Two miles by road or trail from Giant Forest is Moro Rock, one of the
great monoliths of the Sierra Nevada, others being El Capitan and Half
Dome in the Yosemite, and Tehipite Dome in the Kings River Canyon.
Moro Rock is 6,719 feet above sea level and over 6,000 feet above the
San Joaquin Valley. From the summit, which is easily reached by a rock
and concrete stairway, to the silver streak of the Kaweah River at its
base, is an almost sheer drop of 4,119 feet. The panorama of the Sierra
Nevada, Alta Peak, the San Joaquin Valley, and the distant coast range
is equal to that otherwise obtained only by long and expensive pack
trips to the high mountains. Climbing Moro Rock is "mountaineering de
luxe."
Hanging Rock, Moro Vista, Profile View, Echo Point, and Kaweah Vista are
viewpoints on the rocky escarpment of the Giant Forest Plateau near Moro
Rock. Each offers some special view or attraction. Hanging Rock is a
huge erratic boulder poised for a 3,000-foot drop to the yawning canyon
beneath. Echo Point and Profile View disclose unexpected profiles of
Moro Rock, and at the former a resonant echo reverberates from the
painted cliff across the chasm.
Beetle and Sunset Rocks, a few hundred yards from Giant Forest camps,
are bold granite promontories overlooking the valley and the Marble
Canyon. They are favorite spots for picnic suppers and sunset views.
Lodgepole Campgrounds and Tokopah Valley are 4 1/2 miles by road from
Giant Forest. The former is the auto camp favored by those who want to
live in an open pine forest and beside running water. The swimming pool
here also attracts campers. Two miles above the campgrounds, by trail
along the north bank of the Marble Fork, is Tokopah Valley, of cameolike
beauty, hewn by glacial action from the ribs of the earth. It is a
miniature Yosemite, a narrow valley with towering cliffs, waterfalls,
talus, meadows, and moraine. It affords one of the favorite short hikes
in the park.
Colony Mill and Admiration Point, a 9-mile side trip by road from Giant
Forest, are often overlooked by visitors. The views from Colony Mill
Ranger Station are superb, while the mile side trip by trail down to
Admiration Point permits a view of the Marble Falls, a 2,000-foot
cascade in seven distinct waterfalls.
[Illustration: _Hammond photo._