Sequoia And Kings Canyon National Parks

 

Harmen Hoek takes us on a silent hike through the stunning Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in the High Sierras:

In late summer 2025, I spent seven days backpacking through Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks in California’s High Sierra. This film follows two separate backpacking trips rather than one continuous route. 

The first part follows the iconic Rae Lakes Loop, one of the most famous backpacking routes in the Sierra Nevada. Together with my friend Robert, I hiked from Roads End through Paradise Valley before joining the John Muir Trail to Rae Lakes, crossing Glen Pass, and returning via Bubbs Creek. 

The second part follows a custom High Sierra loop that combines spectacular alpine scenery with one of the few giant sequoia groves where dispersed camping is permitted. It links sections of the High Sierra Trail with quieter backcountry trails to create a varied multi-day adventure through some of my favorite landscapes in the park.

A beautiful feast for the senses (you can almost smell the fresh, pine-scented air).