Sequoia-Kings Canyon, Biosphere reserve in Sierra Nevada, California, USA.

Sequoia-Kings Canyon is the joint administration of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, covering 1,353 square miles (3,500 km2) along the Sierra Nevada from the San Joaquin Valley foothills to the range's crest. Pleistocene glaciers carved granite canyons, domes and about 200 marble caves, and Mount Whitney rises to 14,491 feet.

Protection came in two stages, with Sequoia National Park established in 1890 and Kings Canyon National Park added in 1940. Together they represent one of the earliest efforts to preserve large wilderness areas in the United States.

Archaeological sites in the parks date back at least five thousand years. The Monache tribes used the mountain passes as trade routes, and sheep herding from 1850 to 1900 followed by cattle grazing until 1940 changed the mix of upland and foothill vegetation.

The area is open year-round, though higher elevations receive heavy snow in winter and some roads may close seasonally. Plan your visit considering the elevation changes, as weather and hiking difficulty vary greatly depending on which trails and areas you choose.

The parks hold about 200 marble caves combined, and the highest ground in the range lies within them: Mount Whitney reaches 14,491 feet. Pleistocene glaciers carved the granite into canyons, domes and hundreds of glacial lakes. Archaeological sites in the parks date back at least five thousand years.