Anyone done the Sequoia - Kings Canyon Loop with the Scenic Byway?

[gordonrands]

We're traveling from one daughter in Fort Irwin CA to another in Ashland OR and thought we'd take in Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks, including the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, on the way. Looks like about 260 miles between an EA in Tulare and a EVGo in south Fresno, so I should be fine in a Dual Max but since I'm not familiar with the area thought I'd ask if anyone had done this trip. If so, any tips. What percentage did you charge up to at the start? Because there is no town at the end of the Byway I can't get a clear distance estimate on Google Maps or ABRP. (Also planning to do Mount Lassen NP the next day but that looks like there are more charging options).

Thanks for any comments.

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[agame32]

21” wheels? What’s your usual max? I haven’t done that loop but did some overlanding in the Kings Canyon area. Make sure you factor in substantial elevation gain from the Central Valley floor up into the mountains.

 

[Cycliste]

The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is beautiful and Roads End is the trailhead for the Rae Lakes Loop (backpacking, and the most beautiful area I have ever seen).

Is this the route you have planned? This is the profile from Gaia GPS. Not using the 50 kW EVGo in Visalia adds 40 km.

330 km = 205 miles
8301 m = 27, 234 feet of climbing

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-physics/chapter/7-3-gravitational-potential-energy/

Lifting 3500 kg up 8301 m requires 79 kWh
3500 kg x 9.8 m/s squared X 8301 m = 284,724,300 joules = 79 kWh

We need a physicist

 

[agame32]

Looking at the map above, I probably did something like this looping back to Visalia. Kings Canyon was closed, but we did extra driving around the Hume Lake area and into the backcountry near Buck Rock Lookout. I think I vaguely remember having 20% left in my Quad Large on 20”.

 

[Cycliste]

We need some Level 2 chargers out there

 

[gordonrands]

The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is beautiful and Roads End is the trailhead for the Rae Lakes Loop (backpacking, and the most beautiful area I have ever seen).

Is this the route you have planned? This is the profile from Gaia GPS. Not using the 50 kW EVGo in Visalia adds 40 km.

330 km = 205 miles
8301 m = 27, 234 feet of climbing

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-physics/chapter/7-3-gravitational-potential-energy/

Lifting 3500 kg up 8301 m requires 79 kWh
3500 kg x 9.8 m/s squared X 8301 m = 284,724,300 joules = 79 kWh

We need a physicist

Yes, that is the route.

Not sure I understand the comment about "not using the EVGo in Visalia adds 40 km." Are you referring to elevation gain, as distance wise its only 9.6 miles from Tulare.

In response to agame32, I have 21" tires. Only have 5000 miles on it, mainly interstate last winter before an accident that put it in a shop in Vegas for 3 months, and I wasn't keeping good records at the time.

 

[jeeden]

I hiked the Rae Lakes loop a couple of years ago with a group of friends and it was epic. That said we flew into Fresno and just had a rental SUV. I can only imagine it'll be a ton of fun with a Rivian. The entire landscape was right out of the movie Cars.

One word of warning I would give because I'm still part of the Facebook group that keeps tabs on the trails and everything there.... They had a serious landslide in the area last year and have been rebuilding some of the roads ever since. I'm not clear about exactly which ones are closed still but I would triple check that any route you're taking are open. Also triple check all of the ranger stations that you want to stop at etc. they have had a real rough couple of years there. We hiked it in 2020 during COVID and all of the campgrounds were closed at the time but we were still able to do the hike in the backcountry. Since then they've had wildfires epic snows and some landslides. It's been a rough couple years for that park although the closures I hear have allowed the park to heal quite nicely from over tourism

 

[Cycliste]

Yes, that is the route.

Not sure I understand the comment about "not using the EVGo in Visalia adds 40 km." Are you referring to elevation gain, as distance wise its only 9.6 miles from Tulare.

It was late, and I must have misremembered the distance when I did the route from Tulare—sorry

 

[agame32]

I hate the Rae Lakes loop a couple of years ago with a group of friends and it was epic. That said we flew into Fresno and just had a rental SUV. I can only imagine it'll be a ton of fun with a Rivian. The entire landscape was right out of the movie Cars.

