In Tulare County, nature and history tell stories of different eras and landscapes. At Pixley National Wildlife Refuge, you can watch wintering sandhill cranes, which stay there from September through March. At peak times, there can be up to 6,000 birds; numbers and timing vary from year to year. Mineral King follows a different seasonal schedule: it is open from late May through October and closed in winter due to heavy snowfall. Crane season therefore begins while Mineral King may still be seasonally open. Specific opening dates there depend on weather and road conditions.
From Subalpine Valleys to Giant Sequoia Groves
Mineral King Valley is a subalpine landscape with forests of pines, giant sequoias and firs, as well as granite and slate formations. Its elevation ranges from 7,800 to 14,000 feet. Hiking trails there include the Cold Springs Nature Loop Trail and the Eagle and Mosquito Lakes Trail. Both routes are remote and strenuous—an important consideration when planning your outdoor activities.
Tulare County is home to Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park, where visitors can hike among towering giant sequoias. In Sequoia National Park, the paved Congress Trail is a two-mile loop through a grove of impressive giant sequoias. It starts near the General Sherman Tree. Temporary reconstruction work may affect parts of the trail.
Trails and giant sequoia groves are also a focus in the Giant Forest: visitors can get trail information from rangers, purchase maps and take part in ranger programs. Self-guided interpretive trails lead through meadows and giant sequoia groves. The Giant Forest is the point of reference for this information; it is not all associated with the Giant Forest Museum.
Crystal Cave offers a different perspective: this marble cavern has a 0.5-mile loop trail through the cave. Access is by tour only. There is also a vehicle restriction on Crystal Cave Road: vehicles more than 22 feet in overall length are not permitted. Road conditions and restrictions may change; check the latest information before you drive.
History and Cultural Heritage
Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park preserves a historic California town founded, funded and governed by African Americans. The park’s annual Rededication commemorates the contributions of African Americans to the history of California and the United States. If you plan to attend, check the program dates in advance.
The Charter Oak, also called the Election Tree, stands at the site where the election to organize Tulare County took place on July 10, 1852. In the original Tulare County Museum building, the exhibit features Yokuts baskets, pioneer-era artifacts and agricultural equipment. Collections and presentations may change over time. A map of participating museums in Tulare County is available through the Museum Alliance Trail; its app content may also be updated.
At Hospital Rock, there are Native American pictographs and mortars. Together with the historic sites, museum objects and annual commemorative events, these traces offer different ways to explore the region’s history—from the organization of the county to African American history in California and the United States.
Access Routes and Practical Information
Sequoia National Park can be reached via the Ash Mountain Entrance on Highway 198 through Visalia, or via the Lookout Point Entrance from Visalia and from the exit near Three Rivers. Road conditions and entrance availability may change; check before you drive. The Western Divide Route provides access to the Trail of 100 Giants and the surrounding recreation areas. Conditions in the mountains can change quickly.
These destinations differ not only in their landscapes but also in how visitors experience them: seasonal crane watching, strenuous hiking trails, a cave loop, giant sequoia groves and historic sites each offer a different focus. This makes it possible to plan your trip around the nature and cultural themes that interest you most.
Discover more destinations: Porterville, Tulare, Visalia, Three Rivers, Sequoia National Park, Dinuba, Lindsay, Pixley, Springville.
For the main travel overview: California.
