Packing for Adventure

After Joshua Tree and Sequoia National Park, we were now on our way to the third (out of four) national parks visited on this trip. We stayed here for 2 nights before making our way to Yosemite National Park.

Things to Know:

Roads

Roads can be steep, winding, and narrow – especially in the canyon. Not the best for hauling a trailer, so make sure you have a place to park the trailer before heading out to explore.

Limited Cell Service

Cell service is spotty at best, or nonexistent. Download offline maps or carry a physical map.

Weather

Summer can be hot in the canyon floor and cooler in the higher elevations. Winter brings snow, so check conditions if visiting in winter or early spring.

Where We Stayed:

Sequoia RV Park | 35671 E Kings Canyon Rd, Dunlap, CA 93621

The confirmation details we received when booking were very thorough and welcoming, including the range of site numbers we could choose from, the WiFi password, shower code, and a phone number for the managers if we had questions. Because of that, I expected a great stay.

When we arrived, however, no one was in the office even though guests are supposed to check in. We followed the self check-in instructions, chose a site, and texted the managers with the site number along with a couple questions: whether there was a printer we could use and where the showers were located.

The response we received didn’t answer either question—it simply said “no need for paperwork” and repeated the WiFi password. I clarified that we needed a printer to print our Half Dome hiking permit (instructions said to make sure to have a paper copy, but they don’t email it to you until a few days before you need it, so we couldn’t print it at home). We never received a response, and our question about the showers also went unanswered.

We eventually found showers in the building near the office, but there was no keypad for the code mentioned in the instructions, so I wondered if I was using the site manager’s private shower?

Overall the campground felt a bit run-down, with uneven sites, spotty WiFi, and a “pond” that looked more like stagnant green water. The main positives were its proximity to Kings Canyon National Park and the fact that the shower water was hot.

Where We Ate:

We, again, mostly ate from our trailer for this part of the roadtrip. But we did eat out at one restaurant close to our trailer.

Gena’s Sierra Inn: Family Restaurant | 37692 E Kings Canyon Rd, Dunlap, CA 93621

I got the Weekend Warrior Burger with sweet potato fries, which came with an aioli sauce. The burger was good. I prefer crispier sweet potato fries, but Chris (who normally doesn’t even like sweet potato fries) thought they were great and loved the aioli.

Chris also loved his Chicken Fried Steak and said the green beans were the best he’s ever had. We shared the Caramel Brandy Bread Pudding. It was good, though we wished it had been a little more moist.

The service was great, the music created a nice atmosphere, and it’s conveniently located right on the way out of Kings Canyon National Park!

Up Next

Next I’ll give a rundown of the world’s 10 largest Sequoia Trees, some located right inside Kings Canyon National Park!

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