Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park was established in 1890 to protect the habitat where giant sequoia trees thrive.

Tips:

• Cell phone service is nonexistent in areas of the park, download offline maps in Google.
• Be prepared– bring food, snacks, and drinks with you.
  • Finding food for purchase in the park may be difficult
• If you don’t have one already- consider purchasing the America the Beautiful Pass for $80
  • It’s good for one year to ANY national park site instead of the $35 private vehicle pass that’s only good for a one week entry just to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park.
  • Can be purchased at the toll booth when entering the park.

Sequoia National Park One Day All Encompassed Itinerary:  

Following this one day itinerary you’ll get to see a bit of everything.

• 1. Start your day off by visiting the Foothills Visitors Center (exhibits may be closed due to the pandemic).

• 2. From there begin driving to your first stop to take a quick picture at Tunnel Rock.
  • Tip: Tunnel Rock is a great photo opportunity, however a park ranger warned us about the poison ivy found around the rock.

• 3. Giant Forest Museum (exhibits may be closed due to the pandemic)
  • Visit the Sentinel Tree located in front of the museum

• 4. Our first trail of the day leaves from the museum’s parking lot- follow signs to The Big Trees Trail (1 mile).
  • The Big Trees Trail is an easy, paved, walk around Rainbow Meadow, where you can read to learn about the giant Sequoias. 

• 5. General Sherman – the biggest tree on Earth (by volume)
  • To reach General Sherman you can either:
    • Drive to the parking lot
      • Hike 0.5 to General Sherman
    • Use the free shuttle service available from the Giant Forest Museum (seasonal)

• 6. Congress Trail (2 miles round trip)
  • This trail begins very close to General Sherman
  • An easy trail where you can walk through the Giant Forest to see the sequoias

• 7. Moro Rock (1 mile or 3.8 miles round trip if you decide to do the full hike)
  • 350 stairs takes you to the top of the summit
  • Reaching the trail- 2 options:
    • Drive to the trailhead
    • Use shuttle service available from the Giant Forest Museum (seasonal)

• 8. Drive Through Tunnel Log (0.5 mile drive from Moro Rock)
  • Since 1935 people have driven through Tunnel Log.
  • When this mighty sequoia fell on the road it was too big for workers to move.
  • 8ft clearance, with a bypass lane for larger vehicles

• 9. Topokah Falls Trail (3.4 miles round trip)
  • Takes you to a 1,200 ft cascading waterfall – best seen during the summer.
  • Reaching the trail- 2 options:
    • Drive to the trailhead
    • Use shuttle service available from the Giant Forest Museum (seasonal)

Scenic Drives

If you have additional time- consider taking a Scenic Drive through the park(s). Following this itinerary you will drive through both Sequoia National Park & Kings Canyon National Park.

• Generals Highway from the Sequoia Park Entrance to Lodgepole (1 hour)
  • Stop at these viewpoints along the drive:
    • Hospital Rock: View Native American pictographs and mortars.
    • Amphitheater Point: Gorgeous viewpoint of Moro Rock.
    • Eleven Range Overlook: Viewpoint of California’s Coast (only on clear days).
    • Beetle Rock: Striking views of granite formations.
    • Crescent Meadow: View ancient Sequoias surrounding a meadow.

• Generals Highway from Lodgepole to Grant Grove (45 minutes)
  • Stop at these viewpoints along the drive:
    • Halstead Meadow: A bridge goes over this large meadow with beautiful wildflowers.
    • Redwood Mountain Overlook: View the largest sequoia grove here.
    • Kings Canyon Overlook: Expansive wilderness views of both parks.

• Grant Grove to the Kings Canyon and Cedar Grove (45 minutes)
  • Stop at these viewpoints along the drive:
    • Junction View: Viewpoint of the Middle Fork & South Fork of Kings Canyon.
    • Yucca Point: Viewpoint of a foaming junction of the Middle Fork and the South Fork of the Kings River.
    • Hwy 180 between Yucca Point and Boyden Cave: Drive through a section of the road blasted out of the sheer walls of Kings Canyon.
    • Boyden Cave: View layers of marble between volcanic rock. Tours of the cave are available during the summer (book in advance).
    • Grizzly Falls: 5 minute walk to view falls.
    • Canyon View: Viewpoint of the U-shaped Kings Canyon, carved out by a glacier.
    • Roaring River Falls: View a small waterfall cascade through a granite chute.
    • Zumwalt Meadow: Walk along the boardwalk to see the meadow or do the 1.5 mile loop trail to see the high granite walls and the Kings River.
    • Roads End: Viewpoint for high granite walls, access to river trails, and Muir Rock.

Additional Site to See Nearby:

If you have time- Consider visiting the Trail of 100 Giants, located in Porterville California, $10 a vehicle for parking.

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♬ original sound – Joceline Lopez