How to See the Parks in 1 or 2 Days
Eighty percent of the parks' visitors come here on day trips -- an amazing statistic considering the geography of this place. Three to 4 days will do the parks justice, but it is possible to take a short walk through a grove of big trees in 1 afternoon. Day-trippers should stick to Grant Grove if possible -- it's the most accessible. Coming from the south, Giant Forest is a good alternative, although the trip takes a while on the steep and narrow Generals Highway. Cedar Grove and Mineral King, two other destination points, are farther afield and require an early start or an overnight stay.
If you have only 1 day, we recommend driving from the foothills through Giant Forest to Grant Grove, or vice versa. It's about 2 hours through the park, plus whatever additional time is necessary to resume your route outside its entrances. Start at a park visitor center -- there's one near each location and it's a good place to get your bearings. Whether traveling from the north or south, you'll see the varied terrain within the park as you pass through dense forest, exposed meadows, and scrubby foothills covered in oaks and underbrush. In spring and summer, much of the route may be dotted by wildflowers. The southern portion runs along the Kaweah River. This route also passes two large stands of giant sequoias: one at Grant Grove and the other at Giant Forest. Both have easy trails looping through the majestic stands. At Grant Grove, a footpath passes lengthwise through a fallen sequoia.
