls of an ancient palace.