Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Sequoia and Kings Canyon filming and photography rules after the EXPLORE Act, plus the giant-grove light and the seasonal mountain roads.
Guidance, not legal advice
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: Sequoia and Kings Canyon film and photography permit coordinator
Cost: No NPS permit for groups of 8 or fewer meeting the EXPLORE Act conditions; location and cost-recovery fees apply to permitted shoots
Processing: Plan ahead for permitted productions
Groups of eight or fewer using hand-carried gear in public areas, without exclusive use and without extra cost to the park, generally need no permit under the EXPLORE Act. Most of both parks is designated wilderness, where vehicle staging and exclusive use are restricted even for small crews.
Drone / airspace
Effectively banned: launching, landing, or operating a drone within park boundaries is prohibited
NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 directs each superintendent to close the park to drone use under 36 CFR 1.5. For airspace, Part 107, and legal flying nearby, see Drone Authority.
Street / public space
Yes for personal and editorial photography throughout the parks
Standard visitor photography is welcome.
Practical notes
- The General Sherman and General Grant trees and the giant groves are tight, shaded, high-contrast subjects; Moro Rock and Tunnel Log crowd midday.
- The Generals Highway is steep with vehicle-length limits and winter chain controls; the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway and the Mineral King road close in winter.
- Late-summer fire and smoke closures are a recurring risk; build in buffer days.
Sources
Keep shooting
Knowing the rules is half the job. The craft side: