Kings Canyon National Park

In California's Sierra Nevada, about four hours north of Los Angeles, Kings Canyon plunges 8,200 feet from rim to river, deeper than the Grand Canyon by that measure. John Muir called it "a rival to Yosemite," and the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway winds down past granite cliffs to the canyon floor at Cedar Grove. Giant sequoias grow here too, including the General Grant Tree, the Nation's Christmas Tree, but the canyon is what makes this its own national park, and it pairs naturally with neighboring Sequoia on one trip. Late spring through fall is the season, since the Cedar Grove road closes in winter.