Risa Wyatt checked out Mineral King in Sequoia National Park last weekend. While the color was barely starting (not much action except for a few eager aspen branches, she said), she provided the following colorful history from the area, instead.
Hidden away by a 25-mile road with 800 curves, Mineral King could be considered the Shangri La of the Western Sierra. Set at 7,800 feet, the valley is hemmed by 12,000-foot summits that form a natural amphitheater.
The area boomed—then went bust—during a failed silver rush in the late 1800s. Mineral King’s most recent brush with fame came in the mid-1960s, when Walt Disney Productions planned to turn it into a mega ski resort. But increased passion for wilderness preservation provoked lawsuits from the Sierra Club, and Disney abandoned the project. In 1978, Mineral King became part of neighboring Sequoia National Park, preserving its untamed beauty forever.
October will be the sweet spot for fall color in Mineral King. Be aware that the road is undergoing repairs through 2027 (check for closures at https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/conditions.htm) and shuts down for winter in late October.
Mineral King Road begins 30 miles from Visalia, which makes a great jumping off point for exploring Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks… including the magic of Mineral King.
Good job, gives me ideas on travel.