Hiking Among the Giants at Sequoia National Park in California

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Sequoia National Park

What a wonderful opportunity to hike among the giant towering trees at sequoia National Park. Located in Three Rivers, California, the awe-inspiring escape to nature offers visitors the opportunity to hike next to some of the largest and oldest trees and is home to the iconic General Sherman Tree. You will walk in nature next to towering sequoias that have been standing for a long time creating the perfect picturesque landscape.

At Sequoia National Park you will find rugged beauty with mountains as the backdrop, scenic trails, majestic wildlife, deep canyons, and boundless adventures. Stop and hike through the lush forests and soak in the tranquility of the breathtaking outdoors with an unforgettable experience in this natural environment.

Sequoia National Park is combined with Kings Canyon National Park, but this blog post will focus on Sequoia National Park only.

Hours: Open 24 hours/365 days a year. Occasionally some roads may close due to weather conditions.

Cost: $35 or you can purchase an America the Beautiful pass and have access to all the National parks for free throughout the year.

There is no gas station within sequoia National Park.

Other park activities

• rock climbing

• Ranger programs

• day hiking

• overnight backpacking

• horseback riding

• fishing

• skiing and snowshoeing

Occasionally you will find them burning trees throughout the park as shown in the below picture.

Visitor Centers

While there are multiple visitor centers in Sequoia and Kings Canyon, here you will find a list of those in Sequoia NP. Some of the visitor centers are only open seasonally.

• Foothills Visitor Center - located 1 mile north of the Ash Mountain entrance

  • Hours: 8am to 5pm in the summer. Hours vary in the winter months

• Giant Forest Museum - at mile 16 on Generals Highway.

  • Hours: 9am to 6pm in the summer. Hours vary in the winter months. May close due to road conditions.

• Lodgepole Visitor Center -

  • Hours: 8am to 5pm. Only open seasonally from mid-May to mid-October.

  • Purchase back country permits here

Pets: are not allowed on the trails but can be outside on a leash in the parking lots, campgrounds, paved roads, and picnic areas.

Free Park shuttle

During the busier times of the year, a free park shuttle is available between Giant Forest and Lodgepole areas. The shuttle only runs in Sequoia National Park and does not run through Kings Canyon NP.

Shuttle typically runs from May to September and operates from 8:30am to 6pm daily. Shuttle routes are located on a sign near the shuttle pickup areas.

Picnic areas

There are several picnic areas located throughout the park. Each picnic area has restrooms, picnic tables, and some have BBQ grills and water. Picnic areas are located at:

• Grant Grove

• Cedar Grove

• Lodgepole and Giant Forest

• Foothills

Vehicle length restrictions

While Sequoia roads can be windy and narrow, please understand that some vehicle lengths are not advised on specific roads. See details on vehicle restrictions online. Some campsites have RV and trailer maximum length restrictions as well. See below.

Tunnel Rock

Stand below this giant granite boulder and take your picture with Tunnel Rock located on Generals Highway. You can no longer drive under the boulder, but you can still park and enjoy this view.

Giant Forest Hikes

Trails in this area include:

• General Tree Trail - 1/2-mile trail from the parking area down to the large sequoia trees

• Congress Trail - 2-mile loop through the Giant Forest sequoia grove

• The Big Trees Trail - this .75 mile trail leads around Round Meadow

• Tokopah Trail - an easy 1.7 mile one way trail

• Moro Rock Trail - see below

• Crescent Meadow Loop

• Circle Meadow Loop

• Lodgepole to Sherman Tree

• Alta Trail

• Soldiers Trail

• Trail of the Sequoias

• Washington Tree Trail

• Long Meadow Loop

• Lakes Trail

Moro Rock Trail

Climbing up Moro Rock provides a dramatic view of the area. Climb the 350 stairs to reach the top viewing area. Stand for a picture with the beautiful landscape as your background or just admire the view of the High Sierra peaks while you take a break from climbing. Use caution on the stairs and watch small children.

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General Sherman Tree

The General Sherman Tree is the biggest tree on earth due to its overall volume of 52,500 cubic feet. It is about 275 feet tall and 103 feet round at the base. It is estimated to be around 2,200 years old. How amazing to be next to a tree that is that old. The bark on the sequoias was surprisingly softer than I expected and exceptionally beautiful.

Take time to explore this area as you walk among the giant sequoias and take in the beauty of the area while admiring the towering sequoias.

Fallen Sequoia Tree

Walk through the fallen Sequoia tree on a fun walking path for anyone wanting a unique experience.

