Generals Highway
Encyclopedia
The Generals Highway is a highway
that connects State Route 180
and State Route 198
through Sequoia National Park
.
trees, the General Sherman and General Grant trees. The highway is notoriously steep, narrow, windy, and difficult to drive, especially its southern section from Hospital Rock
to Giant Forest
within the park. This section also consists of numerous switchbacks, and has a speed limit
of 10MPH. Regulations restrict the length of vehicles (Must not exceed 40 feet (12.2 m), although vehicles longer than 22 feet (6.7 m) are not recommended to use the road.)between Potwisha Campground and Giant Forest Museum.
The highway begins at a southern intersection with SR 198. The road travels northeast along the middle fork of the Kaweah River
and enters Sequoia National Park
through the Indian Head entrance. Near the Hospital Rock turnout, the road turns north and goes through several turns before straightening out and continuing northeast, passing near the General Sherman Tree. At Lodgepole Bridge, the road turns west before later turning north. Generals Highway leaves Sequoia National Park through the North Entrance, entering Sequoia National Forest
. The road continues northwest through Giant Sequoia National Monument
before traveling along the northern border of Kings Canyon National Park
, briefly entering it before terminating at SR 180.
on the highway are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
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Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
that connects State Route 180
California State Route 180
State Route 180 is a state highway in California, United States, which runs through the heart of the San Joaquin Valley from Mendota through Fresno to Kings Canyon National Park, with an unbuilt segment defined west to Paicines....
and State Route 198
California State Route 198
State Route 198 is an east–west state highway that connects the California Central Coast to the mid-Central Valley at Visalia, although the most-traveled portion is in the Central Valley itself....
through Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is a national park in the southern Sierra Nevada east of Visalia, California, in the United States. It was established on September 25, 1890. The park spans . Encompassing a vertical relief of nearly , the park contains among its natural resources the highest point in the...
.
Route description
It is named after two of the largest and most famous Giant SequoiaSequoiadendron
Sequoiadendron giganteum is the sole living species in the genus Sequoiadendron, and one of three species of coniferous trees known as redwoods, classified in the family Cupressaceae in the subfamily Sequoioideae, together with Sequoia sempervirens and...
trees, the General Sherman and General Grant trees. The highway is notoriously steep, narrow, windy, and difficult to drive, especially its southern section from Hospital Rock
Hospital Rock (Three Rivers, California)
Hospital Rock is a large quartzite rock in Sequoia National Park, located just off of the Generals Highway, on the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River.-History:...
to Giant Forest
Giant Forest
The Giant Forest, famed for its giant sequoia trees, is within Sequoia National Park. This montane forest, situated at over above mean sea level in the western Sierra Nevada of California, covers an area of...
within the park. This section also consists of numerous switchbacks, and has a speed limit
Speed limit
Road speed limits are used in most countries to regulate the speed of road vehicles. Speed limits may define maximum , minimum or no speed limit and are normally indicated using a traffic sign...
of 10MPH. Regulations restrict the length of vehicles (Must not exceed 40 feet (12.2 m), although vehicles longer than 22 feet (6.7 m) are not recommended to use the road.)between Potwisha Campground and Giant Forest Museum.
The highway begins at a southern intersection with SR 198. The road travels northeast along the middle fork of the Kaweah River
Kaweah River
The Kaweah River in the U.S. state of California flows westward from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada into the Central Valley. It rises in forks in the southern Sierra Nevada inside Sequoia National Park, the longest of which is the Middle Fork, about long...
and enters Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is a national park in the southern Sierra Nevada east of Visalia, California, in the United States. It was established on September 25, 1890. The park spans . Encompassing a vertical relief of nearly , the park contains among its natural resources the highest point in the...
through the Indian Head entrance. Near the Hospital Rock turnout, the road turns north and goes through several turns before straightening out and continuing northeast, passing near the General Sherman Tree. At Lodgepole Bridge, the road turns west before later turning north. Generals Highway leaves Sequoia National Park through the North Entrance, entering Sequoia National Forest
Sequoia National Forest
Sequoia National Forest is located in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains of California. The U.S. National Forest is named for the majestic Giant Sequoia trees which populate 38 distinct groves within the boundaries of the forest....
. The road continues northwest through Giant Sequoia National Monument
Giant Sequoia National Monument
The Giant Sequoia National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located in the southern Sierra Nevada in eastern central California. It is administered by the United States Forest Service as part of the Sequoia National Forest and includes 38 of the 39 Giant Sequoia groves that are located in the...
before traveling along the northern border of Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon National Park is a National Park in the southern Sierra Nevada, east of Fresno, California. The park was established in 1940 and covers...
, briefly entering it before terminating at SR 180.
History
Two of the stone bridgesGenerals' Highway Stone Bridges
The Generals' Highway Stone Bridges, built in 1930, are part of the Generals' Highway from the General Grant Grove of giant sequoias in Kings Canyon National Park through Sequoia National Park...
on the highway are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Major intersections
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