Campsite impact in the wilderness of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: Thirty years of change

David N. Cole; David J. Parsons

Treesearch

Campsite impact in the wilderness of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: Thirty years of change

Formally Refereed

Authors:

David N. Cole, David J. Parsons

Year:

2013

Type:

Miscellaneous

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SEKI/NRTR-2013/665. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science. 107 p.

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Abstract

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are among the premier destinations in the world for wilderness travel and camping. Over 93% of the spectacular mountain country that make up these parks has been designated as wilderness, with another 4% managed as wilderness. The parks are home to the highest peak in the lower 48 states, Mt. Whitney (14,495 feet), a 97-mile stretch of the famous John Muir Trail and also 101 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. In all, there are more than 700 miles of maintained trail in the parks, as well as numerous opportunities to travel off trails. Wilderness recreation has a long history here; a number of scenic attractions have been popular destinations for over a century. Due to this popularity, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks pioneered efforts to sustainably manage wilderness recreation and this management program remains in the vanguard today.

Keywords

Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, wilderness, campsite, recreation

Citation

Cole, David N.; Parsons, David J. 2013. Campsite impact in the wilderness of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: Thirty years of change. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SEKI/NRTR-2013/665. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science. 107 p.