Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument Visitor Meet the Forest Service ......... 2 What to Do? Staying Overnight ................... 4 Picnicking ................................ 4 Scenic Driving ......................... 4 Guide Wildlife Viewing ..................... 4 Hiking on Trails ....................... 4 Mountain Biking ..................... 4 Rock Climbing ......................... 5 Whitewater Rafting, Kayaking, and Flat Water Boating ....... 5 Four-wheel Driving, Dirt Biking, and ATVs............................. 5 Skiing, Snowshoeing, and Snowmobiling ..................... 5 Fishing and Hunting ................ 5 Horseback Riding .................... 5 Where to Go? Special Places .......................... 6 Giant Sequoia National Monument ........................... 6 Giant Sequoia Groves .............. 6 Hume Lake .............................. 6 Tule River Canyon ................... 6 Lloyd Meadow ........................ 7 Kern Plateau ............................ 7 Lake Isabella ............................ 7 Kern River Canyon .................. 8 Wild and Scenic Rivers ........... 8 Historical and Archaeological Sites ..................................... 9 Wilderness ..............................10 Sequoia NF Area Map .......12-13 Campground Key...............14-15 Scenic Routes .........................16 What to Know? Permits and Passes..................17 Campgrounds ..........................19 Outdoor Safety.................. 20-21 Volunteer Opportunities .........22 Recreation Partners ................22 Neighbors ................................23 Contact Info .............. back cover www.fs.usda.gov/sequoia Sequoia National Forest Supervisor’s Office 1839 S. Newcomb Porterville CA 93257 559-784-1500 Meet the Forest Service The Beginning Where in California Congress enacted laws in the 1800s to encourage the settlement and use of federal lands. In 1891, Congress established forest reserves to protect the remaining land. These forest reserves later became our national forests. In 1905, forest reserve management was assigned to an agency under the Department of Agriculture. This new agency was called the Forest Service. Sacramento (! The Greatest Good (! “Where conflicting interests must be reconciled, San Francisco 99 the question shall always be answered from the standpoint of the greatest good of the greatest 395 number in the long run.” 101 Visalia 5 This statement is from a letter signed in 1905, Bakersfield assumed to be written by Gifford Pinchot, the first chief of the Forest Service. The Forest Service endeavors to manage all national forests for the 5 Los Angeles!( greatest good for the greatest number in the long run. As populations grow and demand for forest recreation increases, this goal continues to become more Sequoia National Forest difficult. Giant Sequoia National Monument A Brief History President Benjamin Harrison established the Sierra SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST and GIANT SEQUOIA NATIONAL MONUMENT and FOREST GIANT VISITOR NATIONAL SEQUOIA - GUIDE NATIONAL SEQUOIA Forest Reserve in 1893, with north and south administrative districts. In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt renamed the Sierra South Reserve the Sequoia National Forest after the forest’s most prominent inhabitants. On April 15, 2000, President Clinton signed a proclamation that created the Giant Sequoia National Monument on about 328,000 acres within the Sequoia National Forest. Establishment of the monument brought permanent protection to all federally owned giant sequoia groves within the forest, as well as other objects of interest identified in the 2 proclamation. SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST and GIANT SEQUOIA NATIONAL MONUMENT and FOREST GIANT VISITOR NATIONAL SEQUOIA - GUIDE NATIONAL SEQUOIA 180 crest of the Sierra, providing panoramic views in a 180 Kings Canyon dramatic range of settings. These mountains stand in National Park contrast to California’s San Joaquin Valley, providing Hume Lake cool relief from the scorching heat of summer and Ranger District welcome blue skies and sun during the cold fog Sequoia of winter. These spectacular features provide an National Park 198 attractive backdrop for your favorite outdoor activity. Visalia What is a Ranger District? The Sequoia National Forest divides its 1.2 million Western Divide acres into three areas called ranger districts, shown to Ranger District the left. The districts manage the land for watershed, range and forest health, wildlife habitat, heritage resources, and multiple recreation opportunities. Porterville 190 Consequently, you are sharing the land with ranchers, contractors, and people enjoying hiking, motorcycling, camping, and much more. These lands Kern River 99 Ranger District are a shared resource