Mineral King Road — Three Rivers to Mineral King via the Sequoia National Park High Valley (Full Climb)
698 curves, no guardrails, marmots eat your hoses.
The Mineral King Road climbs out of Three Rivers in Tulare County and doesn’t apologize for a single one of its 698 curves. Built originally to serve silver mining operations in the 1870s and later fought over as a proposed Disney ski resort site — a battle environmental advocates ultimately won — the road dead-ends at the Mineral King valley floor inside Sequoia National Park at roughly 7,800 feet. The final approach narrows to one lane on blind corners above exposed canyon walls, with no guardrails and two-way traffic sharing space that barely fits one truck. The marmots at the top are notorious for chewing coolant hoses and brake lines off parked vehicles; this is not a metaphor — wrap your hoses or budget for the repair.
A stock passenger car can make this drive in dry conditions, but the last several miles are rough enough that high-clearance is a genuine advantage, and the road is not recommended for vehicles towing trailers or motorhomes. The road is typically open late May through late October, with exact dates depending on snowpack. No permit is currently required to drive the road itself, but Sequoia National Park charges an entrance fee. Cell service vanishes within a few miles of the highway and does not return. The payoff is a glacially carved alpine valley ringed by peaks above 11,000 feet, accessible hiking into the Southern Sierra Nevada backcountry, and a genuine sense that most people in California have no idea this place exists.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 25 mi / 40.2 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7830 ft |
| Best season | Late May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance recommended; no trailers |
| Nearest town | Three Rivers, CA |
| Land manager | Sequoia National Park / National Park Service |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | NPS — Mineral King Sequoia NP Fees & Passes |
| Verified | |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock SUV or truck handle Mineral King Road, or do I need a lifted rig?
A stock high-clearance SUV or truck handles the road fine — it's narrow and steep but not technically gnarly. Trailers are banned on the upper section; leave yours behind. The bigger concern is brake fade on the descent, so don't skip downshifting.
When does Mineral King Road actually open each year, and can I drive it in early spring?
The road typically opens late May but snow can push that into June — check NPS road conditions before you go. It closes by late October or earlier if early snow hits. Don't gamble on shoulder-season access without confirming with Sequoia National Park directly.
Do I need a permit or pass to drive into Mineral King?
Yes — Sequoia National Park charges an entry fee ($35 per vehicle as of 2024, valid 7 days). America the Beautiful passes are accepted. No additional permit is required just to drive the road, but overnight camping requires a wilderness permit if you're heading into the backcountry beyond the valley.
What's the hardest section of the road and what should I actually expect?
The upper stretch past Lookout Point is where it gets real — pavement gives way to dirt and gravel, the road narrows to barely one lane, and blind corners are constant. There are no guardrails for most of the climb. Meeting oncoming traffic means someone reverses to a pullout; stay alert and slow.
What's the deal with marmots eating vehicles at Mineral King — is that actually a problem?
It's completely real — yellow-bellied marmots at Mineral King have a documented habit of chewing through radiator hoses, wiring, and brake lines, likely attracted to the warmth and scent of engine components. Wrap your undercarriage in tarps or chicken wire before you leave the vehicle overnight, and check before you drive out — a chewed brake line on that descent is not a story you want to tell.
Trail track
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