Sequoia National Park. This beautiful Park, dedicated on September 25, 1890, is located in a wide open canyon created by the Kaweah River, its five forks and its tributaries, in Central California half-way between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Because the canyon is so wide open, the Park Rangers usually have no difficulty shoveling the snow off the Generals Highway. They get it done quickly, aiming first for the area near the General Sherman Tree, a huge sequoia and the
world’s largest living thing. You can actually snowshoe walk or ski right up to the base of many of our 2,000 to 3,000 year old sequoia trees. The snow also brings the opening of lovely snow play areas, in Wolverton and Lodgepole and Wuksachi, along with wonderful access to ordinarily inaccessible sections of the Park, now accessible by way of snowshoes or cross-country skiis. If you are interested in Ranger-led snowshoe walks or cross-country skiing, email info@threerivers.com for information. The fun and informative Ranger-led Snowshoe Walks, in particular, continue as long as there is a reliable surface on which to walk.
Three Rivers. If you are wondering how people visit Three Rivers and the Park, wonder no longer. Our visitors generally fly into Los Angeles, a mere 3 1/2 hours away, and rent a car. For an even easier drive, you might try flying into Fresno, only 1 hour and 15 minutes away. Worried about the snow? It’s doesn’t snow in Three Rivers. Oh, we might get a 1/4 inch on a rare day, but most of our white stuff lands in the higher foothills surrounding town, or in the Park. Looking for something green? Visitors tell us that Three Rivers looks more than a bit like Ireland during the winter and spring: beautiful and green. Instead of shoveling snow, we get the pure pleasure of driving into the Park and playing in the snow there! Didn’t rent a four-wheel drive vehicle? No problem. You can rent chains from several businesses in town, including one which offers custom work and always participates in the Hero Appreciation Months program.
Family Fun During Hero Appreciation Months. We start off with, what else, but a Snowman Building Contest to celebrate all that snow in the Park! On theSaturday in January that falls during the Martin Luther King, Jr. 3-day holiday weekend, families drive into Wuksachi, which is located in Sequoia National Park about 20 minutes past the General Sherman Tree and start building - simple or elaborate structures, multiple snow “people”, or just one enormous snow person. The choice is yours! Every family wins a prize and hot spiced apple cider is provided - along with snowshoes, so you can walk to the meadow where the building will begin. On the Saturday in February that falls during the President’s Day 3-day holiday weekend, we hold our annual Learn to Square Dance Party, taught by local Veteran and retired professional caller Mark Robb at the Three Rivers Veterans Memorial Building. Mark served in the Marines during WWII, and the Army during the Korean Conflict. He and his wife Dot are excellent dancers and Mark, in particular, is great with children. With the aid of his variable speed turntable, Mark teaches beginners the basics and reminds the rest of us what we are supposed to know, ha! When Mark calls for a break, help yourself to some homemade punch and cookies, invite the little ones to create their “masterpiece” with magic markers on long sheets of butcher paper, and have a wonderful time! Last but not least, on the last Saturday in March, we hold our annual Picnic with Bathtub Race in the Kaweah Recreation Area of beautiful Lake Kaweah, located at the western entrance of town. Pack a lunch and come early, so you can choose the best spot to watch the boat-building and the race! Racing Teams have a limited amount of time to turn cast-ironbathtubs into floatable steerable boats, with only the materials provided, then race across a shallow end of the Lake, cut their designated balloon from the limit line without cutting the line and return with it. The first team to make it back - or the team that is still floating while all other teams have sunk - gets the cash prize which goes to the charity of their choice. We hope to see you soon!