Sequoia National Park: Camping, Rafting, and Hiking
Price: $250
OVERVIEW
There’s something magical about Sequioa National Park. It’s a wonderland covered by ancient forests, soaring domes, stone canyons, and rivers that roar or ripple, depending on the season. Sequioa National Park is named for earth’s largest living things — Sequioadendron giganteum, or giant sequioas. Their massive, cinnamon-hued trunks and stout limbs soar skyward only here, on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada range, between 5,000 and 8,200 feet. The General Sherman Tree, the largest tree in the world, can be found here.
Located just outside of Sequioa National Park, the Kaweah River is the steepest river in the lower 48 United States. It drops an amazing 12,000 feet in 20 miles. In its last 10 miles, the river offers continuous thrilling Class IV+ rapids with a scenic alpine backdrop of snowcapped mountains.
Please note: YOU MUST HAVE PREVIOUS RAFTING EXPERIENCE TO JOIN THIS TRIP. A negative COVID test or proof of vaccination will be required and our group will have our own raft (or 2, depending on how many sign up).
CAMPING AT THREE RIVERS HIDEWAY CAMP
It all goes down at Three Rivers Hideaway, our official Adventure People camp on the Kaweah River, conveniently located three miles from the entrance to Sequioa National Park. This campground has bathroom and shower facilities with flush toilets and hot water. Campsites have fire rings (with a fire grate) along with picnic tables. All campers have access to the riverfront along the banks of the river. There are lots of activities in the area including mountain biking, horseback riding, kayaking, and SUP (stand-up paddleboard), in addition to our already planned activities of hiking and whitewater rafting.
Adventure People reserves the option to modify trip itineraries at the discretion of your tour director as necessary due to weather, conditions, illness, injury, group dynamics, or other unforeseen incidents.
>> Read more: Whitewater Rafting 101: What You Need to Know
ADVENTURE HIGHLIGHTS
- Meet up with Adventure People you traveled with in the past or experience Adventure People for the very first time!
- Experience the Class IV+ rapids of the Kaweah River, the gateway to Sequioa National Park.
- Take a hike in the Land of Giants — Sequioa National Park. This dramatic landscape testifies to nature’s size, beauty, and diversity — huge mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, and the world’s largest trees.
- Every evening, gather with Adventure People for a picnic-style community dinner.
- Unwind each night around the campfire roasting marshmallows and sipping your favorite beverage.
- Whether traveling solo or in a group, you’ll quickly forge new friendships with other like-minded Adventure People!
TRAVEL DURING COVID-19
The safety and well-being of our travelers, trip leaders, and suppliers remain our priority. We have chosen to implement ATTA’s COVID-19 Health & Safety Guidelines, developed in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic, across all travel club trips. For our scheduled trips, we will require a negative COVID test or proof of vaccination, once they are widely available. If you cannot obtain a test locally, you can purchase one by mail for $109 from Everlywell (receive 25% off with this link https://bit.ly/2MdtOLf). If we have to cancel a tour, you will receive a full credit or refund, your choice. For more information about traveling during a pandemic, please refer to our COVID-19 Travel Resources.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrive at Three Rivers Hideaway Camp
We kick off the weekend by arriving at our campground anytime after 2 pm and checking in with your trip leader. Located on the Kaweah River, just three miles from Sequoia National Park, enjoy beach access perfect for fishing and swimming. You’ll be immersed in the outdoors while still having simple comforts like a hot shower and flushing toilets. Set up camp and then relax while listening to the sound of the flowing river.
This evening, we’ll sit around the campfire with your drink of choice. If you’d like, bring some games for us to play as a group.
Day 2: Whitewater Rafting on Kaweah River
This morning, Adventure People take to the river for an adrenaline-pumping full-day whitewater rafting adventure! We’ll meet our guides at approximately 8:00 am and have a safety talk before setting out on a full-day river trip of Class III-IV+ rapids. We’ll be rafting 9 miles of the Kaweah River, which will take approximately 4-6 hours. Lunch will be included on this day somewhere along the river.
This evening, we’ll share stories of the day over a community dinner at our campground.
Included Meals: Lunch
Day 3: Hiking in Sequoia National Park
After breakfast, we’ll drive into Sequoia National Park for a full day of hiking. We’ll visit the General Sherman Tree (0.8 miles out & back, easy) and Moro Rock (0.4 miles out & back, moderate) and then we’ll visit Tokopah Falls, a waterfall in a valley shaped by a glacier (4 miles out & back, moderate). If there’s time, we’ll also visit Tharp’s Log (2.1 miles, out & back, moderate).
Note: There is a $35 vehicle pass required to enter the park (not included). You can purchase this pass in advance at www.yourpassnow.com.
Day 4: Depart Three Rivers Hideaway Camp
Today we’ll check out of our campground and make a short drive to explore Crystal Cave, located between the Ash Mountain entrance of the park and the Giant Forest Museum in Sequoia National Park. Crystal Cave is a treasure of ornate marble polished by subterranean streams and decorated with curtains of icicle-like stalactites and mounds of stalagmites. At the end of the day, we’ll say goodbye to our new friends until the next adventure.
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ITINERARY DISCLAIMER
Adventure People reserves the right to modify trip itineraries at the discretion of your tour director as necessary due to weather, conditions, illness, injury, group dynamics, safety, or other unforeseen incidents. Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary.
PAYMENT POLICIES
Our camping trips require payment in full in order to reserve your spot. Should you need to cancel, all cancellations must be advised in writing. We calculate your refund on the day we received written notice of cancellation. The applicable cancellation fees shall be determined with reference to the date on which the request to cancel is received by Adventure People. All refunds will be processed within a few days of your cancellation. Cancellation of a tour Product or failure to join a tour Product will result in retention of funds by Adventure People, as follows:
30+ days prior to start date: 50% of the trip price shall be held by Adventure People
14 days prior to start date: 100% of the trip price shall be held by Adventure People
No exceptions will be granted to our Cancellation Policy.
We reserve the right to cancel trips with inadequate participant attendance, in which case all money paid to Adventure People will be fully refunded. Adventure People CANNOT be held responsible for any personal expenses, such as airline tickets due to changes in itineraries or tour cancellations.
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