Kings Canyon National Park: The Kings River

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No:

Swimming

Wading

Boating

Rafting

or Fishing.

In essence, stay out of the water.  It is too rough.  Too fast.  Too violent.  It’s not this dangerous on the whole river, but in many parts of Kings Canyon National Park, it is.

I am convinced that if you fell into the Kings River in most areas of Kings Canyon National Park, you would be dead within minutes.  There are too many boulders that you would strike and the water is too fast that you could never stand up or drag yourself to safety.

Don’t get me wrong, it is a gorgeous flow of water to see in contrast with the mountains and valleys.  But in this case, Mother Nature is not to be tested.

The Kings River provides irrigation to over a million acres of farmland in California's central valley.  The river also provides fresh drinking water to central valley residents.  In some areas, white water rafting is permitted.  It is a level 3 river.

I made acrylic prints of this waterfall.  They are as breathtaking as the waterfall is itself.

Have you seen the Kings River in person?  What were your impressions?

For more information about Kings Canyon National Park, click the link below.

https://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm

Kings Canyon National Park: The Dual Legacy of Water

I leisurely drove down Route 180 from my hotel in Fresno to the fork in the road where you can either choose to turn right to visit Sequoia National Park or bear left to enter Kings Canyon National Park.  I was extremely excited to visit Sequoia NP because it has a grove of trees which are some of the largest and longest living organisms in the world.  But Kings Canyon?  I had never heard of the place.  Sequoias would have to wait while my curiosity won out. 

As I entered the visitor center a park ranger exclaimed, “Welcome to Kings Canyon National Park!”. 

I responded, “Um, to be honest, I’ve never heard of this place”. 

She smiled and said, “Yeah, we like it like that.  The other parks get big crowds.  We are happy with being off the radar.”

The Kings River carves its way through the valley.

She explained that Kings Canyon is unique in that it has two valleys.  One is a V-shaped valley which was formed primarily by water erosion and a U-shaped valley which was formed when a glacier receded and pulled much of the rocks and sediment away.  So melted snow and ice turned into water and formed the V valley and frozen water formed the U valley.  Interesting.  I decided to investigate both valleys.

The roads curve around a dangerous landscape of rocks and boulders.

The V valley was amazing.  Sharp slopes had been carved into the mountains leaving them with jagged ravines for the water to flow.  Even from a couple thousand feet above, I could hear the roar of the Kings River below. 

The base of the mountains in the U valley were littered with massive granite boulders larger than cars and houses.  This left the U valley with wide gorges where grass and ferns grew waist-high and covered the valley floor. 

I'm 6 feet tall and about 275lbs in this picture.  This is a massive hunk of granite.  

Although I knew nothing about Kings Canyon National Park until I walked into the visitor center that day, I am forever grateful that I explored this national park.  I now believe that Kings Canyon NP is one of the most underrated places in the entire country.  I highly recommend this park for a day or week-long visit. 

Have you visited Kings Canyon NP?  Did you like it?  Would you agree that it is an underrated park?

For more information about Kings Canyon National Park, click the link below.

https://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm

Yosemite National Park: The Valley

As you enter the park, you navigate under a massive rock formation precariously perched above the road.  A leisurely drive through the forest tries to calm you but the anticipation keeps you on the edge of your seat.  Sunlight finds its way through the limbs of the backwoods to taste the moisture of the soil. 

It sneaks up on you, hidden within the forest until it is right on top of you.  You never see it coming.  It’s like someone jumping out of the birthday cake to surprise you.  The first thing people usually say is, “Wow!!!” 

El Capitan confronts you as you slowly bear left.  There it is in all its glory, 3000 feet of granite.  The face is nearly vertical and a major challenge for even the most experienced climbers. 

As you continue through Yosemite Valley, protrusions of rock jut into the sky, one stretching higher than the next.  Tunnel View is one of the most famous and photographed areas of any national park.  Busloads of tourists and school children unload their vehicles and load their cameras with memories of a grand scene.

Although not tame, animals are so accustomed to visitors that they might walk right up to you while you visit.  It is important to never feed the animals as they could become sick from the food or become reliant on tourists for their nourishment. 

Bridal Veil Falls is the friendliest of the waterfalls.  It is a short hike of less than 100 yards to its base from the parking lot.  The falls run your round and are flush with flow. 

Snow rolls into Yosemite Valley in April 2013

Last but not least is Half Dome.  It is the sitting king of the valley.  Campers rest in its shadow and it is a favorite of climbers.  You must register in advance to climb the side of the granite monarch via a system of cables.  Climbing the vertical face should be left to the professionals. 

Yosemite Valley is nature’s amusement park for us nature nerds ensuring that everyone has a jaw-dropping experience there. 

Have you been to Yosemite Valley?  What is your favorite part of the valley and why?

For more information about Yosemite National Park, click the link below.

https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm