Sequoia and Kings Canyon to join the cashless movement

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks are joining the growing number of parks going cashless.

Park staff announced Tuesday that starting May 21, visitors will no longer be allowed to pay at entrance stations, campgrounds, or wilderness backcountry permit issuing stations using cash. Staff say they will instead only accept mobile payments, credit cards or debit cards.

The National Park Service says going cashless should speed up line wait times by reducing transaction times. They also say the move will reduce the time staff spend managing cash, allowing rangers to spend more time with visitors, and will maximize funding available for visitor services and critical projects by reducing the chance of errors.

Visitors who are only able to pay with cash can purchase a park pass from the visitor center nearest each park entrance or one of the following five local third-party vendors:

• Sequoia Parks Conservancy in the Foothills Visitor Center at 47050 Generals Hwy #10, Three Rivers
• Kaweah Arts at 42249 Sierra Dr., Three Rivers
• Three Rivers Historical Museum at 42268 Sierra Dr., Three Rivers
• Sequoia Parks Conservancy in the Kings Canyon Visitor Center at 83918 Hwy 180, Grant Grove Village
• Project Survival Cat Haven at 38257 E. Kings Canyon Rd., Dunlap

In recent years, Yosemite, Death Valley, Rocky Mountain, Mount Rainier, Badlands, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison national parks have also switched to a cashless entrance.