Sequoia and Kings Canyon Visitor Centers & Park Stores
Visitor Centers & Park Stores
Each one offers information, exhibits, films, and a park store with books, maps, gifts, cards, and more. All profits from park visitor centers support the parks, and we love seeing funds go the Sequoia Parks Conservancy.
Visitor centers, ranger stations, and a museum offer opportunities to explore the nature and history of these parks, watch park films, and get trip-planning information. Park stores within visitor centers offer books and other products related to the park. Not all visitor centers are open year-round.
Foothills Visitor Center in Sequoia (NPS)
Exhibits on life in the low elevations and a park store. Open daily, year-round from 8:00 – 4:30 during peak season and from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm from December 1 – mid-March. Wilderness permits are available at the Wilderness Office behind the Foothills Visitor Center. Off-quota season wilderness permits can be obtained from a drop box located just outside of the Visitor Center at any time. 1-559-565-4212.
Located in Sequoia National Park. On the Generals Highway, 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the Ash Mountain Entrance.
Giant Forest Museum in Sequoia (NPS)
Great exhibits on sequoias. Open daily, year-round. Open 9:00 am – 4:30 pm from Memorial Day – Labor Day, from 9:00 – 4:30 in fall and spring and on winter weekends, and from 10:00 – 4:30 on weekdays from January 2 – mid-March. Off-season wilderness permits can be obtained from an outside drop box at any time. 1-559-565-4480.
Located in Sequoia National Park. On the Generals Highway, 16 miles (26 km) north of the Ash Mountain Entrance.
[letsreview]Kings Canyon Visitor Center, Grant Grove (NPS)
Exhibits, movie in English & Spanish, & park store. Open daily, year-round. From Memorial Day – Labor Day, it’s open from 8:00 – 5:00. Fall and spring hours hours are 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. From January 2 – Mid-March, hours are from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. Off-season wilderness permits can be obtained from an outside dropbox at any time. 1-559- 565-4307
Located in Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park. On Highway 180 in Grant Grove Village, 3 miles (5 km) east of the Big Stump Entrance.
Hume Lake District Office (USFS)
35860 Kings Canyon Road (Hwy 180) in the Forest Service office in Dunlap, 19 miles west of the Kings Canyon park entrance at Big Stump. Weekdays 8am–4:30pm. Maps, books. https://www.fs.usda.gov/sequoia/ 1-559-338-2251. The District Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Lodgepole Visitor Center in Sequoia (NPS)
Closed until May 10. Until then, self-issue local wilderness permits at Giant Forest Museum. Pay phone outside the market nearby.
Located in Sequoia National Park. On the Generals Highway, 21 miles (34 km) north of the Ash Mountain Entrance. Two miles (3 km) north of the General Sherman Tree.
Cedar Grove Visitor Center in Kings Canyon (NPS)
Closed for the winter season. The road into the canyon is closed for the season.cWilderness permits can only be obtained from the Roads End Permit Station. Outside of the quota season, permits are self-issued and are located in a drop box just outside of the station.
Located in Kings Canyon National Park. On Highway 180, 30 miles (48 km) east of Grant Grove. Next to Sentinel Campground.
Mineral King Ranger Station in Sequoia (NPS)
Closed for the winter season. Open daily from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, only May 24th – September 23rd.
Mineral King Road is closed for the season without a gate access code. The access code for the Lookout Point winter gate is available at Foothills Visitor Center for winter recreation access. The Conifer Gate (at mile 17.64) will remain locked for the duration of the winter season. Off-season wilderness permits can be obtained at The Conifer Gate or from outside of the Mineral King Ranger Station from drop boxes at any time.
Located in Sequoia National Park. On the Mineral King Road, 24 miles (39 km) from the junction of Highway 198 in Three Rivers.
Phones and Data
All visitor centers have pay phones outside except Giant Forest Museum. There is limited cell signal and service in the region so please plan accordingly.
Content Credit
https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm
NPS Visitor Guide
https://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/news/upload/Park-newspaper_winter18-19_for-web-508.pdf
https://www.visitsequoia.com/explore/visitor-centers-museums
Photo Credit
Giant Forest Museum Photo from the SPC
