Campground Fees Going Up!

 

For Immediate Release                                Contact: Rebecca Paterson, Public Affairs Specialist​ Phone: (559) 702-3400 Email: seki_public_affairs@nps.gov

Reference Number: 8550-2232

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks announce campground fee increase and booking windows for 2023

SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS, Calif. December 21, 2022 – On January 1, 2023, campground fee increases will take effect for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. This is the first of two increases, with the second set to take effect in 2024. This phased increase brings Sequoia ancd Kings Canyon National Parks’ campground fees in line with prices of similar campgrounds in the area and follows a public comment period that was announced in August 2022.  

The increases will be implemented as follows:   

Site Type	Current Fee	January 1 2023	2024
Standard Campsite	$22	$28	$32
Stock Campsite	$22	$40	No change
Mid-sized Group Campsite	$40	$50	No change
Large Group Campsite	$50, $60, $70	$60, $70, $80	No change

No changes are currently being considered for park entry fees ($35 per vehicle, $20 per person, or $30 per motorcycle).  

The additional revenue collected under these fee increases will enable the parks to keep up with the rising costs of campground operations, as well as support ongoing maintenance and renovation projects, including the replacement of fire rings, picnic tables and food-storage boxes, the rehabilitation of comfort stations, and the removal of barriers for improved accessibility.

The National Park Service has also established booking windows for all campgrounds for the 2023 season. In response to public feedback, these windows vary in length to allow for different approaches to trip planning.  

Lodgepole, Potwisha, Sentinel, and Azalea campgrounds, as well as all group campsites throughout the parks, will have a 4-month booking window. In an effort to accommodate last-minute campers, Crystal Springs Campground will have a 2-day booking window (with the exception of its group sites). All other campsites will have a 1-month booking window.

All campsites will be reservable same-day if they are still available. Campsites must be reserved using Recreation.gov.  

As a reminder, at this time most campgrounds in the parks are closed for the snowy winter season. Sites in Potwisha Campground (Sequoia National Park) are available and must be reserved through Recreation.gov. Sites in Azalea Campground (Kings Canyon National Park) are first-come, first-served during the winter months but will require reservations in the spring and summer.  

For more information about camping at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, visit go.nps.gov/SEKIcampgrounds. To make camping reservations on the go, download the free Recreation.gov mobile app by searching for Recreation.gov in the Apple Store (iOS devices) or the Google Play Store (Android devices). 

Mineral King Road report

From a Silver City resident: 

Tried to get to Silver City today….made it past Cabin Cove, then got stopped by a LARGE tree across the road that was just too much for us to cut. 

We did clear several spots of downed trees on the way up. 

It was a very pretty day for the ride!

Mineral King Photos from October 28-31, 2022

Steven Bakos, our photographer friend wrote:

I had the time to process our pictures from the trip just before Halloween.

Here they are: https://yourownhike.com/pics/sequoia2022okt/

I think the coldest we got was around 12 or 14 at Little Claire Lake, but there was no wind at all and no snow yet. Also, we didn’t run into anybody else for the entire length of the trip.

 

Very excited to see the snow up there on webcam and satellite. Looks like another foot or two might fall by the end of this week. We can’t wait to go up there as soon as it settles (and we can get away).

 

Park Planning / Public Input

Here's a direct link to the page asking for comments about your @SequoiaKingsNPS experience.

I can't wait to comment on the reservations-only policy for camping in the Atwell Mill and Cold Springs campgrounds that was such a disaster last summer!

Comment period ends January 17, 2023.

https://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?documentID=122953

News Release - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Seek Public Input About Visitor Experience and Access

Here is your chance to express your opinion on the reservation requirement for Cold Spring and Atwell's Mill campgrounds!

Thu, Nov 17, 1:11 PM
For Immediate Release
Contact: Rebecca Paterson, Public Affairs Specialist​
Phone: (559) 702-3400
Email: seki_public_affairs@nps.gov
Reference Number: 8550-2230

SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS, Calif. November 17, 2022 – The National Park Service (NPS) is initiating a Visitor Experience and Access planning process for developed areas of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and is seeking public feedback to help identify key issues and ways the NPS can improve visitor experiences. You are invited to participate in the planning process during the public comment period, today through January 17, 2023.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks have experienced record-breaking levels of visitation over the last decade, and popular destinations in the parks can be challenging for visitors and staff to navigate, particularly during busy times. This project seeks to meet the changing needs of park visitors while sustainably addressing ongoing challenges attributed to high levels of visitation in the most popular areas of the parks. 

To learn more about this planning process and provide your feedback, please visit https://parkplanning.nps.gov/SEKIFrontcountryFall2022.

Comments may also be mailed to: 
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Attn: Visitor Experience and Access Plan
47050 Generals Highway
Three Rivers, CA 93271 

The NPS will also be hosting three public meetings on the planning effort between December 2022 and January 2023. A virtual public meeting will be hosted on Monday, December 12 at 4 p.m. PST, with a recording shared on the project webpage afterwards. The NPS will also host in-person meetings: one on Thursday, December 8 at 6 p.m. in Visalia, CA, and another on Wednesday, January 11 at 6 p.m. in Three Rivers, CA. Instructions for joining the virtual public meeting and specific locations for the in-person meetings can be found on the webpage listed above. 

“It’s wonderful that unprecedented numbers of people are coming out to enjoy their public lands, but it’s also important that we plan appropriately to accommodate that volume of people,” said Superintendent Clay Jordan. “We are concerned about how increasing visitation can affect visitors’ access to and experiences within the parks, but it is critical that we understand the perspectives of those of you who visit, or used to visit, or hope to visit in the future. What do you most value about your experiences in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks? What are we doing well and what could we do better?” 

This comment period will be open from November 17 to January 17 and is the first phase of this planning effort. Future comment public comment periods will be announced as this effort moves forward. 

If you have any specific questions regarding this proposal, please contact Elly Boerke, Environmental Protection Specialist, at (559) 565-3102.

-NPS-

HIGHWAY 180 INTO CEDAR GROVE CLOSING DUE TO PREDICTED WINTER WEATHER

NEWS RELEASE - HIGHWAY 180 INTO CEDAR GROVE CLOSING DUE TO PREDICTED WINTER WEATHER

Email: seki_public_affairs@nps.gov

Reference Number: 8550-2229

Highway 180 into Cedar Grove closing due to predicted winter weather

SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS, Calif. November 05, 2022

Due to a predicted winter weather event expected to deliver heavy snow and rain throughout the coming week, Caltrans will be closing Highway 180 at the Hume Lake junction on Sunday, November 6, at noon. There will be no access to Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon National Park while this closure is in place. Caltrans will assess whether it is possible to reopen the road on Thursday, November 10. Those with camping reservations in Cedar Grove in the affected time frame have been contacted and refunded. At this time, no other closures are planned, although closures of the Generals Highway into Sequoia National Park or other areas are possible as the weather system progresses.All visitors to the parks during the coming week should plan for snowy and icy conditions and carry tire chains. Conditions and restrictions may change throughout each day. For the most current roads conditions, call (559) 565 3341, dial 1, and then dial 1 again.

-NPS-

2023 Mineral King Calendar Available

Our very own resident artist, Jana Botkin of Cabinart, is featuring Mineral King walks for her 2023 calendar. This would make a perfect calendar for your cabin next summer, but in the meantime, you can enjoy it at home until next May!

https://www.cabinart.net/product/2023-calendar