Winter Travel Advisory

2022/2023:  

​

Please Do NOT rely on GPS to travel to Montecito!  You will often be directed the wrong way by GPS in these mountain areas, adding hours to your trip and possibly putting your safety at risk by getting stuck on closed roads/unplowed roads in the snow (WARNING:  DO NOT take the road to Hume Lake in winter, it is not safe and will take you in the wrong direction from Montecito).  Please follow directions below for the most direct and safest routes!

​

Additionally, in Winter it is critical to fill your vehicle with gas before entering the park, as there are not gas stations open in the parks in winter.  NOTE:  Valero Gas, open 24-hrs., in Clingan's Junction on Hwy. 180 is the last gas station before the National Park Service Kings Canyon entrance (on Hwy. 180).

IMPORTANT:  You can only access Montecito via the Northern "Big Stump" Entrance, via Hwy 180, in the winter and you must carry Tire Chains (Winter storms can happen from Oct - June, but usually occur between November through March; although 4WD or AWD is usually fine except during severe winter storms, California Law requires that you carry chains in a chain-control zone)!

Check the weather forecast in advance of your trip so you are prepared!  If there is a snowstorm predicted during your stay, you may get snowed in until the roads are safely plowed/cleared, so we recommend bringing extra supplies with you in the winter season just in case (such as medications, diapers, wipes, baby formula, feminine products, etc.).

​

Call our Front Desk before you leave home to see if we are on "Escort-only" Service into Montecito due to snow:  1-559-565-3388, press "0";  You can also call the National Park Service Road Conditions hotline for current road conditions, closures, and 4WD/chain requirements:  1-559-565-3341, press 1, 1.  

Escorts meet at 5:00pm in Grant Grove Village (in front of the Grant Grove Village Market & Post Office) and caravan into Montecito at 5:30pm.  (Please be patient if it is actively snowing or there has been significant snowfall prior to your arrival, as our escort will often have to clear obstructions/or drive slowly for added safety; click on "Winter Travel Info" and "Winter Escort FAQ" above for more tips and info).  Grant Grove Village is located on Hwy 180, approximately 3 miles beyond the parks Northern "Big Stump" Entrance (see map).  Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to arrive early for our escort!

​

Winter Escort-only Service into Montecito:

• Before your trip, check our Weather Forecast and call the NPS Road Conditions Hotline.   Bring your tire chains, even if you have 4WD or AWD, or you may not be able to enter the parks.  More info on Winter Driving requirements from the National Park Service available here, including where to buy chains near the Kings Canyon Park ("Big Stump")/Hwy. 180 Entrance.

• Call our Front Desk (1-559-565-3388, press "0") before you leave home, to see if we are on or expect to be on "Escort-only Service" into Montecito.  If we are on escort service, you will need to make a reservation for our escort caravan with our Front Desk (complimentary to our guests), so that we know you will be coming.

• Plan to arrive via the Northern/Kings Canyon "Big Stump" Entrance to the parks via Hwy 180 no later than 5 pm; (There is no access to Montecito via the Sequoia "Ash Mountain" Entrance to the south via Hwy 198 during the Winter months). 

• Once you enter the park, all vehicles continue on Hwy 180 to Grant Grove Village.   NOTE:  Grant Grove Village is located on Hwy 180 approximately 3 miles beyond the Northern "Big Stump" Entrance to the parks (see map).

• Turn right into the Grant Grove Village; then immediately turn left and park in front of the Grant Grove Village Market & Post Office by 5 pm to meet our escort; our escort will depart Grant Grove Village for Montecito at 5:30 pm.  

• Keep an eye on our Facebook page for Winter Travel Info!

For more details:  Click on our Winter Travel Info & Winter Escort FAQs documents.