Sequoia National Park Guide
So you’re probably here for the biggest trees in the world, right? Good, and prepare to be amazed. Sequoia National Park has over 40 different groves of Giant Sequoia, and they are worth the hype. The General’s Highway through the park will lead you to many of them, but really only shows a fraction of this Sierra Nevada wonderland, and no road runs east-to-west through it--the park is huge, and a favorite for backpackers because of its extensive wilderness. Say you only have a day or two though, this list is here to help you see some of the park’s most accessible sights when time is limited.
When to Visit
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Like so many of America's national parks, peak season runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and you can expect some heavy crowds during those months--but you're likely to have the most pleasant weather. By early fall, temperatures at night can get quite cold. While much of the park is open in the winter, the roads may shut down during heavy snows and for plowing, and even when they are open, you'll likely be required to have snow chains on your tires. Still, the sight of the sequoias covered in snow is absolutely magical to see.
How to Get There
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Sequoia National Park sits within the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, with Fresno being the closest city with a major airport, at about a two hour drive away. Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose all have major airports, and are just over four hours away from the closest entrance to the park. Los Angeles is another, slightly shorter option, at around 3.5 hours away.
Things to Do in Sequoia National Park
The General Sherman Tree
Time: 1 - 1.5 hours.
Distance: .5 miles.
Every park has a major highlight it seems. Arches has Delicate Arch, Yellowstone has Old Faithful (and more), and Sequoia has the General Sherman Tree. Named after the famed Civil War General, not only is it the largest tree on Earth, but it is also the largest living organism too. If you’re coming from the Foothills entrance in the south, proceed along the General’s Highway, and you’ll eventually spot signage for the General Sherman on your right. A parking lot is near the paved, half-mile trailhead, but will be crowded during the busier months, but a shuttle service is available to bus visitors to it during the higher-traffic times of year. A half mile trail, gradually downhill, leads you to the tree. At 274.9 feet tall, 36.5 feet wide and around 2,000 years old, it really is a sight to behold. With a volume of 52,508 cubic feet, it holds the record for largest tree—largest, not tallest, or widest. The tallest record belongs to Hyperion, a coast redwood whose location is kept secret in Redwood National Park. Widest? You’re in luck, as the General Grant Tree is only about an hour down the road in nearby King’s Canyon National Park. Speaking of the those less-busy seasons in Sequoia, the trees look magnificent with a fresh coat of snow, and the park is great for snowshoeing—as long as the highway is clear. For more on the General Sherman Tree, click here.
Who is this guy? I have no idea, but he's standing in front of the largest tree on Earth!
The Congress Trail
Time: 1 - 2 hours.
Distance: 3 miles.
Taking the trail down to the Sherman Tree, a large sign just before its main viewpoint indicates the start of the Congress Trail. A three mile loop, you'd be doing yourself a disservice to come down here to see the Sherman and not hike the Congress Trail. The crowds grow smaller and smaller the further you go down this paved trail, as the sequoia become more and more frequent. The President's Tree towers above, while the House and the Senate groups are tightly packed clusters of sequoia, that people love to walk into the middle of to have their picture taken: it might be one of the best places in the park to show the scale of these trees. If there's any trail that showcases the heart of the Giant Forest Grove, this is it. For more on the Congress Trail, click here.
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Hi there, I'm Dan: videographer, travel-addict, and beer-lover. I left corporate life behind to start my own video business and travel the world. Want to know more about me and Dan Treks?
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The House Group, found along the Congress Trail.
Tunnel Log
Time: 5 - 10 minutes.
Distance: N/A.
More of a quick stop on the way to Moro Rock, Tunnel Log is located on the Crescent Meadow Road, and is exactly what it sounds like. This sequoia fell in 1937, and a hole big enough for most cars was cut through it. So if you're heading to Moro Rock or Crescent Meadow, why not stop quick to drive through the tree. Click here for more on the Tunnel Log.
This dead tree is dying to have you drive through it. Get it? Wait, don't leave.
Moro Rock
Time: 1 - 1.5 hours.
Distance: .4 miles.
The granite domes of Yosemite are well-known to so many, but it’s not the only national park in California that has them. Moro Rock is one such dome in Sequoia, and you need neither permit nor cables to hike to the top of it, as a staircase with rails is built into the granite. 400 steps takes you to the top, and at an elevation of 6,725 feet, you’re provided a second-to-none view of the Sierra Nevada mountains, the giant forest, and the canyon floor below you. A two mile trail through the forest is an excellent way for some solitude among the Sequoias before reaching the base of the rock itself, but for those short on time, you can simply drive to and park at the beginning of the staircase to its top. The view is always spectacular, but at sunrise or sunset, you’re in for a treat. For more information on Moro Rock, click here.
The start and end of the Moro Rock trail.
