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.

Roads and facilities in the parks have been badly damaged by the recent major winter storms, beginning with a weather event in early January and followed by a succession of weather events in March. Park officials stress that there are still many unknowns that are likely to change these dates, and plan to issue regular updates to their projections.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, in partnership with Tulare County and Caltrans, is hosting a public meeting on Friday, March 24 at 6 p.m. at the Santa Teresita Youth Conference Center in Three Rivers, CA. Agencies will provide an overview of damage and impacts from the recent storm systems, with an opportunity for participants to ask questions.