7 Best Hotels in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, California

Backpackers like to stay here on the eve of long treks into the High Sierra wilderness, so bedtimes tend to be early. The quiet lodge is not attractive (aside from the natural beauty that surrounds it), but it is the only indoor accommodation in this part of Kings Canyon National Park. Each room has two queen-size beds, and three have kitchenettes and patios.

Some of the wood-panel cabins here have heaters, electric lights, and private baths, but most have woodstoves, battery lamps, and shared baths. Those who don't mind roughing it might opt for the tent cabins. In winter, only the cabins that have private baths remain open.

In a wooded area in the hills above Grant Grove Village, this modern, timber-sided lodge has rooms and suites with queen- or king-size beds and private baths. There is also a comfortable common room where you can play cards and board games or read a loaner book. Look above the stone fireplace at a giant painting of Muir himself, shown relaxing on a rock by a meadow. A recent renovation brought updated bedding, carpets, and sustainably sourced and reclaimed wood furniture.

A classic, 1960s, roadside motel, Lamp Liter Inn has basic but comfy rooms in several two-story buildings that surround tree-studded gardens and a spacious outdoor pool and terrace. Four cottages provide extra space for families and private patios; two have gas fireplaces.

Outdoor activities are what this year-round family resort is all about, including many that are geared toward teenagers and small children. Technically, it's not in the park, but rather off Generals Highway in Sequoia National Forest (between Sequoia National Park and the western portion of Kings Canyon National Park), but it's also centrally located, and you must pay the park entrance fee to get here. The lodge rooms are spare but clean, and all have private baths. Standard cabins, which can sleep up to eight people, have electricity and contain wood-burning stoves, but bathrooms are in shared buildings. Deluxe cabins can sleep up to five people and have private decks.

Developers meticulously restored a dilapidated, three-story, 1930s building to create this hotel, where rooms have a modern take on art deco style, with plush furnishings, 12-foot ceilings, and spacious bathrooms with period accents. Also on-site is a rooftop restaurant and lounge, Elderwood.

The striking cedar-and-stone main building is a fine example of how a structure can blend effectively with lovely mountain scenery. Guest rooms, which have modern amenities, are in three buildings up the hill from the main lodge. You can usually see deer roaming around the spacious and hilly grounds, which are 7,200 feet above sea level.