Cross-Country Skiing -- There are 35 miles of marked backcountry trails in the parks. Call park concessionaires for information (tel. 559/335-5500 in Grant Grove and tel. 559/565-4070 in the Wuksachi Lodge area). The Pear Lake Ski Hut is open to the public for overnight backcountry accommodations in Sequoia from mid-December through April for $24 per person per night. The hut is equipped with a pellet stove and cooking gear, but guests need to bring their own food. Reservations are by a November lottery. Call tel. 559/565-3759 for more information.
Fishing -- Open all year for trout fishing -- rainbow, brook, German brown, and golden trout -- are the Kaweah drainage, the parks' lakes, and a section of the south fork of the Kings River. Most other waters are open for trout fishing from late April to mid-November, and for other species year-round. California fishing licenses (available at stores in the park) are required for anglers 16 and older, and you should also get a copy of the National Park Service's fishing regulations, available at visitor centers.
Horseback Riding -- Guided horseback and mule rides and overnight pack trips are offered by concessionaires in both parks and the adjacent national monument during the summer. In Kings Canyon, Cedar Grove Pack Station (tel. 559/565-3464 summer, 559/337-2314 winter) is located about 1 mile east of Cedar Grove Village; and Grant Grove Stables (tel. 559/335-9292 summer, 559/337-2314 winter) is located near Grant Grove Village. In Giant Sequoia National Monument, Horse Corral Pack Station is located on Big Meadows Road, 10 miles east of Generals Highway (tel. 559/565-3404 summer, 559/564-6429 winter; www.horsecorralpackers.com). The pack stations offer hourly rides as well as overnight treks, while the stables offer day rides only. Rates range from $30 to $35 for a 1-hour ride to $100 to $200 for a full day in the saddle; call for current charges for pack trips.
Snowshoeing -- On winter weekends, rangers lead introductory snowshoe hikes in Grant Grove (tel. 559/565-4307) and around Wuksachi Lodge (tel. 559/565-4480). Snowshoes are provided for free, but a $1 donation is requested.
White-Water Boating -- The Kaweah and Upper Kings rivers in the parks are not open to boating (neither kayaks nor inflatable rafts), but several companies run trips just outside the parks. You're guaranteed to get wet, but this roller-coaster ride through the rapids is thrilling, and a great way to not only see, but also experience, these scenic rivers. Offering trips on the Kaweah, Kings, Merced, and other rivers is Whitewater Voyages (tel. 800/400-RAFT; www.whitewatervoyages.com), with rates that range from $89 to $219 for half- and full-day trips, and multiday trips are also available (call for rates). Kings River Expeditions (tel. 800/846-3674 or 559/233-4881; www.kingsriver.com) specializes in rafting trips on the Kings. For 1-day trips they charge $90 to $150 in spring, and $130 to $199 from mid-May until the season ends. Overnight trips are also available (call for rates).
