There are certain places that exist not only to remind us of how powerful nature is, but also of how small we really are. Spending time in East-Central California’s Sequoia National Park will do both of those things, along with offering a hefty dose of beautiful lifelong memories. This is a place to visit when you need to renew your spirits, surround yourself with groves of some of the world’s oldest trees, and reawaken your sense of wonder.
The first thing you’ll notice as you enter Sequoia National Park is how dramatic the rugged landscapes are.
George Santos / 500px via Getty Images There’s a lot of diversity in these 631 square miles. You’ll see looming mountains (including Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48), rugged foothills, deep canyons, caverns, and some of the world’s largest trees.
The highlight of the park is Sequoia National Forest, a 1.1 million-acre forest with 34 distinct groves.
Visit Sequoia and Kings Canyon / Facebook John Muir, who was known as the Father of National Parks, remarked that the sequoia groves are “not like places, they are like haunts.” Giant Forest is the largest of the 34 groves, with Redwood Mountain Grove and Atwell and East Fork Grove not far behind it.
The park is even home to the largest known living single-stem tree on Earth, nicknamed General Sherman.
haveseen via Getty Images General Sherman is estimated to be about 2,700 years old. It was named after the American Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman.
Sequoia National Park was the second national park established in the United States, preceded only by Yellowstone National Park.
Fairyland / Getty Images It was established in 1890 to protect the region’s trees from logging. These days, 84% of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are designated as wilderness.
Much of the park is not accessible by vehicle, but with a whopping 105 hiking trails to choose from, it’s best to park the car and lace up your hiking shoes.
fotoguy22 via Getty Images The Trail of 100 Giants is an easy, family-friendly hike that’s only about 1.5 miles long. Unfortunately, parts of the trail were recently closed due to wildfires; however, it will open again as soon as possible.
The Eagle View Trail is a gorgeous 1.5-mile trek that’s a bit steeper, but the views are well worth the climb.
PJ Healey / alltrails.com You can combine this trail with others to create one beautiful and lengthy loop.
If you’d rather explore the park by car, you’ll still have plenty of options.
Sara Edwards via Getty Images Scenic driving routes are easy to find. The Generals Highway connects Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park, and the Majestic Mountain Loop will take you past some of each park’s finest scenery.
You can also take a peek at what’s below the surface at Crystal Cave, a cavern of ornate marble decked out with curtains of icicle-like mineral formations and soft mounds.
qJake / Flickr Crystal Cave is one of 240 known caves in the park, but it’s the only one open for tours.
Crystal Cave tours are only available in the summer months, and the cave is temporarily closed due to Covid-19.
qJake / Flickr However, when the weather and current conditions allow, it’s definitely a tour worth taking. Tours range from 50 minutes to 2.5 hours, and most are suitable for all ages.
While day trips are certainly possible, spending a night or two in the park will allow you to truly immerse yourself in nature.
Paul Lovine / Flickr Sequoia and Kings Canyon have 14 campgrounds, three of which are open all year. Tent, RV, and trailer campsite are available by reservation.
If you’d rather sleep indoors, the John Muir Lodge is an excellent choice.
Visit Sequoia and Kings Canyon / Facebook The massive stone fireplace has a redwood mantle salvaged from a historic cabin in Sequoia National Park. The comfortable guest rooms are furnished with handcrafted wood furniture. Best of all, this property is dog-friendly.
The nearby Wuksachi Lodge is Sequoia’s signature hotel.
Visit Sequoia and Kings Canyon / Facebook Located in the heart of the park, the property is surrounded by a vast sequoia forest and towering Sierra peaks. This is also a dog-friendly property.
While many of the park’s regular events have been paused, you can still enjoy some fantastic fee-free days in the year to come.
Westend61 via Getty Images The Sequoia Parks Conservancy also offers a broad array of programs throughout the year, and the ranger-led programs are perfect for children and teens.
Sequoia National Park is located in California’s southern Sierra Nevada Mountains. It sits adjacent to Kings Canyon National Park, and it’s quite common for visitors to see both of them on one trip. It isn’t every day you can hike through groves of some of the oldest and most massive trees on Earth, which is why Sequoia National Park deserves a spot on your bucket list.
George Santos / 500px via Getty Images
There’s a lot of diversity in these 631 square miles. You’ll see looming mountains (including Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48), rugged foothills, deep canyons, caverns, and some of the world’s largest trees.
Visit Sequoia and Kings Canyon / Facebook
John Muir, who was known as the Father of National Parks, remarked that the sequoia groves are “not like places, they are like haunts.” Giant Forest is the largest of the 34 groves, with Redwood Mountain Grove and Atwell and East Fork Grove not far behind it.
haveseen via Getty Images
General Sherman is estimated to be about 2,700 years old. It was named after the American Civil War general William Tecumseh Sherman.
Fairyland / Getty Images
It was established in 1890 to protect the region’s trees from logging. These days, 84% of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are designated as wilderness.
fotoguy22 via Getty Images
The Trail of 100 Giants is an easy, family-friendly hike that’s only about 1.5 miles long. Unfortunately, parts of the trail were recently closed due to wildfires; however, it will open again as soon as possible.
PJ Healey / alltrails.com
You can combine this trail with others to create one beautiful and lengthy loop.
Sara Edwards via Getty Images
Scenic driving routes are easy to find. The Generals Highway connects Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park, and the Majestic Mountain Loop will take you past some of each park’s finest scenery.
qJake / Flickr
Crystal Cave is one of 240 known caves in the park, but it’s the only one open for tours.
However, when the weather and current conditions allow, it’s definitely a tour worth taking. Tours range from 50 minutes to 2.5 hours, and most are suitable for all ages.
Paul Lovine / Flickr
Sequoia and Kings Canyon have 14 campgrounds, three of which are open all year. Tent, RV, and trailer campsite are available by reservation.
The massive stone fireplace has a redwood mantle salvaged from a historic cabin in Sequoia National Park. The comfortable guest rooms are furnished with handcrafted wood furniture. Best of all, this property is dog-friendly.
Located in the heart of the park, the property is surrounded by a vast sequoia forest and towering Sierra peaks. This is also a dog-friendly property.
Westend61 via Getty Images
The Sequoia Parks Conservancy also offers a broad array of programs throughout the year, and the ranger-led programs are perfect for children and teens.
General Information:
Accessibility: The park staff is making a continual effort to make the accessibility of Sequoia and Kings Canyon’s trails and facilities available to all. Their complete Accessibility Guide can be found here.
Pet Friendly: Pets are permitted in parking lots, campgrounds, picnic areas, and on paved roads. Leashes are required. However, the park staff recommends leaving your pets at home if possible for safety reasons.
Parking: There are numerous parking areas around the park, but they fill up quickly in the summer. Parking lots near popular attractions often fill by noon, and sometimes earlier. Your best bet is to pay your entrance fee online and try to arrive on a weekday morning.
Seasonal Access: The park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Occasionally, winter storms, wildfires, and other circumstances may cause the parks to close temporarily.
Cost: A vehicle pass costs $35 and is valid for up to 7 days. A single person traveling on foot or by bicycle will pay a $20 entrance fee. A motorcycle pass is $30 for 1-7 days, or you can purchase an annual pass for $70 which admits all passengers in a private vehicle.
Feeling inspired to fill your Bucket List? Check out our previous features of Hoh Rain Forest in Washington, Maroon Bells in Colorado, and the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin, then subscribe to our weekly Bucket List newsletter to discover new destinations across the country that definitely deserve a visit.
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Address: Sequoia National Forest, California 93262, USA