that belong to everyone. Because this guide covers the entire Sequoia National 155 178 Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument, information contained within is a general overview 65 of this large area. For detailed recreation information 178 on trails, campgrounds, roads, current conditions Bakersfield and closures, or management information, always seek out the local forest office. See the back cover for addresses and phone numbers. Giant Sequoia National Monument Be Prepared. Have a Map. Hume Lake District Office – Dunlap Have a Plan. Western Divide District Office – Springville Review the following pages to ensure you are Kern River District Office – Kernville ready to explore the outdoors safely. GPS units can be unreliable in the mountains, and signs may be Welcome to the Forest and minimal, especially in remote areas; carry a map. Monument! Detailed forest maps are available at any forest office. The Sequoia National Forest, named for the world’s largest trees, celebrates the greatest concentration Play by the Rules of giant sequoia groves in the world. The landscape Special regulations often exist in different areas of is as spectacular as the trees. Soaring granite the forest. Understand the regulations and follow monoliths, glacier-carved canyons, limestone caves, them. Make sure to read all signs and postings to roaring world-class whitewater, and scenic lakes and avoid potential fines. For further information, contact reservoirs await your discovery at the Sierra Nevada’s the local forest office. southern reach. Elevations range from 1,000 feet in the lower canyons to peaks over 12,000 feet on the 323 What to Do? Explore the Outdoors . Recreation Opportunities Abound! ur forest offers a diversity of outdoor opportunities. These lands are yours— Oto visit, to care for, but most of all, to enjoy. So, what are you waiting for? Pack up your family and friends and head for adventure in California’s great outdoors in the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument! Staying Overnight? Picnicking Looking for a campground? Bring your picnic basket to one of our developed picnic areas scattered throughout the forest and monument. Most Are you driving a motor home? Pulling a trailer? Pitching locations have picnic tables, vault toilets, and fire grates a tent? One of our more than 50 campgrounds has a spot or rings. All picnic areas are on a first-come basis. Some for you! Most are open Memorial Day through Labor picnic areas do not have trash service, so pack out what Day or longer; some are open year-round. Many accept you pack in. reservations; others are first-come, first-served. Fees vary. Don’t hesitate—in July and August, many campgrounds Scenic Driving fill fast. See the campground list on pages 16 and 17. From your car window, view a wide variety of spectacular Prefer to sleep in an undeveloped area? landscapes along one of our scenic routes: Kings Canyon Where allowed, just pull off the road and park in a way Scenic Byway, Generals Highway, Western Divide that does not obstruct traffic or damage resources; never Highway, and Sherman Pass Road. drive in fragile wetlands or meadows. Remember all motorized vehicles must be no further than one vehicle Wildlife Viewing length off a designated route. Come prepared to provide Focus your binoculars or camera lens on the wide array everything you need, including drinking water and waste of animals that enrich any recreation experience. Practice disposal. A campfire permit is required. Please practice responsible viewing and keep your distance—wildlife may Leave No Trace principles. No overnight camping is run away, abandon a nest or their young, or even attack if allowed at picnic areas or day use parking areas. Check you get too close. Learn to watch wildlife without being with local forest offices for more information. watched back! Prefer to sleep indoors? Hiking on Trails Oak Flat Lookout and seven historic guard stations are Hundreds of miles of trails will lure you, from foothills to available as overnight rental cabins. Just bring your linens conifer forest and giant sequoia groves; high desert plateau and food. To stay overnight, reserve Oak Flat Lookout or to steep rocky slopes and wind-swept dome lands. Hiking SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST and GIANT SEQUOIA NATIONAL MONUMENT and FOREST GIANT VISITOR NATIONAL SEQUOIA - GUIDE NATIONAL SEQUOIA Big Meadows, Camp 4½, Poso, Mountain Home, Quaking information is available at forest offices. Aspen, Wishon, or Grouse Valley cabins. Mountain Biking Make campground and cabin rental reservations at 1-877- Pedal along miles of non-wilderness trails and roads. 444-6777 or at www.recreation.gov. Mountain bikes are restricted to designated trails and 4 Travel and recreate with minimum impact MONUMENT and FOREST GIANT VISITOR