One word of warning I would give because I'm still part of the Facebook group that keeps tabs on the trails and everything there.... They had a serious landslide in the area last year and have been rebuilding some of the roads ever since. I'm not clear about exactly which ones are closed still but I would triple check that any route you're taking are open. Also triple check all of the ranger stations that you want to stop at etc. they have had a real rough couple of years there. We hiked it in 2020 during COVID and all of the campgrounds were closed at the time but we were still able to do the hike in the backcountry. Since then they've had wildfires epic snows and some landslides. It's been a rough couple years for that park although the closures I hear have allowed the park to heal quite nicely from over tourism

Yes triple check. I use CalTrans QuickMap app for this. They’re showing the end of Kings Canyon as closed and then the 245.

 

[Cycliste]

Notices from the National Park Service for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/road-conditions.htm

 

[Sempervirens]

Looking at the map above, I probably did something like this looping back to Visalia. Kings Canyon was closed, but we did extra driving around the Hume Lake area and into the backcountry near Buck Rock Lookout. I think I vaguely remember having 20% left in my Quad Large on 20”.

Looking to do this exact trip (blue line) mid April 2026 in a '23 Quad Large (290ish) but I lose 2% nightly to vamp drain.

Presently 180 is closed from KC to Sequoia. Hoping it opens by the time we head in.

I think if I leave the Fresno TSC at 100% I can do the full loop, worst case, Three Rivers has a L2 @ $0.72/kWh yuck, but better than nothing. Maybe I stay in that area for the night anyway. ($100 to fill)

I truly wish NPS would install 10 L2s per visitor center or general store lot. (Lassen, Death Valley,, Crater Lake, and Kings Canyon/Sequoia are in dire need of something.)

 

[KenCar]

Looking to do this exact trip (blue line) mid April 2026 in a '23 Quad Large (290ish) but I lose 2% nightly to vamp drain.

Presently 180 is closed from KC to Sequoia. Hoping it opens by the time we head in.

I think if I leave the Fresno TSC at 100% I can do the full loop, worst case, Three Rivers has a L2 @ $0.72/kWh yuck, but better than nothing. Maybe I stay in that area for the night anyway. ($100 to fill)

I truly wish NPS would install 10 L2s per visitor center or general store lot. (Lassen, Death Valley,, Crater Lake, and Kings Canyon/Sequoia are in dire need of something.)

2% Vampire Drain is about the worst I've heard of. Recently, I was stunned to see just 0.1kWh over 38 hours! I had turned off just about every access feature, and set GearGuard to "off at home". Then I did the same for family members. I think the biggest Vampire Drain is LiveCam, Live Activities, and GearGuard "Always On" (when not counting very cold weather).

 

[Sempervirens]

2% Vampire Drain is about the worst I've heard of. Recently, I was stunned to see just 0.1kWh over 38 hours! I had turned off just about every access feature, and set GearGuard to "off at home". Then I did the same for family members. I think the biggest Vampire Drain is LiveCam, Live Activities, and GearGuard "Always On" (when not counting very cold weather).

Not a VD thread, but - Gen1 Quad Large - I have PAAK off, Gear Guard off, and if camping camp courtesy on/power off, and lose 2%. Been this way for 3 years. I just live with it and plan to ABC (always be charging) The only time it negatively affects me is when I get far from a charger, i.e. Death Valley/Sequoia.

I charge for free at home via solar, and TSC for road trips is generally a good price with a plan, so cost wise its not that big of a hit.

 

[Sempervirens]

Little bit of data on this one.
Gen 1, R1S Large Pack on 22". 289 usable.

Left Lindsay at 85% went up to Sherman Tree and back down to 3 Rivers, had 62% remaining

Left 3 Rivers at 100% visited Sequoia up 180 into Hume Lake and out, then down to the RAN in Fresno. Had 56% remaining. Id have added Cedar Grove if open, but alas, was closed.

We considered adding a side trip to Yosemite but returned to San Jose as planned.

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