Every vehicle on the snowy sections of Sequoia National Park now has to carry tire chains or cables, including 4WD and AWD. The park’s current alert is dated October 22, 2026, and its road conditions page applies it to the Generals Highway from Hospital Rock to Montecito Sequoia Lodge, plus Wolverton Road and the Sherman Tree main lot. Checked October 23, 2026.
If you drive a motorhome or tow a trailer, also read the state’s version of the rule. The park page leaves out the part that applies to you.
What the park says
The Winter Driving page (updated October 22, 2026) cites state law, California Vehicle Code sections 605 and 27450 to 27503, and sets out three levels:
- R-1: chains on, unless the vehicle has at least two snow-tread tires on the drive wheels.
- R-2: chains on, unless the vehicle is 4WD or AWD with snow-tread tires on all four wheels.
- R-3: chains on every vehicle. No exceptions.
At every level, every vehicle must carry chains. Snow tires have to show M+S, M/S or a snowflake on the sidewall and have at least 6/32 inch of tread. The speed limit drops to 25 mph whenever chains are required. The park says vehicles without proper traction devices “may not be allowed on certain roads or may not be allowed to enter the parks.”
What Caltrans adds for trailers and heavier rigs
The Caltrans chain controls page words R-1 differently. The snow-tire exception covers only “passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks under 6,000 pounds gross weight.” Caltrans also says: “All vehicles towing trailers must have chains on one drive axle. Trailers with brakes must have chains on at least one axle.”
So at R-1, a trailer means chains, even if the truck pulling it has snow tires. A vehicle rated over 6,000 pounds gross gets no snow-tire exception under the Caltrans wording. Check the gross weight rating on your door-jamb sticker before you count on one. The park cites state law and Caltrans publishes the state’s levels, so we would follow the stricter Caltrans wording. The posted sign and the checkpoint crew decide on the day. Caltrans says to follow them even when they differ from road reports or its own published information. That goes for this page too.
Length may stop you before chains do. The park says the Hospital Rock to Wolverton stretch has many hairpin turns and is “not recommended for vehicles longer than 22’.” That is the same section under the chain alert.
What to do before you drive up
- Buy or rent chains outside the park. The park lists rental at $40 to $65 a day and purchase at $50 to $200, with several shops in Three Rivers. On the Highway 180 side, the nearest place to buy is Yokuts Valley, 21 miles out. Grant Grove Market sells chains, but it sits inside the chain control area, and the park says you cannot drive in to buy them there while restrictions are on.
- Call before you go. The park’s recorded line is 559-565-3341 (press 1, then 1). Conditions can change between the entrance and the time you leave.
- Read your rental contract. The park notes that many rental agreements forbid chains.
The Park Service does not tow, and the park says tow trucks don’t generally come in during active storms. A vehicle that slides off may wait a day or more after the storm ends. If a storm is forecast, the park’s own advice is to come another time.
For camping outside the parks this winter, start with our California free camping page. For the other big Sierra park’s winter rules, see Yosemite’s winter campgrounds.