You are here

Sequoia, Kings Canyon National Parks Low on Snow For Holiday Weekend

Share

Don't expect a lot of snow to play in at Sequoia or Kings Canyon national parks this upcoming holiday weekend. NPS photo of General Sherman Tree in Sequoia by Alexandra Picavet.

It might be cold and snowy in some parts of the country, but it's comparatively dry and mild in the Sierra Nevada and the Rocky Mountains. As a result, if you're heading into a national park in the West this long weekend don't expect premium snow conditions.

For instance, the snow cover is so thin at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks that officials there are warning that the sledding won't be very good in the park this weekend unless an unforeseen storm shows up.

Traditionally, many families visit Sequoia or Kings Canyon on this three-day weekend to play in the snow and try out new winter toys. This year, visitors should plan for different activities in the parks, since snow conditions are poor and no new snow is predicted in the next few days. A few trails are packed down or snow-free enough for walking in Giant Forest and Grant Grove. For hiking at this time of year, the foothills of Sequoia offer several beautiful trails.

The Kings Canyon Visitor Center and the Giant Forest Museum will be open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Foothills Visitor Center is open 8:00 a.m to 4:30 p.m. The Lodgepole Visitor Center is closed for the season.

Rangers lead free snowshoe walks in Giant Forest and Grant Grove during the weekend when the snow conditions are right. Call 1-559-565-4480 or 1-559-565-4307 for details about programs and current snow conditions.

Despite the dry weather, you still need to be careful out there. Icy patches and spotty snow cover have contributed to several injuries associated with snowplay recently.

“People don’t think of sledding and snow tubing as a potentially dangerous activity," said Ranger Debbie Brenchley. "It seems like safe family fun. But we have seen serious injuries occur here, particularly when the conditions are icy.”

In addition to icy conditions and thin snow exposing rocks and logs, lack of steering and brakes on many snow toys adds to the danger.

If you do plan to visit Sequoia or Kings Canyon, be prepared for any kind of weather, including snow and rain. Always check weather forecasts before starting a drive or hike into the mountains. You can hear a recording of the latest road conditions within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 24-hours a day at 1-559-565-3341.

Depending on road conditions you may be required to use tire chains. Tire chains must be rented or purchased outside the parks as they are not available once you have entered. If you are unfamiliar with installing tire chains it is a good idea to practice before arriving.

Comments

What do you think about this upcoming weekend Jan 23rd - Jan 25th? We were thinking about Montecito Lodge to do winter play with our 4 yr old but don't really want to spend all the money if the snow situation is no good.

Thanks for your help.


Things still seem to be pretty grim in that neck of the Sierra for winter fun, Anonymous. Here's the latest forecast from the folks at Monticeto:

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 51. Calm wind becoming west southwest around 5 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Southeast wind around 6 mph.

Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 54. East wind 9 to 15 mph becoming south.

Wednesday Night: Rain. Low around 40. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

You can keep tabs on the weather at this site as the weekend draws closer, but today things look pretty slushy.


Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.