Kings Canyon National Park For Kings Canyon in Australia, see Kings Canyon (Northern Territory).

Kings Canyon National Park Map showing the locale of Kings Canyon National Park Map showing the locale of Kings Canyon National Park General Grant tree, positioned in the General Grant Grove of enormous sequoias in Kings Canyon National Park Kings Canyon National Park is a nationwide park in the southern Sierra Nevada, east of Fresno, California.

The park was established in 1940 and covers 461,901 acres (721.720 sq mi; 186,925 ha; 1,869.25 km2). It incorporated General Grant National Park, established in 1890 to protect the General Grant Grove of enormous sequoias.

The park is north of and adjoining with Sequoia National Park; the two are administered by the National Park Service jointly as the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

Kings Canyon had been known to white pioneer since the mid-19th century, but it was not until John Muir first visited in 1873 that the canyon began receiving attention.

Then United States Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes fought to problematic the Kings Canyon National Park.

Kings Canyon National Park consists of two sections.

The small, detached General Grant Grove section preserves a several groves of enormous sequoias, including the General Grant Grove, with the famous General Grant Tree, and the Redwood Mountain Grove, which is the biggest remaining natural grove of enormous sequoias in the world covering 3,100 acres (1,300 ha) and with 15,800 sequoia trees over 1 foot (30 cm) in diameter at their bases).

The park's Giant Sequoia forests are part of 202,430 acres (81,920 ha) of old-growth forests shared by Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. This section of the park is mostly different conifer forest, and is readily accessible via paved highways. The remainder of Kings Canyon National Park, which comprises over 90% of the total region of the park, is positioned to the east of General Grant Grove and forms the headwaters of the South and Middle Forks of the Kings River and the South Fork of the San Joaquin River.

Both the South and Middle Forks of the Kings Rivers have extensive glacial canyons.

One portion of the South Fork canyon, known as the Kings Canyon, gives the entire park its name.

Kings Canyon, with a maximum depth of 8,200 feet (2,500 m), is one of the deepest canyons in the United States. The canyon was carved by glaciers out of granite.

The Kings Canyon, and its advanced area, Cedar Grove, is the only portion of the chief part of the park that is accessible by motor vehicle.

Both the Kings Canyon and its Middle Fork twin, Tehipite Valley, are deeply incised, U-shaped glacial gorges with mostly flat floors and towering granite cliffs thousands of feet high. In addition, the canyon has a several cave systems, one of which is Boyden Cave, open to the enhance in adjoining Giant Sequoia National Monument.

Usually snow no-charge only from late June until late October, the high nation is accessible only via foot and horse trails. The Sierran crest forms the easterly boundary of the park, from Mount Goethe in the north, down to Junction Peak, at the boundary with Sequoia National Park.

Kings Canyon is a wide glacial valley featuring tall cliffs, a meandering river, green vibrant meadows and waterfalls.

A several miles outside the park, Kings Canyon deepens and steepens becoming arguably the deepest canyon in North America for a short distance.

Roaring river in the King's Canyon National Park.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks campgrounds are positioned in oak woodlands in the warm, dry foothills and in the higher, cooler conifer forests.

Snow blankets Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park from November until April or May.

National Register of Historic Places listings in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks "Park History: Kings Canyon National Park | National Parks Traveler".

Kings Canyon National Park (category) Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Kings Canyon National Park.

Official site for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Sequoia Natural History Association: "Challenge of the Big Trees", history of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

Kings Canyon National Park

Categories:
IUCN Category IIKings Canyon National Park - National parks in California - Canyons and gorges of California - Kings River (California)Landforms of the Sierra Nevada (U.S.)Biosphere reserves of the United States - Parks in Fresno County, California - Parks in Tulare County, California - Protected areas of the Sierra Nevada (U.S.)Protected areas established in 1940 - 1940 establishments in California - History of the Sierra Nevada (U.S.)Landforms of Fresno County, California - Landforms of Tulare County, California - Sierra Nevada (U.S.)