There is also a large fallen sequoia tree that you can drive through which makes a really cool experience. This tree is 17 feet wide and 8 feet tall and can still be used today. (pic of car in Tunnel Log from nps.gov)

Recommended items for visiting Sequoia National Park

• Bear spray - just in case

• Waterproof jacket - weather can be unpredictable in Sequoia NP

• Garmin inReach mini - perfect for when hiking in an area where you have no cell signal

• Teva sandals - I wear mine all the time when I am hiking

• Lululemon belt bag - I use this all the time to carry my keys, phone, cash, etc

• Nalgene water bottle - it is so important to stay hydrated while hiking

• Bug spray - the best all-natural bug spray, and it is made in the USA

Bears at sequoia

It is important to store all foods and scented items such as candles, lotions, pet food, toothpaste, sunscreen, etc in the proper way to prevent bears from trying to enter into a cooler or vehicle to obtain those items. The bears are smart and recognize items that often carry food such as coolers and backpacks. If those items are left unattended or a bear smells food, it is likely they will try to get to the food. The more a bear is fed human food, the more aggressive they can become.

Store all food either in the trunk of your car or at the lowest point in your car with your windows up. While camping, you can store your food in the food storage boxes provided by the park.

If you see a bear never approach it. Stay back and make loud noises and form groups to look large.

Camping at Sequoia National Park

Camping reservations can be made online. Pets are permitted in the campgrounds, if on a leash. Dispersed camping is not allowed within Sequoia National Park, but some camp spots can be found outside the park in the Sequoia National Forest. Backcountry camping is allowed in the NP with a permit.

• Dorst Creek - CLOSED FOR SUMMER 2024 DUE TO STORM DAMAGE. Open mid-June to Labor Day with 222 sites. 33 are RV only and 12 are TENT only.

  • amenities: trash, food storage lockers, seasonal potable water, seasonal flush toilets

  • $32 for tent and RV sites. $16 with Access or Senior pass. Group sites available for $50-70 each.

  • Reservations only

  • Almost any RV and trailer length is accepted

• Lodgepole - open from Memorial Day and closes in phases between September, October and December with 214 campsites. 76 sites are TENT ONLY

  • amenities: trash, food storage lockers, camp store, ice, firewood, seasonal potable water, seasonal flush toilets, seasonal dump station

  • $32 for tent and RV sites. $16 with Access or Senior pass

  • Reservations only

  • RV and trailer maximum length are 40 feet

• Potwisha - open year-round with 42 campsites. May close temporarily due to weather conditions. In the winter months, this campground is usually snow free. Some sites are reservable some first come, first served.

  • amenities: trash, food storage lockers, potable water, dump station, flush toilets

  • $32 for tent and RV sites. $16 with Access or Senior pass

  • Some sites are reservable some are first come, first served

  • RV maximum length is 24 feet

• Buckeye Flat - CLOSED FOR THE 2024 SEASON. Open late-March to late-September with 27 campsites. TENT ONLY SITES

  • amenities: trash, food storage lockers, seasonal potable water, seasonal flush toilets

  • $32 for tent sites. $16 with Access or Senior pass

  • Reservations only

  • No RV’s or trailers allowed

• South Fork - CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO STORM DAMAGE

• Sunset - open late-May to Labor Day with 158 campsites

  • amenities: cell service, trash, food storage lockers, camp store, ice, firewood, seasonal potable water, seasonal flush toilets

  • $32 for tent and RV sites. $16 with Access or Senior pass, $50 group sites

  • Reservations only

  • RV maximum length is 30 feet

• Azalea - open year-round with 110 campsites.

  • amenities: cell service, flush toilets, trash, food storage lockers, camp store, firewood, ice, potable water

  • $32 for tent and RV sites. $16 with Access or Senior pass

  • Reservations only except in the winter months

  • RV maximum length is 47 feet

• Crystal Springs - open late-May to late-September with 35 campsites.

  • amenities: cell service, trash, food storage lockers, camp store, ice, firewood, seasonal potable water, seasonal flush toilets

  • $32 for tent and RV sites. $16 with Access or Senior pass

  • Reservations only

  • RV maximum length is 25 feet

Other lodging and cabins are available within the park. Check out those lodging details here.

Restaurants in Sequoia National Park

There are several restaurants located within Sequoia National Park. They all serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Peaks Restaurant also offers sack lunches for on the go.

• The Peaks Restaurant at Wuksachi Lodge - open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Closed January 7 to March 14.

• Grant Grove Restuarant and Courtyard - open seasonally for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

• Lodgepole Grill, Market, and Snack Bar - open seasonally for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Open mid-April to mid-October.

• Cedar Grove Snack Bar - open seasonally for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Open mid-May to mid-October.

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With so many opportunities for hiking and camping within Sequoia National Park you are sure to enjoy a wonderful nature filled adventure. Looking up in amazement at the tall sequoia trees is mesmerizing as you surround yourself within this natural setting. Visiting the General Sherman Tree brings about the power and majesty of nature. Whether you are a seasoned hiker or just a casual sightseer, you will leave with memories and a sense of connection to the natural world.

Enjoy the journey,

Meet the author: Jennifer

I am a girl who loves to travel with my family and enjoys sharing expert family travel advice. I am a content creator and influencer on Instagram with years of travel experience and provide readers with advice, tips, and details on adventurous family travel and tips on saving money while boondocking or traveling across the US. You can usually find me dreaming up our next epic vacation or outside exploring natural landscapes. I am a fearless roadtripper who isn’t afraid to explore new and off the path adventures.

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