America's Best Idea

Kings Canyon National Park

Waking up the next day, feeling refreshed and breathing in the crisp mountain air, I couldn't wait to explore another park. Right next to Sequoia National Park is its neighbor, Kings Canyon.

Our first stop was the General Grant Tree. This giant sequoia is located in the General Grant Grove section of the park and is the second-largest sequoia in the world, only smaller than the General Sherman tree. Standing in front of it, I felt tiny compared to its massive size. The General Grant Tree is also known as the "Nation's Christmas Tree" and was dedicated as a living national shrine to honor those who died in war.

Next on our list was Zumwalt Meadow. Unfortunately, as we got closer, we found the road closed due to the season. It was disappointing, but also a good reason to come back. Zumwalt Meadow is a beautiful 1.5-mile loop trail surrounded by evergreens and located between two towering granite cliffs at the canyon's steepest point. The meadow is lush and green, different from much of the park. It offers stunning views of North Dome, the valley floor, and glacier-carved cliffs. The area is also home to a variety of wildlife, including mule deer, black bears, and numerous bird species.

Even though our visit to Kings Canyon was short, I knew I would return one day to complete this hike. Our next stop was an unexpected addition: Pinnacles National Park. It hadn't been on my radar for this trip, but during a conversation with Tim about the number of national parks in California, we realized I had just two left to visit: Pinnacles and Lassen Volcanic.

Checking the map, I saw Pinnacles was closer to San Francisco, where we were flying out of. Excited for the next adventure, I was thrilled to discover one of my favorite hikes yet.