how to explore sequoia national park

Betsy has been writing about California for nearly more than two decades as TripSavvy's expert on the state. Compare prices for car rental from Los Angeles here. While Sequoia National Park is open year-round, some seasons are better than others, depending on what you want to do and see during your trip. You’ve probably spotted the iconic granite face of Moro Rock standing proud above the foothills at 6,725 ft. You’ve had a good look, and now it’s time to stand on it! Not too many people in October (and probably due to smoke, but I must say at this elevation smoke is not an issue) Highly recommend as an intro to sequoia park! The moderate 4-mile out and back Tokopah Valley Trail to Tokopah Falls begins from the Lodgepole Parking Area. Any time of year, guests are welcome to drive through Sequoia and Kings Canyon to Moro Rock, a scenic overlook towering over the parks with panoramic views of California on one side and Nevada on the other. Winter snow sometimes closes the road between the Giant Forest and Grant Village, and you may not be able to get into Sequoia National Park from Highway 180. Take advantage of the opportunities to stop and enjoy the view! Moreover, early visit enables you to explore the place without crowds that start appearing around noon. Park in the large lot at the Hospital Rock Picnic Area to check out Hospital Rock right across the street. In late summer, this waterfall usually dries up completely, so its best to time this one for early in the season. I’ve rented cars dozens of times through various search engines and have settled on Discover Cars as the best car rental search engine – it searches over 500 trusted rental companies to find the cheapest price for your rental! Call (559) 563-3341 for a recorded message about road conditions or visit the alerts page of the national park website. Day Hiking: There are plenty of trails to hike throughout Sequoia National Park. This is a great area to spot deer and bear grazing in the meadow area. You’re not the only one. Crystal Cave is a fun guided excursion to spelunk one of the park’s many natural caverns. Ready for a visit to the biggest tree in the entire world? First, you avoid traffic on your way to Sequoia National Park. You will be accessing the park through the Ash Mountain Entrance Station at the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas: the perfect start to any road trip to Sequoia National Park! This park will treat you to the oldest and most spectacular trees in the world. find a list on the national park website of places nearby that rent chains, visit the alerts page of the national park website, guide to finding hotels and campgrounds at Sequoia. This is a sacred Native American site, so please be respectful. Bears are among the many creatures that live in Sequoia National Park. The sunset in a Sequoia Grove is unlike any other. With frequent service to visitor centers, trailheads, and more, shuttles are a quick and easy way to discover the sequoias while reducing air pollution. In the National Forest, they can go on trails with you but must be on a leash less than 6 feet long. Most people drive to Sequoia National Park from Los Angeles or San Francisco, but Los Angeles is about an hour closer. A visit to Sequoia National Park is the perfect opportunity to explore the rugged natural landscapes California has to offer. Connecting the adjacent parks, and two celebrated giant sequoia groves (the Giant Forest and Grant Grove ), is the Generals Highway. The spectacular groves that the Giant Sequoias grow in are spaced throughout the park and are accessible by car and foot! It’s amazing to think Generals Highway used to direct traffic right under it! Time to rest up for another fun day in Sequoia National Park. Leave all Sequoia and Sugar Pine Cones where they have fallen. The Generals Highway runs nearly 50 miles from Sequoia National Park's Ash Mountain Entrance to Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park, passing through the Giant Forest, home of the world's largest sequoia trees. If you need chains and don't have them, you can find a list on the national park website of places nearby that rent chains. Explore some of America's most beautiful scenery. After your hike, grab a treat at the Lodgepole Market and Grill before heading off to your next site. Not only is Crystal Cave closed each winter, but from mid-November through mid-May, the road that takes you on a dramatic drive through Kings Canyon down to the Kings River is also closed. Now that you’re fully educated on the history and biology of the Giant Sequoias, you’re ready for the Big Trees Trail. When she’s not writing, Emily can be found backpacking, road tripping to outdoor destinations, climbing, or rowing whitewater. Elevation varies at Sequoia but starts at more than 6,000 feet. If you wish to see Sequoia National Park: Do it only if you’re in the southern area of California as it’s nearby and you can also check out other areas in the region such as the southern coast of California and even head east towards Nevada and check out places like Death Valley National Park. The main trail walks by a meadow where you can see the contrast of the meadow with the large sequoias growing right on the edge of the meadow. Those big trees you heard so much about will begin to make an appearance as you continue on Generals Highway. Activities and Things to Do in Sequoia National Park. We know you can’t wait to explore even more of the Giant Forest. Fortunately, the park is rarely overcrowded and gets about one-third of the visitors that Yosemite welcomes every summer. Time to leave the heat behind and drive into the mountains where it’s a little cooler. Soon after, there will be a parking area on the side of the road. This is where we leave you to discover your