High Sierra National Parks Overview
On March 1 1872, President Ulysses Grant signed into existence the world's first national park. Since then, hundreds more have been established. These parks are awe inspiring natural wonders and offer glipses into our history. California has several of these National Parks and Monuments. Sequoia Kings Canyon, Yosemite, Manzanar and Devil's Postpile are four National Parks & Monuments found in California's High Sierras.
TIP:The National Park Service offers FEE FREE DAYS to some National Parks on select weekends through the Summer. Use this link to view available dates.
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High Sierra National Parks
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Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park is located east of Fresno and Visalia off highway 99. Both regions can be accessed from Highway 180 out of Fresno or Highway 198 out of Visalia. This is a huge wilderness area with camping, fishing, hiking, rock climbing, caving and picnicking. Park features include giant sequoia forests, waterfalls, and caves. Tours depart daily into Boyden Cavern and Crystal Cave which both contain impressive stalactites and stalagmites. Join a horseback riding trip from one of several pack stations in the region.
NOTE: This is bear country. Please refer to our TIPS page for Bear safety precautions.
Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park
47050 Generals Highway
Three Rivers, CA 93271
(559) 565-3341
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Kings Canyon Map |
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Yosemite National Park is located north of Fresno, east of Modesto and west of Lee Vining. Renowned as one of the world's natural wonders, Yosemite is an expansive playground of glacier-carved granite. Natural features include shear granite walls rising thousands of feet in elavation, waterfalls, meadows and many lakes and streams. Activities include camping, hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, fishing, inner tubing, snow skiing and so much more. There is so much to see and do in this park that we've dedicated an entire page to Yosemite National Park.
 Check our Yosemite blog for more details.
 See our Yosemite photo album on Flickr.
Yosemite National Park
P.O.Box 577
Yosemite National Park, California 95389
(209) 372-0200
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Manzanar National Historic Site is located just outside the town of Independence off highway 395. Manzanar is the site of a World War II relocation camp for citizens of Japanese descent. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the American government grew suspicious of Japanese-Americans and decided to place them in camps where their activities could be monitored. Little remains of the original camp. A museum contains artifacts left behind and historical facts and documents about the camp.
Manzanar National Historic Site
5001 Highway 395
Independence, California 93526
(760) 878-2932
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Devil's Postpile National Monument is located near in the vacinity of Mammoth Mountain off highway 395. The monument features one of the world's finest examples of columnar basalt. A wall of black, hexagonal columns rise 60-feet high from the hiking trail. Access to this area can only be attained by shuttle from the Mammoth Mountain Ski Chalet. Once dropped off at the visitor center, you have many hiking options to choose from. Devil's Postpile is a short hike but we recommend continuing a few more miles to Rainbow Falls. You will not be dissappointed. Fly fisherman hone their skills in the San Juaquin River located in the meadow directly behind the visitor center. Devil's Postpile and Rainbow Falls are sites you must see if you visit this region of the Sierra Nevadas.
NOTE: Devil's Postpile is similar to, but smaller than, the Giant's Causeway of Ireland.
Mammoth Ski Chalet
1 Minaret Road
Mammoth Lakes, California 93546
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