| The sign along Highway 198 (Genreals Highway) marking the trailhead . The parking area is unpaved and can maybe hold half a dozen cars. Across the road and tot he northeast is the Kings Canyon Overlook with more parking. |
Some of the dozens of glacial erratics scattered along the trail to the top of the peak.
| I think glacial erractics are really interesting. They are large rocks picked up by a glacier and then dumped somewhere else. I've seen them range from the size of a grocery cart up to a small house. I found this huge one precariously perched on top of some smaller rocks . |
| From the top of Buena Vista Peak in Kings Canyon NP I could see Tehipite Valley. The Middle Fork of the Kings River flows through this valley and it is said that it rivals Yosemite Valley in beauty. However, no roads even get close to it. Only trails enter the valley and it is a long, hard hike to get to this place deep in the Sierra wilderness. I may never visit this place in person so I cherish any chance I get to see it from afar. |
| This is the top of Buena Vista Peak in Kings Canyon NP. It was a nice hike up to the top (a little over a mile with about 450 ft elevation gain). The summit is surrounded by huge glacial erratics (round boulders) and it reminded me slightly of stonehenge. The peak has a 360 degree view that includes Redwood Canyon, the San Joaquin Valley, Big Baldy, the Buck Rock lookout tower, Kings Canyon, Tehipite Valley, and glimpses of the high Sierra crest. |
| I found this tree near the top of Buena Vista Peak. The environment up here can get pretty harsh in the winter. It has taken a beating, but still seems to thrive. |
A glacial erratic on top of Buena Vista Peak.
More erractics at the peak.
| A view of Redwood Canyon, the largest redwood grove in the world, from the top of Buena Vista Peak. Redwood Canyon is also the home of the longest cave in California (Lilburn Cave). |
Buena Vista Peak in Kings Canyon NP as seen from a vista point north of the peak on Highway 198 (The General's Highway).