If you read the title of this article “things to do in Three Rivers” and thought ‘What? Where is that?” you are not alone. Most people quickly pass the small town of Three River in California on their way to Sequoia National Park without realizing how much there is to do there.
We love Three Rivers and whenever we go to see the Sequoias we never stay in the National Park itself, we choose lodging in this gateway town and enjoy everything it has to offer. There are lots of things to do in Three Rivers for families with kids, history buffs, watersports lovers – everybody, really.
Below is my list of our most favorite things to do in Three Rivers which I hope will help you plan your next great American road trip.
Things to do in Three Rivers – # 1 White water rafting
If you come to Three Rivers between the months of April and June this is a prime destination for white water rafting. Three Rivers got its name from the three forks of Kaweah River that flows through the town or nearby it. Kaweah River typically has some mighty rapids in spring, all the way up to Level 5. But there are also quieter stretchers of the river with Level 3 rapids which are great for family white water rafting with kids ages 8+.
The length of the rafting season depends on the snow pack and subsequent snow melt in this area of the Sierra Nevada mountains. After dry-ish winter the rafting season may finish well before summer. In years when there is tons of snow in winter the river may be so full and challenging that some white water rafting companies may increase the required age of rafters to 10+.
Check out all the details of the rafting season at hand before you go. There are several companies in Three Rivers that organize white water rafting trips, all of which have good reviews. Check out Sequoia Adventures as an example. We did not have a chance to raft in Three Rivers ourselves yet because the first time we visited our kids were too young and the second time we visited we came during the dry spell so rafting season ended early. But we will definitely keep trying! This activity is on the top of our list of things to do in Three Rivers.
Things to do in Three Rivers – # 2 Swimming
When Kaweah River water levels go down in summer swimming becomes one of the best things to do in Three Rivers. Some lodging options in town are located directly on the river with their own beach and access to the water. However if your lodging does not have water access or you are coming to Three Rivers just for a day, check out Slick Rock Recreation Area (address: 39883 Sierra Dr, Three Rivers, CA 93271).
Slick Rock Recreation Area has LOTS of access to Kaweah River. This is the area where Kaweah Rover gets wider and it has several calm swimming holes (as picture below). Make sure that you get here early as it gets crowded, especially on weekends. There is a parking fee of $5 on site.
Things to do in Three Rivers – # 3 Boating, fishing, kayaking and more
Lake Kaweah near Three Rivers is a prime destination for all sort of water sports. It is located just 15 min drive from town and it was formed by a dam put on Kaweah River. It is a big lake where you can fish for catfish, bass and trout. Some people bring their own boats but there is also a great marina where you can rent various types of boats for half or full day. You can also rent kayaks, paddle boards and aqua cycles there.
We love their patio boats because they have lots of shade for a sunny and hot California day. There are boats of deferent sizes from 8 to 18 passengers. We rented an 8 passenger boat for a family of 4 and it was a perfect size for us and all our staff: food and drinks, fishing and swimming gear. We spent a fabulous day on Kaweah Lake and we will definitely be back. The water in the lake gets warm in summer and it is also perfect for swimming – you can easily swim off your boat because there is a staircase on all patio boats that is leading into the water so even small kids can climb up and down.
Things to do in Three Rivers – # 4 Hiking
If you are coming to Three Rivers in off season for all water activities, all the recreation areas that I mentioned above are great for hiking along the river and the lake. The views are always scenic, the air is (almost) always fresh, unless there is a wildfire going on in the vicinity. The main California’s wildfires season is summer through October but I won’t worry about it too much, just check CalFire website for current fires before you go in summer and fall.
Things to do in Three Rivers – # 5 Three Rivers Historical Museum
For us one of the main goals of travel is education. We love historic gems that we find everywhere we go, so much so that I created a distinct category of itineraries on my blog called Time Travel. Visiting the local Historical Museum is the best educational thing you can do in Three Rivers.
We visited during the COVID-19 pandemic so the museum building was closed to visitors. Despite that there are so many interesting exhibits outside that are accessible: from Native Americans exhibit to cool old machinery to a beautiful water lily pond. We will definitely make sure to stop by again when we are in town next time.
