Sequoia & Kings Canyon: Giants & Granite

This is one of our more active trips — not because of steep climbs, but because a couple of our days cover real distance. Our Giant Forest day runs about 7 miles, and our hike to Mist Falls is around 8, both with gentle-to-moderate elevation gain. If you're comfortable spending a full day on your feet and logging some miles, you'll be right at home — and we always build in plenty of breaks, snacks, and time to simply stand and stare up at the trees. Newer hikers who are building endurance: this is a wonderful goal trip to work toward.

Expect two very different worlds. Among the sequoias, the trails are soft, shaded, and rolling — long but forgiving, winding through the biggest trees you'll ever see. In Kings Canyon, the terrain turns to granite and river: the Mist Falls trail follows the Kings River up the canyon floor to a powerful waterfall, and shorter stops along the scenic byway show off the canyon's waterfalls and meadows. A short, steep granite staircase up Moro Rock earns you one of the best views in the Sierra.

Your first and last nights are spent at the same comfortable hotel near the Fresno airport (the Hampton Inn), with your own bed and time to settle in. Your final night's stay is included in your trip.

For the heart of the trip, we glamp right in the parks, basecamped in the Grant Grove area so we're close to both the giant sequoias and the canyon. You'll share a large, walk-in tent (two women per tent) outfitted with cots, sleeping mattresses, sleeping bags, pillows, a rug underfoot, and a shared nightstand with a lantern — and you'll always have your own bed. Showers and flushing toilets are available.

A note on weather: we travel early in the season, when the parks are gloriously quiet — but the high Sierra can be chilly, especially in the mornings and evenings. Come prepared with warm layers, a hat, and gloves. We'll have extra blankets on hand at camp so everyone stays cozy. (A full what-to-pack list lives under Resources.)

Fly into Fresno and settle in at our hotel. This evening, meet Michele in the lobby for a welcome dinner, where you'll meet your fellow adventurers and we'll walk through the exciting week ahead. (Dinner included.)

After breakfast, we'll drive up into the mountains and set up our basecamp in the parks. To ease into it, we'll take a gentle afternoon stroll through Grant Grove to the General Grant Tree — the "Nation's Christmas Tree" and one of the largest on Earth — a perfect first hello to the giants. Then it's back to camp for dinner and our first campfire beneath the pines. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.)

Today we lose ourselves among the sequoias. We'll walk to the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree on the planet, then wander the Congress Trail and Trail of the Sequoias (about 7.2 miles) through the hushed heart of the Giant Forest. In the afternoon, we'll climb the granite staircase up Moro Rock for a sweeping view across the Great Western Divide. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.)

A little gentler today: we'll hike to Tokopah Falls (about 4 miles), following the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River up a glacier-carved valley to a 1,200-foot waterfall tumbling beneath the granite cliffs of the Watchtower. There's time in the afternoon to explore more of the Giant Forest or simply relax at camp. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.)

Today we trade trees for granite and drive the breathtaking Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, dropping deep into one of the continent's deepest canyons with stops at overlooks, waterfalls, and meadows along the way. The highlight: a guided tour of Boyden Cavern, a hidden marble cave tucked into the canyon wall, cool and glittering with formations. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.)

Our biggest hike, and a beauty: from Roads End at the bottom of Kings Canyon, we'll follow the Mist Falls trail (about 8 miles) along the roaring Kings River, through granite and pine, up to one of the largest waterfalls in the parks — you'll feel the spray before you see it. We'll take our time and savor every mile. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.)

On our final morning, we'll have breakfast, break camp, and begin the drive back to Fresno, stopping for lunch along the way. We'll arrive back at our hotel for your final, included night. (Breakfast and lunch included; dinner on your own tonight — go toast to an incredible week!)

Planning your flights home: Your final night's hotel is included, so most guests fly out on Saturday. If you'd rather head home Friday evening, just be sure to book your flight for after 5:00 PM so we have time to make the drive back.