Crescent Meadow
Time: 1 - 2 hours.
Distance: 1.5 miles.
Sequoia National Park is home to a handful of spectacular alpine meadows, and without a doubt one of the best and most accessible is Crescent Meadow. The trail is only 1.5 miles long, and relatively flat throughout, but it takes you through some absolutely spectacular parts of the Giant Forest Grove--massive trees abound here, and on the other side is the pristine, open meadow. Depending on the time of year it may be full of wildflowers, and wildlife, like mule deer, marmots, and black bear can be seen here too; it's no wonder John Muir named Crescent Meadow "the gem of the Sierra's." For more information on Crescent Meadow, click here.
Crescent Meadow.
Sequoia National Park Cinematic Video
Explore the forest groves that hold the largest trees on the planet, climb the granite domes of the Sierra Nevada, see black bears, the Milky Way, and more, all in under two minutes in this cinematic video of California's Sequoia National Park!
Crystal Cave
Time: 45 minutes.
Distance: .5 miles.
While several national parks like Carlsbad Caverns feature caves as their staples, others have them as something of a hidden feature. Crystal Cave in Sequoia National Park could hardly be called hidden, but when you mention a park whose staple is tall trees, you’re probably not thinking of an adventure under the ground. To visit Crystal Cave, you can purchase tour tickets online ahead of time, or if you’re feeling lucky (it can be a popular attraction), you can also purchase them at the Foothills or Lodgepole Visitors Centers. If you’re coming up the General’s Highway from Foothills Visitor Center, keep an eye out Crystal Cave signs, as the road to it will eventually be on your left, before the Moro Rock or General Sherman turnouts. The general tours last 45 minutes, and dress warm: the temperature in the cave is around a constant 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). Marble, not limestone, form the alien-looking stalagmites and columns inside. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, check out some of the longer tours offered online—probably not for those with a fear of tight spaces though.
Crystal Cave. Image credit: David Liu.
Big Trees Trail
Time: 1 - 1.5 hours.
Distance: .75 miles.
This trail begins near the Giant Forest Museum, a museum dedicated to, well, the gigantic forest all around you. A giant sequoia aptly named Sentinel stands guard outside. Learn about the history of the park, the trees, and more inside before venturing onto the paved trail off to it’s left. This short, paved, and accessible path takes you on a loop past many magnificent sequoia, both large and small. Winding through Round Meadow, keep your eyes not just on the tree line nearby, but on the meadow itself for a chance to spot wildlife like marmots, or even black bear. For more on the Big Trees Trail, click here.
The Big Trees Trail loops through Round Meadow.
A black bear crosses the Big Trees Trail back into the forest.
Tokopah Falls
Time: 1.5 - 2 hours.
Distance: 3.4 miles.
Who doesn’t love a good waterfall? The four-mile Tokopah Falls trail will take you to one, starting near the end of the Lodgepole campground, along the Kaweah River. The trail is moderately difficult, occasionally taking you over gradually inclined granite, before reaching the forest. Take in the views of taller granite cliffs around you—it’s almost like a miniature Yosemite. If time is limited and you’re looking for a classic Sierra Nevada waterfall adventure, then Tokopah is going to be for you! As usual, keep an eye out for any wildlife including black bears—and keep your distance if you do happen on any.
Tokopah Falls flows it's strongest in the early summer. Credit: JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD.
Where to Stay in Sequoia National Park
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Hotels and Lodges
The Wuksachi Lodge, just up the road from Lodgepole visitor center, is the only one found in Sequoia National Park. It's also pretty much the only place with public WiFi in the park too. You'll find a full, sit down restaurant at the main building too, if camp cooking isn't really your thing. Like most national park lodges, expect to pay over $200.00 per night in peak seasons. An alternative is the John Muir Lodge about 45 minutes down the road in Kings Canyon National Park, though expect to pay the same high prices. To book a room online, click here.
Stay in style in Sequoia National Park, at the Wuksachi Lodge.
Camping
Camping more your thing? Right on. Sequoia National Park has a number of campgrounds, with the most popular being Lodgepole, centrally located and near the park's most popular attractions. Other options include Atwell Mill, Foothills or Cold Springs Campgrounds, which are likely to be more quiet, though further from the popular stuff. Another option are the campgrounds in the Grant Grove portion of Kings Canyon National Park down the road, or even campgrounds like Stoney Creek in Sequoia National Monument, located on the road between Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Visit Recreation.gov to book campsites in either parks, or in the national monument. Sequoia is a popular park, so book early.
Sequoia National Park Video Guide
Join me as I guide you to some of the best sights, hikes, places to stay, and more in Sequoia National Park. Explore the Giant Forest and see the biggest trees on earth, see the snow-capped Sierra Nevada's from the top of Moro Rock, and make your way to the largest living thing on earth, all in this video guide.