next adventure — either in Kings Canyon National Park as you head north or on your way back home after enjoying a short visit to Sequoia National Park. For simplicity, this guide refers to them all as "Sequoia" in the descriptions below. The General Sherman Tree stands at an impressive height of 275 ft with a diameter of nearly 37 ft around! Eternal Arrival is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. When driving around Sequoia, expect to maintain an average speed of 25 miles per hour or less, which means it takes about an hour to an hour and a half to drive from Grant Village to Roads End in Kings Canyon. Once in the park, use the pullout at the Sequoia National Park sign and take the short trail down to the river for the first stop on your Sequoia National Park itinerary. If you’re flying in and planning to visit Sequoia National Park and Yosemite together, which I recommend as they’re quite close together, I suggest renting a car at LAX if you don’t have your own. Soak in the scenery on your hike while reminiscing on all the memories you’ve made following this Sequoia National Park itinerary. Best Hikes at Sequoia National Park: General Sherman Tree (0.5 Miles) Get ready to whip out your Phone or camera, because the General Sherman is the largest tree in the entire world, by volume! The loop will end at the General Sherman Tree, where you can continue back to the parking area. To find the best place for you, see the guide to finding hotels and campgrounds at Sequoia. In the off-season and winter, the entrance kiosk closes and the payment center for visiting the park moves to Grant Village. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks In summer, a free in-park shuttle runs through the Giant Forest and Lodgepole areas of Sequoia National Park, from Giant Forest Museum to Dorst Creek Campground. How to Spend a Weekend in Sequoia National Park Sequoia and Kings Canyon are called “hiker’s parks” and rightfully so. However, gasoline costs significantly more there than it would if you filled up in Fresno or Three Rivers on your way to the park. The hike to General Sherman is an easy ½-mile walk down a paved trail. If you've only got a day to see the park, the giant redwood trees are a must-see feature of the parks; be sure to stop by the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree on the planet, by taking a short walk from the main road while you're there. Take the short trail to the Giant Forest Museum to learn a little more about these massive trees you have been encountering! The new Majestic Mountain Loop is another way to experience the highlights of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, as well as Yosemite National Park. General Grant National Park, the forerunner of Kings Canyon, was the third, established in 1940. Although Congress created these two parks in the southern Sierra Nevada at different times, Sequoia and Kings Canyon share miles of boundary. The Top Destinations in Sequoia National Park Foothills. Don’t worry, as we work our way up into the mountains, temperatures will become more bearable. Our first stop is always to the visitor center to pick up the Junior … . You can find campgrounds, cabins, and hotels in the national park, in the national forest, at the national monument, and on private property outside the park boundaries. The two are contiguous, and the National Parks Service manages them as one unit. Drive the Steep Winding Road to Mineral King. In Mineral King, visitors can explore a wandering subalpine valley brimming with pine, sequoia and fir. Getting to Sequoia National Park The most scenic way to get to Sequoia (and the shortest route from Los Angeles) is to take California Highway 198 through Visalia and Three Rivers until you reach the Ash Mountain entrance, which is about an hour's drive from U.S. Highway 99. Although there are places inside to park to stop and get a bit to eat, you … From hiking to fishing, and rock climbing to wildlife viewing, activity opportunities are endless in Sequoia & Kings Canyon. To get to the parking area, head north on Generals Highway. Take a right onto Wolverton Road and follow the helpful signs to General Sherman. The Sequoias are waiting and are surely glowing in the early-morning lighting. Walk over and check out Tunnel Rock. You will pass the visitor center, which is a great place to stop to buy a hiking map and get current park information. The Little Baldy Trail is a popular 3.5-mile out and back hike that will take about 2 hours to complete. Single vehicles must be 40 feet long or less while a vehicle and towed unit combined must be less than 50 feet long. However, this may not be the best hike for folks with a fear of heights or exposure. . This easy 3-mile loop will bring you deep into the Giant Forest while guiding you past the towering McKinley Tree and General Lee Tree. Sequoia Shuttle allows guests to relax and enjoy the journey into the Giant Forest. The morning views from Beetle Rock are magnificent. In Sequoia National Park, all visitor services at Wuksachi Lodge are closed through December 28, including the lodge, the restaurant, gift shop, and restrooms. In the national parks, pets are allowed only in campgrounds, picnic areas, and other developed areas. Mineral King. This is a great place to get an up-close look at the Kaweah River. You will feel like an ant next to this chunk and look kind of like one in your photos. Although the viewpoint is fenced in, it can trigger sensations of discomfort for some. You can continue on to other national parks like Joshua Tree and Death Valley easily based in Southern California as well. Follow Generals Highway about 2 miles from the Sequoia National Park sign. It’s tree-hugging heaven. The dramatic landscapes of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks lie side by side