Three Rivers is a village in the Sierra Nevada foothills; its shops and homes stretch along the five forks of the Kaweah River. The village is also located at the main entrance to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. When choosing a place to stay in Three Rivers, two questions can help: Is your stay primarily for visiting the national parks, or would you also like to explore the village and its events?

Getting There and Finding Your Way

Highway 198 leads into Sequoia National Park near Three Rivers. The junction of Mineral King Road and Highway 198 is in Three Rivers, two miles before the Ash Mountain Entrance. This makes it a useful landmark before the park entrance. Charging stations are available in Three Rivers just outside the Sequoia park entrance; check their current availability before your trip.

The nearby Foothills Visitor Center offers information about the road ahead and maps. It has restrooms, exhibits on the foothills' ecology and human history, and free ranger-led programs, when scheduled. Nearby Hospital Rock offers a place for picnics.

River and Trails

Nearby, the Middle Fork Trail follows the main branch of the Kaweah River and leads into the high country of Sequoia National Park. The first section of the trail offers views of Moro Rock and Castle Rocks. The river and viewpoints give the trail a variety of scenic settings. Kaweah Whitewater Adventures offers rafting on the Kaweah River in Three Rivers.

History and Culture

Yore Sequoia provides an old scavenger hunt map that lets you explore Three Rivers' history on a drive through the community, visiting landmarks that were already there more than 75 years ago. The experience is self-guided. For a visit on the first Saturday, the Three Rivers Historical Museum recommends a walk along the Heritage Trail. The museum's “Native Voices” exhibit honors and celebrates the diverse cultures, histories, and perspectives of the local Indigenous community through artifacts, language, and stories. These offer different ways to explore local history: a drive visiting historic landmarks, a walk along the Heritage Trail, and the exhibit's interpretation.

Events

Jazzaffair takes place every spring in Three Rivers in the Sierra Nevada foothills and brings jazz bands from across the country to the Kaweah River. The festival has been running for over 50 years; the next edition is scheduled for April 8–11, 2027.

Discover more destinations: Sequoia National Park, Porterville, Lindsay, Visalia, Dinuba, Tulare, Pixley, Springville

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