Recreation activities abound including camping, picnicking, horseback riding, hiking, biking, off-highway vehicle riding, fishing, hunting, winter sports, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, boating, nature studies and many others. Special features include six different wilderness areas, internationally known rock climbing areas, an accessible trail through the Sequoias ("Trail of 100 Giants"), world class white water rafting and kayaking, 2 Wild and Scenic rivers, and much more! For places to stay, the Forest has more than 50 campgrounds, historic cabins and lookouts for rent, as well as a number of quaint resorts with overnight accommodations.

The Giant Sequoia National Monument is located within the Sequoia National Forest, and has 38 giant sequoia groves. It was dedicated by President Bill Clinton in 2000. Elevation climbs from around 2,500 feet to 9,700 feet over a distance of only a few miles, capturing an extraordinary array of habitats and microclimates within a relatively small area. Parts of the Monument are subject to snow closure during the winter.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks were originally set aside as national parks in 1890, in order to protect the world's largest giant sequoia trees. Both parks were later enlarged to protect additional landscapes, including Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the 48 contiguous United States; the magnificent, glacially-carved Kings Canyon and the spectacular sub-alpine valley of Mineral King.

The core of the largest expanse of designated wilderness in the 48 contiguous states lies within these two parks. The parks provide habitat to more than 300 species of animals, but a tree is the headliner here. The General Sherman Tree is the world's largest tree and is located in Sequoia National Park's Giant forest. It and the General Grant Tree, in Kings Canyon National Park's Grant Grove, are easily accessed by road and short trails. From late May until approximately mid-September Crystal Cave in Sequoia National Park provides the opportunity to take a tour, cool off and learn about the specialized world beneath the earth's surface.

More than 800 miles of trails provide countless opportunities to seek destinations into the wilderness, including mountain peaks, waterfalls, alpine lakes and the more remote sequoia groves. Overnight travel into the backcountry requires a wilderness permit and is for those who are prepared with the proper equipment and skills.

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