The Giant Forest area of Sequoia National Park, home to the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree in the world (by volume), will reopen to the public on Friday, June 2. Access to the Giant Forest and Lodgepole areas will only be possible from Kings Canyon National Park, via the Big Stump entrance station on Highway 180. It is not possible to reach this area or giant sequoias from the Sequoia National Park entrance station on Highway 198 in Three Rivers.
Author: A member of the 3RTogether Team
Pick up a Sequoia Shuttle kit with Sequoia Shuttle tickets from your local Tulare County Library Three Rivers Branch, while supplies last.
Our friends at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks have provided an update on what is closed and what is not. Of note, Caltrans was planning to reopen Route 245 today at noon, so the park has provided an updated map from Sequoia to Kings Canyon for giant sequoia access.
Temporary access to Oak Grove Bridge should be restored by the end of next week; however, much of the county portion of the road is expected to remain closed to the public for an additional three weeks while minor repairs are completed. It is expected that Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks personnel will have access to the Sequoia National Park portion of the road by the end of next week. The Park portion of the road will remain closed until further notice.
The Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency is asking Tulare County residents to be vigilant and take precautions against mosquito bites,as mosquito samples positive for West Nile Virus have been detected within the county, posing a risk to the public.
Bridges that are critical for backpackers on the John Muir Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Rae Lakes Loop are damaged, and it is not possible to safely ford the river at these locations. Time frames for repair have yet to be established.
This bipartisan LAKES bill would improve outdoor recreation facilities in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)-managed areas, provide new opportunities for public-private investments, and give local districts more flexibility to reinvest their resources.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park has a tentative schedule for this season’s prescribed burns, including the Ash Mountain Prescribed Burn in June and the Deer Creek Prescribed Burn near the Mineral King Road in October.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks personnel continue to make progress with snow clearing, damage repairs, and all the various tasks associated with recovering from a historic winter season. Memorial Day weekend is the usual kick-off to summer in the parks, but unfortunately this year, access to the world’s largest tree (by volume)and the surrounding Giant Forest and Lodgepole area won’t be open in time. Crystal Cave and Cedar Grove are expected to be inaccessible for the 2023 summer season. No vehicular public access to Mineral King is anticipated before August, and it is likely to be later.
As deputies continue to search for the man who went missing in the Kaweah River last week, Sheriff Boudreaux wants to remind everyone that our local waterways are closed to inexperienced rafters and kayakers. Exceptions WILL be made for certain businesses and those with experience and proper equipment.
Effective 4 May 2023, Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux has issued a temporary river closure order for parts of the Kaweah River. Officials will monitor water levels and river conditions throughout the summer. When safe, access to our river will be reopened to the public.
The county expects temporary emergency repairs of the Mineral King Road to commence next week and be completed by the middle of May. Permanent repairs will follow in about 8-12 months.