@sequoiakingsnps

UPDATE: Sequoia National Park will reopen tomorrow, October 1! The park will reopen as the evacuation warning related to the SQF Complex has been lifted for most of Three Rivers, CA. This reopening includes the Generals Highway from the Ash Mountain entrance station into Sequoia National Park to Highway 180 in Kings Canyon, and national park areas and trails along this route, including the Giant Forest. Exceptions are the Mineral King area and some wilderness lands, which will remain closed due to wildfire concerns, and facilities that are closed due to the pandemic. Sequoia National Forest also remains closed. Sequoia National Park closed on September 15 in response to the Castle Fire on the SQF Complex. Many park staff were evacuated from the area, and for visitor and resource protection, park managers decided to close the park. The SQF Complex has now grown to over 152,000 acres. Air quality continues to range from moderate to unhealthy for all, and visitors should take that into consideration when planning a trip. Visit our Air Quality Information web page for more information: www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/airqualityinfo.htm. Potwisha and Lodgepole Campgrounds in Sequoia National Park will reopen on Saturday, October 3 by reservation only. Azalea Campground in Kings Canyon National Park will open for the winter season on Thursday, October 1 with a limited number of first come, first served sites. Park outdoor information centers and Sequoia Parks Conservancy stores located at Foothills Visitor Center and Giant Forest Museum are working to reopen over the next couple days. Image description: Area closure map of Sequoia National Park beginning 10/1/2020 . Mineral King and wilderness areas are included in this closure.

Sequoia National Park turns 130 today! 🎉 Despite the natural longevity of giant sequoias, early conservationists recognized they needed protection. In 1890 Congress established Sequoia National Park as a permanent refuge for sequoias, becoming the nation's 2nd national park. The park is best known for these majestic trees, but it is host to a great diversity of life, resulting mainly from the extreme elevation range- 1,360 to 14,494 feet. This park offers rivers, caves, forests and so much more! Although Sequoia National Park is currently closed due to wildfires, we invite you to virtually on our website: www.nps.gov/seki. Don't forget, Kings Canyon National Park is now open, and tomorrow entrance fees are waived for National Public Lands Day! Do you have a favorite memory of Sequoia National Park? Share them below! Photo Description: Young boy sitting at the base of a giant sequoia along the Crescent Meadow Loop in the Giant Forest area of Sequoia National Park.

National Public Lands Day is this Saturday! We are celebrating the connections between people and green space in their communities by inspiring environmental stewardship and encouraging everyone to take advantage of open space for education, recreation, and health benefits. Due to wildfires and smoke conditions at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, our planned in-parks BioBlitz will now be a virtual event that you can do at home! We invite you to explore your public lands, communities, and backyards to document the plant and animal species you find on the free mobile app, iNaturalist. This will provide a snapshot of the biodiversity in your area and help researchers understand how it may be changing. You can submit your plant, fungi, and wildlife observations to the Sequoia and Kings Canyon iNaturalist group until the end of September. We hope you have a great day exploring the natural world around you! Please link to our National Public Lands Day iNaturalist group here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/2020-sequoia-and-kings-canyon-bioblitz-

UPDATE: Kings Canyon National Park will reopen to all visitors on Wednesday, September 23 as air quality improves. This includes the park entrance station on Highway 180 into Kings Canyon, Kings Canyon Visitor Center, trails, facilities and parking areas. Sequoia National Park and Sequoia National Forest remain closed. Air quality is projected to be in the moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups range over the next few days. The park will continue to assess the smoke impacts, air quality index, and fire activity throughout the region. For detailed information about current conditions, air quality, and smoke impacts, please visit our Current Conditions web page: www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/conditions.htm. For updated 24-hour road and weather conditions for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, please call 559-565-3341, press 1 and press 1 again.

ALERT: Kings Canyon National Park will close at 5 p.m. today, September 17, 2020 due to significant smoke impacts and hazardous air quality. Sequoia National Park has been closed since September 15. The park entrance station, facilities, services, and parking lots will all close at 5 p.m. Campground reservations are being canceled through Sunday, September 20 with a full refund. Those with lodging reservations will be contacted by Delaware North with updates. The Generals Highway from Highway 180 to Sequoia National Forest boundary and State Highway 180 will remain open to through traffic in the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park. No parking or stopping is authorized. For detailed information about current conditions, campgrounds, air quality and more visit our website www.nps.gov/seki.