in the Southern Sierra Nevada Mountains – a testament to the majesty and geographic diversity of the Western United States. Fun and easy on the legs. As a result, you can typically find hotel rooms near the park on most weekends, even in mid-summer. Only a short 3-minute walk from the Giant Forest Parking Area, this is a spectacular viewpoint to hang out at while drinking your morning coffee. Bring plenty of water to start out the day if you’re traveling in summer. Restaurants Inside the Park. Rome2rio makes travelling from Napa Valley Wine Train to Sequoia National Park easy. Located at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California, Sequoia National Park boasts endless mountain views, epic whitewater rivers, and, of course, Giant Sequoias. Copyright 2019 - Eternal Arrival. Now you will be driving on Generals Highway, the scenic road that connects the two parks together. The tree you’re thinking of once stood in Yosemite National Park, but fell over in 1969! The Lakes Trail visits four such lakes: Heather, Aster, Emerald and Pear, and had been on our radar for the last couple of years. Compare prices for car rental from Los Angeles here. Walk over and check out Tunnel Rock. Back on Generals Highway, we’re headed over to the Lodgepole Area. There will be no food service in Sequoia until the lodge reopens, and travelers are advised to bring food from outside the parks. It's a very pretty drive, with optional stops to … We’re continuing on the Crescent Meadow Road toward Tunnel Log! Before you go, find out how to stay well and comfortable by taking a look at these. The trail hugs the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River before arriving at the beautiful 1,200 ft falls that cascade over the impressive granite walls. Mobile devices may not work everywhere. If you're in the area, it's definitely worth it to hop over to Kings Canyon! Disappear off the map and into a world of outdoor possibilities at Sequoia National Park. This is a popular inquiry, but you won’t find that attraction here. This location is also home to a beautiful panel of pictographs. However, the park is planning to install a new cell tower by 2020, so the signal available in the park may improve significantly in the near future. If you don't stop to pay the fee, you risk being ticketed by a park ranger while in the park. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are administered jointly along with Sequoia National Forest, which is located south of the parks, and Giant Sequoia National Monument, which includes two areas west of them. Today we are starting off with a couple of sights in the Giant Forest before heading north on Generals Highway. These were created over many years of grinding acorns for cooking in a pestle and mortar fashion. Some tips for visiting Sequoia National Park:-Sequoia National Park is often lumped in with nearby Kings Canyon. The most scenic way to get to Sequoia (and the shortest route from Los Angeles) is to take California Highway 198 through Visalia and Three Rivers until you reach the Ash Mountain entrance, which is about an hour's drive from U.S. Highway 99. There’s one more hike on the list for today, and wow are the views of the Western Divide at the top worth the trek! Forest fires are always a possibility from spring through fall, but they're especially likely in the summer. This park … In winter, visitors may find the giant sequoias covered in snow like over-sized Christmas trees, but you'll miss some of the park's most spectacular scenery this season. If you’re interested in hiking a bit further, the Hospital Rock Trail continues down to the Kaweah River. Head back toward Generals Highway after your fun adventure through Crescent Meadow and park in the Giant Forest Parking Area. With giant sky-scraping trees, and terrain that invites engagement with adventure, it's a natural wonderland where … Along Generals Highway, you will pass multiple scenic turnouts. a cabin he built into a Sequoia tree that had fallen down! There are no gas stations in either park, but you can fill up your tank at Hume Lake, Stony Creek, and Kings Canyon Lodge. The easiest to use resource is the California Statewide Fire Map. Sequoia National Park feeds into Sequoia National Forest to the south, and up beyond Kings Canyon National Park lies Yosemite National Park and Sierra National Forest. Midsummer temperatures can reach well above 100 degrees F! The parks offer a chance for visitors to explore expansive mountain peaks, sprawling woodlands, profound canyons, a vast array of wildlife, and the world’s largest trees. After about 6 miles, turn right onto Crescent Meadow Road and follow signs to the Moro Rock Trailhead. Rocks are kind of a theme on this leg of the trip! Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Just sitting still on Beetle rock, away from others (or on a big log on the hill behind it) you'll start to see all kinds of things (including beetles, but also lizards, ground squirrels, tree squirrels, chimpmunks, … Sequoia trees can only grow between 4,000 and 8,000 ft elevation, so don’t be surprised to find that every inch of the park isn’t completely covered in these beasts. This area has camping, hiking trails, river access, concessions, a visitor center, and even hot showers! If constant communication is important, check your provider's coverage map and leave your hotel phone number with the folks back home. Sequoia National Park, well-known in part for its namesake giant trees, is also home to some fantastic alpine lakes. Really nice walk along giant sequoia trees. You don’t need to be an accomplished climber to get on top because the NPS has laid 350 steps to make it an easily accessible lookout. , but Los Angeles here traffic on your rental this Tree, you... 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