Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks is a National Parks in California. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 24 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Sequoia & Kings Canyon
We matched 24 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Sequoia & Kings Canyon. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (1)
Waterfalls (4)
Mountain Peaks (9)
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Mountain PeakCanyons (1)
Rock Formations (1)
Caves (1)
Mountain Passes (5)
Mountain Pass
Mountain Pass
Mountain Pass
Mountain Pass
Mountain PassFire Lookouts (1)
Wilderness Areas (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Sequoia & Kings Canyon the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 77° in summer but only 30° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:07 AM | 7:46 AM | 4:23 PM | 5:02 PM | 244° | 9h 56m |
| February | 6:44 AM | 7:19 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:35 PM | 255° | 10h 52m |
| March | 7:06 AM | 7:40 AM | 6:28 PM | 7:02 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:21 AM | 6:56 AM | 6:54 PM | 7:29 PM | 283° | 13h 08m |
| May | 5:48 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:55 PM | 295° | 14h 07m |
| June | 5:36 AM | 6:14 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:15 PM | 300° | 14h 40m |
| July | 5:48 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:14 PM | 298° | 14h 26m |
| August | 6:13 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:12 PM | 7:47 PM | 288° | 13h 34m |
| September | 6:37 AM | 7:12 AM | 6:29 PM | 7:03 PM | 274° | 12h 26m |
| October | 7:02 AM | 7:37 AM | 5:44 PM | 6:19 PM | 260° | 11h 17m |
| November | 6:33 AM | 7:11 AM | 4:09 PM | 4:47 PM | 247° | 10h 13m |
| December | 7:00 AM | 7:41 AM | 4:00 PM | 4:40 PM | 241° | 9h 40m |
Computed for the park's reference point (36.7128, -118.5874); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Sequoia & Kings Canyon, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:42 AM – 5:12 AM | 0.5 | 14° |
| March | 3:58 AM – 5:38 AM | 1.7 | 21° |
| April | 1:50 AM – 4:40 AM | 2.8 | 24° |
| May | 11:57 PM – 3:57 AM | 4.0 | 24° |
| June | 10:07 PM – 3:37 AM | 5.5 | 24° |
| July | 10:01 PM – 2:11 AM | 4.2 | 24° |
| August | 9:22 PM – 12:12 AM | 2.8 | 24° |
| September | 8:31 PM – 10:11 PM | 1.7 | 21° |
| October | 7:45 PM – 8:15 PM | 0.5 | 14° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
2 Estimated Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars.
Weather & best time to visit
Because of the extreme elevation range in the parks, weather conditions vary widely between areas. In summer, the sequoia groves have comfortable temperatures and the foothills are hot and dry. Snow lingers on high-mountain passes well into summer. In fall, conditions can range from summer-like to winter-like. Winter brings snow to sequoia groves and rain to the foothills. Be prepared for tire chain requirements. Spring is a great time to hike in the foothills and snow begins to melt at higher elevations.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 20% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (53%). July is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $35.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $20.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $30.00 |
| Entrance - Non-commercial Groups | $20.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Two highways enter the parks. Hwy 180 from Fresno leads east to Kings Canyon National Park, then continues 30 miles east to Cedar Grove. Hwy 198 from Visalia leads east to Sequoia National Park via Three Rivers. Inside the parks, Highway 198 becomes the Generals Highway, which connects 198 to 180. Vehicles over 22-feet long should enter the parks via Highway 180. In winter, the Generals Highway between the parks often closes. Chains may be required on park roads. No roads cross the parks east to west.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Caving
- Climbing
- Rock Climbing
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Food
- Dining
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Hands-On
- Citizen Science
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
Nearby parks
CA
CA
CA/NV
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