US Forest Service, Giant Sequoia National Monument

Contact:  Denise Alonzo

Giant Sequoia National Monument A Winter Wonderland!

Sequoia National Forest - February 17, 2010… Cross-country skiing, snow play and Snowmobiling are popular activities during the winter months in the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument. Specific winter activity areas accessible by highway are found on all the districts. Maps are available at each district office identifying routes for snowmobilers; trails for cross country skiers, and areas with unlimited snow-play opportunities.

Visitors coming to spend time in the snow covered mountains need to be prepared for winter conditions. Tire chains are required near the 5,000 foot elevation on most roads during the winter months, and will be required at lower elevations during snow storms. Snow chains should be carried in your vehicle at all times during the winter months, and please come prepared for cold weather by bringing along extra winter clothing, flash-light with fresh batteries, food, and water.

Those traveling up Highway 180 to play in the snow on the Hume Lake Ranger District will find two wonderful snow play areas. Quail Flat and Big Meadows winter trailheads are both accessed off the Generals Highway. There are 25 miles of groomed snowmobile and cross-country ski trails available from these two trailheads. Take a right turn past the Big Stump Entrance Station on Highway 180 to access these sites. Both provide safe parking, restrooms, and trash services. An entrance fee is charged, those without an annual pass can pay their 7-day entrance fee at the Kings Canyon Visitor Center.

Lodging is available at the Montecito Sequoia Lodge located along the Generals Highway between Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. This lodge operates under a special use permit with the U.S. Forest Service and offers over twenty miles of groomed cross-country ski trails in the Giant Sequoia National Monument. For more information on Montecito Sequoia Lodge please find them on the World Wide Web www.mslodge.com

On the Western Divide Ranger District, and extending to the Kern River Ranger District, five areas are maintained to provide winter access for recreational activities; Quaking Aspen is located on Highway 190 at Western Divide Hwy, Ponderosa is located ¼ mile south of the Ponderosa Lodge on Western Divide Hwy, Sugarloaf is located on County Road M-9, Parker Pass Drive (also known as SM-50) is open ONLY to 4X4 vehicles beyond Tyler Creek (no parking facilities are available at this site) and Greenhorn Summit which is located along HWY 155 on the Kern River Ranger District.

The Western Divide District provides over 100 miles of groomed snowmobile routes that connect winter trailheads from Greenhorn Summit to Jordan Peak. The groomed routes are open to everyone except wheeled vehicles. At all sites NO overnight parking is allowed to permit snow removal as needed. The Forest Service provides toilet facilities at Quaking Aspen, Ponderosa, the Parker Pass Kiosk (Information Display) area, and also at the Sugarloaf Trailhead.

Snowmobiling is limited to designated roads in the Monument; many roads are posted and groomed for this use. Over snow vehicles are allowed on all snow covered roads, not just the ones groomed and/or marked. Funding for this program is provided by California State Parks, OHV Division and the Greensticker Program. All state vehicle code regulations still apply.

If you decide to stop at a turnout along the highway for snow play, be sure your vehicle is parked completely off the roadway. Watch your children carefully to be sure they do not play in the road or sled into the roadway. There is no garbage or restroom services at highway turnouts, so be sure to clean up your garbage and deposit it in your trash bin at home. The turnouts can become very congested on the weekends, please do not block another vehicle in and prevent them from leaving.

For more information about locations to play in the snow, accessed by Highway 180, please call the Forest Service office at Dunlap (559) 338-2251. For areas above Springville or California Hot Springs call (559) 539-2607 to reach the Forest Service office along Highway 190.