Big Meadows

Big Meadows: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this sanctuary: Open, good conditions · Very crowded · Approach road bad · Closed / not accessible.

Best time to visit Big Meadows

Season: November to March for sightings; sanctuaries may close in peak monsoon.

Busiest days: Weekends and long holidays.

Crowd: Moderate; weekends busier.

Typical week: Mon light · Tue light · Wed light · Thu light · Fri light · Sat busy · Sun busy.

How to reach Big Meadows — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: 36.71198, -118.83991. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Big Meadows

• Jennie Lakes Wilderness · sanctuary · Tulare · ~7 km · Must-see
• Hume Lake · lake · Fresno · ~13 km · Must-see
• Hume Lake · lake · Esmeralda · ~13 km · Must-see
• General Grant Tree · attraction · Fresno · ~15 km · Must-see
• Twin Peaks · viewpoint · Tulare · ~16 km · Must-see
• Marble Falls Trail, Sequoia · waterfall · Esmeralda · ~17 km · Must-see
• General Sherman Tree · attraction · Tulare · ~21 km · Must-see
• Cattle Cabin · attraction · Tulare · ~22 km · Must-see
• Crescent Meadow · lake · Esmeralda · ~24 km · Must-see
• Tharp's Log · attraction · Tulare · ~24 km · Must-see
• Moro Rock · viewpoint · Tulare · ~25 km · Must-see
• Alta Peak · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~26 km · Must-see
• Tehipite Valley · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~28 km · Must-see
• Tehipite Valley · viewpoint · Fresno · ~29 km · Must-see
• Deadman Canyon · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~29 km · Must-see
• Milk Ranch Peak · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~32 km · Must-see
• Kings Canyon National Park · sanctuary · Fresno · ~35 km · Must-see
• Kennedy Canyon · viewpoint · Esmeralda · ~36 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Big Meadows

Other wildlife, forests & gardens near Big Meadows

• Jennie Lakes Wilderness · sanctuary · Tulare · ~7 km · Must-see
• Kings Canyon National Park · sanctuary · Fresno · ~35 km · Must-see
• Sequoia National Park · sanctuary · Tulare · ~42 km · Must-see
• Inyo National Forest · sanctuary · Fresno · ~57 km · Must-see
• Mountain Home Grove · sanctuary · Esmeralda · ~68 km · Must-see
• Dinkey Lakes Wilderness · sanctuary · Fresno · ~69 km · Must-see
• Manzanar National Historic Site · sanctuary · Inyo · ~76 km · Must-see
• Manzanar National Historic Site · sanctuary · Esmeralda · ~76 km · Must-see
• Alder Creek Grove · sanctuary · Esmeralda · ~77 km · Must-see
• Golden Trout Wilderness · sanctuary · Tulare · ~78 km · Must-see

All wildlife, forests & gardens in California

Frequently asked