big-meadows.html

arch image

Big Meadows
Giant Sequoia National Monument

Big MeadowsBig Meadows: This popular area is located along Forest Road 14S11 off the Generals Highway at an elevation 7,600 feet. Enjoy peaceful views of the meadow and surrounding mountains in a more primitive setting with a wide range of camping opportunities. Numerous trailheads provide access to popular wilderness areas including Jennie Lakes, Monarch, and National Parks wilderness destinations.

The refurbished Big Meadows guard station is available for visitors to rent overnight June 15 to October 15 (weather permitting). The guard station was constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Reservations are required (www.recreation.gov).

Generals Highway map

Generals Highway. This scenic route through the Giant Sequoia National Monument and the Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks provides access to the Big Meadows and Eshom areas. Scenic Generals Highway begins at Highway 180 in Kings Canyon National Park, and travels through the Giant Sequoia National Monument. The route becomes the travel artery through Sequoia National Park linking visitors to Lodgepole and Giant Forest, and exiting the park near the community of Three Rivers at Highway 198.

In the Giant Sequoia National Monument, this road also provides access to Tenmile road leading to Hume Lake and the many recreation opportunities of Big Meadow. Montecito Sequoia and Stony Creek Lodges, operated under special use permit are also located on the Generals Highway offering visitors overnight accommodations. Check the chart below for other overnight options for this area.

Buck Rock LookoutBuck Rock Lookout. Enjoy the spectacular 360-degree view from Buck Rock, one of the oldest fire lookout buildings still in use. Built in 1923, the tower is constructed on a 300-foot granite dome. Visitors are welcome daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the fire season (June through October). Lightning, fire, inclement weather and other emergencies may close the fire lookout to the public. This is a working lookout, please be respectful of the person staffing the tower.

Read more about Buck Rock Lookout.
View Buck Rock news video “Historic Fire Lookout Attracts Thousands” from KGPE-TV 47 in Fresno, CA.

Evans Grove Complex includes Evans Grove (the largest), Lockwood, Little Boulder, Boulder, Burton (or Kennedy), Windy Gulch, and Horseshoe Bend Groves located mostly in the Agnew Roadless Area and Monarch Wilderness. The groves cover 2,270 acres on the southern slopes of the Kings River gorge, rewarding visitors with spectacular views of mountain peaks, the wild and scenic Kings River, and majestic rarely seen sequoias. The Little Boulder and Evans Grove trails meander through both young and old sequoias and views of Kings Canyon to the north.

Jennie Lakes Wilderness. The 10,500 acre Jennie Lakes Wilderness is a lovely mixture of lakes, meadows, forests, and streams. Mostly above 7,000 feet, this wilderness contains scenic variations of alpine and sub-alpine forest of red fir, lodgepole pine, and western white pine, and an abundance of wildflowers in the spring. The summit of Mitchell Peak is the highest point at 10,365 feet. Jennie Lakes Wilderness borders Kings Canyon National Park to the west and Sequoia National Park to the south. Five trailheads access 26 miles of hiking trails within the Jennie Lakes Wilderness. Several of these trails also connect to the National Park’s backcountry.

If your trip takes you across the Forest boundary and into the National Park for longer than a day hike, wilderness permits are required and are available at Kings Canyon Visitor Center at Grant Grove Village.

Read more about Jennie Lakes Wilderness.

Recreation Service Partners

Pay Telephones are located at Stony Creek Resort and Kings Canyon Lodge during the summer, and Grant Grove and Hume Lake stores year-round. Cell phone signals are usually poor.

Montecito Lake Resort. Open all year, this facility is a family vacation camp during the summer and a cross country ski and snow play area during the winter. Located on Generals Highway 9 miles (14.5 km) south of Grant Grove the resort offers cabin rentals and hotel rooms with organized activities for children and adults. 800-227-9900 or 559-565-3388 or www.montecitosequoia.com.

Stony Creek Resort. Located on Generals Highway south of Grant Grove, this resort is open mid-May to mid-October. Facilities include a gift shop, grocery store, laundry, lodging, restaurant, and showers. Gas and diesel is also available. Call their front desk at 559-565-3909 or their reservations line at 559-335-5500.

Horse Corral Pack Station. With gentle stock and competent packers, Horse Corral Pack Station offers hourly trail rides, day trips, and a wide variety of overnight pack trips. 559-565-3404 (summer) or 559-564-6429 (winter) or www.horsecorralpackers.com.

Gasoline sales are available year round at Hume Lake (24 hours with credit card), and at Stony Creek Resort and Kings Canyon Lodge during the summer only.

Campgrounds Elevation Sites Season Max. Trailer Potable Water Remarks
Big Meadows 5575 45 May-Sept 30’ No  
Buck Rock 7650 11 May-Sept 30’ No Dispersed camping nearby
Cove Group 6400 50 people May-Sept 30’ Yes Reservations Required
Fir Group 6400 100 people May-Sept 30’ Yes Reservations Required
Horse Camp 7650 6 May-Sept 30’ No Stock user camp, water nearby in stream for stock
Stony Creek 6400 47 May-Sept 30’ Yes Reservations available
Upper Stony Creek 6400 22 May-Sept 30’ Yes Reservations available, Access to Stony Creek Trailhead
Trails Trail # Elevation Miles Remarks
Big Meadow 29E03 7600-8200 1.7 Moderate. Fishing, wilderness access
Boulder 29E04 6500-7300 1.0 Moderate. Fishing
Evans Grove 30E04A 6775-7500 1.5 Loop trail, moderate, Sequoia Grove, Wilderness access
Little Boulder Grove 29E09 6500-6700 1.7 Easy to Moderate, Sequoia Grove
Marvin Pass 30E06 400-9000 2.1 Moderate to stenuous, wilderness access, Mitchell Peak access
Rowell Meadow 30E08 7900-9100 3.8 Trailhead has toilets, dispersed camping, wilderness access


Alerts & Warnings

View All Alerts