A high, open glacial
canyon bumping up the peaks of the
Great Western Divide in the
Sierra Nevada. Threatened with development of a major
ski resort in the
1960s and
1970s, it was transferred from national forest to
Sequoia National Park in
1978. It was settled in
1873 with the
discovery of
silver, and there are a small number of private
cabins still in the canyon on park service land.
Travel advisory: the marmots of Mineral King are not only accustomed to humans, but are noted for chewing on car hoses, bumpers, and wiring. Check under your hood before leaving the park.