Episode Guest
Holly Streit, Public Affairs Specialist
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Park Stats
- Location: Three Rivers, California
- Date designated: September 25, 1890 (Sequoia) and March 4, 1940 (Kings Canyon)
- President when the monument was created: Benjamin Harrison (Sequoia) and Franklin D Roosevelt (Kings Canyon)
- Park size: 865,964 acres
- Highest elevation: 14,494 ft – Mt Whitney
- Lowest elevation: 1,370 ft – Keweah River
- Number of visitors last year (2024): 1,309,573 (Sequoia) and 699,389 (Kings Canyon)
- Interesting Facts:
- The parks were created to protect the giant sequoia tree from logging
- General Grant National Park was created 4 days after Sequoia (4 sq miles)
- 97% of the land is managed as a wilderness
- Home to the largest and 2nd largest trees in the world – General Sherman and General Grant
- Home to 11 species of fish, 203 species of birds, 73 species of mammals, 21 species of reptiles, 13 species of amphibians
Speed Round
What is your earliest park memory?
My earliest park memory is here, at Sequoia and Kings Canyon. I had not been to a national park until I was in my thirties, and I went on a backpacking trip out of Lodgepole, up to Ranger Lake, and around through Jail Pass. That was a life-changing moment for me. I moved out here within two years because it had such a significant impact on me.
What made you love the parks?
I love the solitude of the parks. It’s a good test of your body, your spirit, and the curiosity of nature. For me, it inspires just a ton of curiosity. I’m still curious. There’s so much to learn about these wild and diverse ecosystems, and the intention of being in nature is a gift to yourself in a modern age of fast-paced lifestyles and constant screen time.
What is your favorite thing about Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks?
Oh, the diversity of the ecosystems.
What is your favorite thing to do at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks?
Explore. I love hiking everywhere and learning.
What are three must-haves you pack for a park visit?
1. All of the safety stuff – food, water, sun protection, map, first aid kit
2. Layers
3. Binoculars
What is your favorite campfire activity?
S’mores and stories.
Tent, camper, or cabin?
Primarily tent.
Hiking with or without trekking poles?
I always have a pole attached to my pack.
And what is your favorite trail snack?
Fresh fruit.
What is the favorite animal sighting that you’ve had?
I love wildlife sightings, so any sighting that is at a safe distance.
What is your favorite sound in the parks?
I would say a running stream, but also bird song.
What is the greatest gift the parks give to us?
That connection to ourselves and the connection to nature.