Things to do in Three Rivers – # 6 Kaweah Post Office
Kaweah Post Office is another Time Travel destination in Three Rivers. It is a 130 years old post office that is the smallest and one of the oldest in the country. It is so cute! It is definitely worth to check it out. Address: 43795 N Fork Dr, Three Rivers, CA 93271
Things to do in Three Rivers – # 7 Reimers Candies and Gifts
Reimers Candies and Gifts would probably be at the top of every child’s list of things to do in Three Rivers. It is a real life “Candyland” with a huge variety of totally delicious chocolate treats (that are made at Reimers Candies), ice cream and lots of cute sweet gifts. It is a great place to stop by especially in summer when it is over 100F outside: they have many different types of ice cream and an air conditioned sitting inside as well as a couple of tables outside in the shade. Address: 42375 Sierra Dr. Three Rivers, CA 93271.
Things to do in Three Rivers – # 8 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Of course, most of people come to Three Rivers in order to visit Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. It is a perfect “base camp” for exploring these natural wonders.
I have created a detailed day by day itinerary for you on my blog: Things to Do in Sequoia National Park with Kids (it includes Kings Canyon National Park highlights as well). It covers detailed information about the parks in two different seasons: Spring and Summer.
But words don’t do these amazing parks any justice you need to SEE them to believe! Check out our fun video review of Sequoia National Park:
And Kings Canyon National Park:
Where to Stay in Three Rivers
I strongly suggest choosing lodging that is right on the river. It may be a little more expensive but it offers so much more fun and relaxation. If you are looking for a hotel, I suggest Buckeye Tree Lodge. It has rooms and cabins and it located on Kaweah River just 1 mile away from Sequoia National Park entrance. It also has a pool and nice outdoor areas facing the river. We stayed here the first time we visited Sequoia National Park.
If you are looking for a campground, I suggest checking out Sequoia Campground and Lodge. Camping sites here are beautiful – definitely book the ones right on the river! They also have a seasonal pool and a volleyball court. Just one thing to keep in mind: do not book a cabin here. They are super old and very dirty (everything was dirty: floors, dishes, even linens!) We made a mistake of booking a cabin at Sequoia Campground and Lodge and were extremely disappointed. I think dirtiness is an overall problem of the buildings at this place – their campground restrooms were not clean either. Though to be fair, I have to say that the beach and the river were totally clean. If the owners of Sequoia Campground and Lodge resolved the cabins and bathrooms cleanliness problem it could be a fantastic place overall.
If you decide to camp here and if you are new to camping definitely read my detailed expert article Camping Guide for Beginners which has tons of invaluable tips and hacks, information on useful things to have, preparation and so much more.
Where to Eat in Three Rivers
There are several places where to eat in Three Rivers. Our absolute favorite is Quesadilla Gorilla truck which makes wonderful custom made quesadillas for lunch and dinner. The quesadillas are freshly made, super yummy and inexpensive. The service is quick – what else do you want? May be you want a game to play while you are waiting for your food? There are several table top games available at Quesadilla Gorilla! We stopped by this place a couple times while we were in Three Rivers and we were never disappointed.
The other place to eat in Three Rivers that we like is Casa Mendoza, coincidentally it is also a Mexican restaurant. The food was yummy, the portions were big and we loved the fact that they offer free chips and salsa for the table. The only thing that ruined our impression of this place a little bit is very long wait times for your food. If you have time to spare then it might not be an issue for you.
One more food option in Three Rivers that not many people know about is a ready-made BBQ section in Village Market grocery store (address: 40869 Sierra Dr, Three Rivers, CA 93271). We loved their ready-to-eat BBQ chicken, kabobs and sausages. We bought them together with some fresh veggies from the same store which made for a great quick, inexpensive and delicious meal. If you have a stove and pots & pans at the place where you are staying you can also buy some fingerling potatoes and boil them real quick for a side dish for the BBQ.
Conclusion
Even if you are not planning to visit Sequoia or Kings Canyon National Parks, Three Rivers is still worth a trip for a 2-3 days weekend, especially in summer, with all the water fun that it can offer with a bit of a history twist.
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