Crescent Meadow Guide
Sequoia National Park's big trees are what its most famous for, but the beautiful alpine meadows that interrupt the forests here are a sight to behold, and Crescent Meadow is one of the best. Whether it's full of spring wildflowers, or the golden hues of fall, this meadow and the trail around it can be downright magical--it's no wonder that John Muir named it "the gem of the Sierra."
When to Visit
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Like most locations in the park, May through August will bring the most visitors, and the free shuttle may be required for those wanting to hike around Crescent Meadow. If visiting in the middle of summer, bug spray is going to be absolutely necessary here, and probably isn't a bad idea to carry if you're visiting in the spring or fall too. As for winter, the road to Crescent Meadow is closed, but it's still possible to reach it via ski or snowshoeing. It's a popular destination for visitors in the summer, so the parking lot may be full, though the park runs a free shuttle service. On weekends in the summer, the road is closed to traffic, forcing visitors to make use of the shuttle.
Drive through the Tunnel Log on your way to Crescent Meadow.
How to Get There
Crescent Meadow is located at the terminus of the aptly, if unoriginally named Crescent Meadow Road. It's about a 20 minute drive from the Lodgepole visitor center, taking the General's Highway (Route 193) to the Giant Forest Museum which is right next to Crescent Meadow Road. Take the road until it's end, staying left when it bisects, with the road to the right leading to Moro Rock. Drive past the Parker Group, a cluster of large sequoia trees on your left, through the Tunnel Log, where finally the road terminates at a large parking lot and picnic area. Several other trails, including the beginning of the famous High Sierra Trail, either start or run through this spot. Follow the signs for Crescent Meadow, whose trail is a loop--it's up to you which way you want to start.
Crescent Meadow
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Time: 1 - 2 hours.
Distance: 1.5 miles.
There's a handful of different trails here, which can be confusing, so keep an eye out for the yellow triangle markers with crescent moons on them for the meadow. Taking the loop starting to the left, it doesn't take long for the first views of the meadow to appear on your right as you're walking. In the light of dawn and dusk, the meadow tends to light up in golden hues; as tempting as it may be, all of the meadows in Sequoia National Park are off limits from hiking into, as their ecosystem is quite fragile and trample easily. It's also not uncommon to spot wildlife here, especially if you're going early in the morning before the trail becomes busy and when animals are more active; black bears are not uncommon in Sequoia, and this is a prime spot to catch a glimpse--from a safe distance of at least 100 yards, of course. Keep your eye out for mule deer in this area too.
Crescent Meadow in the morning.
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Staying left, the trail eventually veers away from the meadow a bit, and into the forest: sequoia of all shapes and sizes are plentiful here. Keep your eye out for a fallen sequoia, as well as another with a large portion of it's base missing, that you're able to walk through. For the more adventurous hiker, the trail from Crescent Meadow eventually splits, and can take you up to the Congress Trail and General Sherman Tree, though it gets a bit tougher and more up hill. For those interested in seeing the rest of the meadow though, simply stay on the trail that loops around it.
Downed sequoia in the forest / Another tunnel tree.
On the other side of the meadow you'll find more sequoia, though the forest thins out a bit as it slopes uphill. Views of the meadow become even more clear from this side, where it's also a little quieter, being further from the parking area. Keep an eye out for one particularly wide sequoia, as well as another that has fallen into the meadow, exposing its massive roots.
One very wide sequoia.
The interior of Crescent Meadow.
There's no shortage of big trees on the Crescent Meadow trail.
Proceed to the end of the meadow, where you'll find one of the best views of it, along with the official marker sign, and John Muir's quote. From here, it's a short walk to the parking area, taking a small bridge over a stream, and finally ending right where you started. For more hikes and things to do in Sequoia National Park, click here. If you're interested in another meadow hike with massive sequoia to match, why not check out the Big Trees Trail just down the road.
An accurate description indeed, John.