On 9/13/20 Sequoia National Park closed from the entrance station to the Giant Forest Museum, and yesterday, 9/15/20, it closed completely in response to the Castle Fire within the SQF Complex. Since then, many park employees have been evacuated or are under an evacuation warning in the Three Rivers area. Our SEKI team has been working steadily on fire readiness in the Ash Mountain area to prepare for a mandatory evacuation. This work has included lodging solutions for displaced employees, moving government vehicles and equipment out of the area, moving the museum collection, and much more. Sincere thanks to the firefighters and teams working around the clock to keep us and our communities safe. Kings Canyon National Park from the Highway 180 entrance station is open, but we strongly suggest monitoring air quality and deciding if conditions are too smoky for you to enjoy your visit. Park visitor centers that provide park information outdoors and outdoor dining facilities may suspend operations due to concerns about air quality. If you decide to visit, please be prepared to be self-reliant. Sequoia and Inyo National Forests, adjacent to the parks, remain CLOSED. This includes all campgrounds, day use areas, and trails. For current conditions related to Sequoia and Kings Canyon, including what's open or closed, services, and more, visit our website www.nps.gov/seki For information about the SQF Complex visit inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7048 For information about air quality visit www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/airqualityinfo.htm Photo Description: SEKI webcam image looking west from Giant Forest today at 3 p.m.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are currently OPEN, including all park roads, and access to giant sequoias in both parks. Sunset, Lodgepole and Potwisha campgrounds remain open with reservations only. Fire restrictions were recently changed to Stage 3, which means campfires, wood and charcoal fires, and smoking are currently illegal in all areas of the parks. Propane and other gas stoves are allowed. Sequoia and Inyo National Forests, adjacent to the parks, are CLOSED. This includes all campgrounds, day use areas, and trails. Although the parks are open, we strongly suggest monitoring air quality and deciding if conditions are too smoky for you to enjoy your visit. Due to increased particulate matter from widespread wildfires, air quality is poor in the parks. For information on park air quality and current forecasts, visit our Air Quality Information webpage: https://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/airqualityinfo.htm You may also get current information on Twitter from @SequoiaKingsAir and by checking park and local webcams for visibility updates: https://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm When air quality advisories indicate "Unhealthy for All levels" or "Hazardous," all individuals are at health risk through exposure, especially under exertion. Park visitor centers that provide park information outdoors and outdoor dining facilities may suspend operations due to concerns about air quality. If you decide to visit, be prepared to be self-reliant. Image 1: Current webcam view from Giant Forest looking west, 1:40 p.m. 9/10/2020. Image 2: Cedar Grove on 9/7/20 at about 3 p.m.

ALERT: Parks-wide campfire ban now in effect. Wood and charcoal fires are illegal at this time. Propane and other gas stoves are allowed. Due to extreme fire danger, record setting temperatures, commitment of firefighting resources across the area and state, and national and geographical preparedness levels at PL-5, their highest levels, the parks are increasing fire restrictions. Effective Sep 8, @sequoiakingscanyon are enacting a parks-wide campfire and smoking ban. This includes all campgrounds, picnic and day-use areas, and wilderness locations inside the parks. There are no exceptions to this change. More info: go.nps.gov/sekifirerestrictions

Happy Labor Day! Today we'd like to celebrate the employees here at SEKI by highlighting just a few of the things that happen do-to-day to protect and preserve this magnificent place for future generations. From greeting visitors at the entrance gates, to rescuing visitors from remote areas, emptying sewage from a wilderness ranger station, helping visitors plan their day, clearing very large trees, providing amazing human resources assistance to employees, monitoring forest health, and so much more! THANK YOU! To learn more about joining our team visit www.nps.gov/seki/getinvolved/workwithus Please note, photos of employees not wearing masks were taken prior to COVID-19.

Planning to visit Sequoia & Kings Canyon this holiday weekend? Here are some things to keep in mind before heading this way. WEBSITE: For current conditions, air quality and helpful trip planning information, www.nps.gov/seki. APP: Download the free mobile app, search for NPS Sequoia & Kings Canyon. ENTRANCE FEE: Pay your entrance fee in advance through www.recreation.gov. Remember to arrive before 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m. to avoid long lines at the gate. PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT: Come with a full tank of gas, snacks, water, face coverings and hand sanitizer. Make sure to throw away any trash in designated trash bins or take it with you. KEEP YOUR DISTANCE: Give others plenty of space, if social distancing isn't possible remember to wear a face covering. BEARS: Store all food items properly, don't leave coolers or food unattended, and never feed our wildlife. NO PETS ON TRAILS: They are only allowed in parking lots, paved roads, campgrounds and picnic areas. CAMPING: Reservations are required, and all campgrounds are full for this holiday weekend. Future reservations can be made through www.recreation.gov. Photo Description: Several visitors gathered along a path near the General Sherman Tree on a sunny summer day.

Forward into Light! Tonight we commemorated the 19th Amendment Centennial by illuminating an iconic giant sequoia in purple and gold as part of the nationwide Forward Into Light campaign. Signed into law on August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment guaranteed that the right of citizens to vote "shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex." After the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, suffragists knew that their work was not finished. Many women still faced discrimination, but the passage of the 19th amendment was a historic moment of progress.

We had planned to be hosting one of our favorite events this weekend, the Legacy of Buffalo Soldiers Celebration! Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, this event and all others were canceled. But we are looking towards the future, and can't wait to partner with Trooper David Jones (pictured on horseback) and his impressive Buffalo Soldier reenactors once again. They've helped bring history to life in Sequoia National Park since 2014, and hopefully for years to come. Planning has already begun for 2021, so stay tuned! Did you know that the Buffalo Soldiers are credited with the creation of portions of Highway 198 in Three Rivers, CA and what is now known as the Generals Highway connecting the Foothills to Giant Forest, Crystal Cave and Moro Rock? The very roads that now give millions of visitors access to the largest trees in the world each year. Learn more about the summer of 1903, Charles Young, and the Buffalo Soldier story on our website: www.nps.gov/seki/learn/historyculture/young.htm