Top Things To Do in Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park was created to protect endangered Giant Sequoia Trees. Located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, it borders Kings Canyon National Park. Together they protect over 30 of the world’s 75 Sequoia Groves.

The park is home to the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree in the world by volume. (The second largest tree in the world by volume is the General Grant Tree, which is located in nearby Kings Canyon National Park).

Sequoia National Park borders Three Rivers and is 35 miles from Visalia.

Sequoia is a U.S. National Park

Sequoia is 1 of the 63 U.S. National Parks. (A National Park is a scenic or historically important area protected by the federal government. Its purpose is the enjoyment of the general public or the preservation of land and wildlife).

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks were both established to protect Giant Sequoia Trees from logging. (Yellowstone became the first U.S. national park in 1872. Sequoia and Kings Canyon became the second and third in 1890).

Sequoia is 1 of the 9 U.S. National Parks in California. The others are Channel Islands, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Kings Canyon, Lassen Volcanic, Pinnacles, Redwood, and Yosemite.

How to Visit Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park is open 24 hours a day 365 days a year. No reservation is required for park entry. Passes can be purchased online or at the park entrance.

Admission is $35 for private vehicles, $30 for motorcycles, and $20 for individuals with no car. It is valid for 7 days. Or you can purchase the Sequoia/Kings Canyon/Hume Lake Annual Pass for $70. For more information, call the Sequoia & Kings Canyon Visitor Information Line at 559 565-3341.

If you plan to visit several national parks or sites, the best value is to purchase a U.S. Park Pass. It costs $80 and is valid for 12 months at over 2,000 federal recreation sites.

Closest Airport to Sequoia National Park

The closest commercial airport to Sequoia National Parks is Visalia Municipal Airport. It is 1 hour from the Sequoia National Park entrance on Highway 198. And 1½ hours from Kings Canyon National Park entrance. Note that in the summer you can take a bus to the Visalia Transit Center, where you can take the Sequoia Shuttle to Sequoia National Park.

The next closest commercial airport is Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT). It is 1¾ hours from the Sequoia National Park entrance on Highway 198. And 1 ¼ hours from the Kings Canyon National Park entrance on Highway 180. From the airport, you can rent a car to reach the parks.

The Sierra Nevada – Home of 3 National Parks

Sequoia National Park is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. The 250-mile range acts as a border with Nevada. (Only the Carson Ridge extends into Nevada). It runs from Lake Tahoe to the Mojave Desert.

The Sierra Nevada is home to 3 national parks – Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite. And it is home to 26 Wilderness Areas, 10 National Forests, and 2 National Monuments.

Sierra Nevada Highlights

* The General Sherman Tree – The largest tree in the world by volume

* Lake Tahoe – The largest alpine (high altitude) lake in North America

* Mount Whitney – The highest point in the continental United States

Mount Whitney

Mount Whitney is one of the most famous features of Sequoia National Park. With a summit height of 14,494 feet, it is the tallest mountain in the lower 48 U.S. states. And it is one of the most climbed mountain peaks in the Sierra Nevada. A permit is required.

Mount Whitney is located on the eastern boundary of Sequoia National Park and in neighboring Inyo National Forest. Strangely, it is also located 85 miles from the lowest place in North America, the Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park. Isn’t nature amazing!

Town of Three Rivers

Bordering the entrance to Sequoia National Park, Three Rivers is a pleasant little town with a vacation vibe. There are hotels, campsites, RV parking, several restaurants, and a supermarket. I’m kind of bougie princess, so I stayed at the Comfort Inn & Suites Sequoia Kings Canyon.

There aren’t many places to eat inside the park. So make sure to grab a breakfast or lunch sandwich to go at Sierra Subs or Sequoia Coffee Co on the way to the park entrance. (Pictures below).

Scenic Drive

Hwy 180 takes you from Visalia and Three Rivers to the Ash Mountain Entrance of Sequoia National Park. When you enter the park the road turns into Generals Highway.

Generals Highway starts at the Ash Mountain Entrance and goes past Wukskatchi Lodge to the park boundary. Then it continues through part of Sequoia National Forest before ending at Highway 180, which is the main road that goes through Kings Canyon National Park.

It takes an hour one way for the spectacular winding drive from the Foothills to the Sequoia Groves. The road between Hospital Rock Picnic Area and Giant Forest Museum is very curvy and narrow. Some river access is available.

Long Vehicles not Recommended on Generals Highway

Because the Generals Highway is narrow in places, length advisories are in place. Vehicles longer than 24 feet are not advised between Foothills Visitor Center and Potwisha Campground. And vehicles longer than 22 feet are not advised on the Generals Highway between Potwisha Campground and Giant Forest Museum.

In winter portions of these roads close and chains may be required. You should check the Sequioa National Park Road Conditions in advance.

Sequoia National Park Free Shuttle

Sequoia National Park operates a Free Shuttle from June – October within the Giant Forest and Lodgepole areas. It runs daily from 8:30am – 6:00pm. (Note! Nearby Kings Canyon does not have a park shuttle). Visit the shuttle webpage for more information..

Parking for the shuttle is recommended at Lodgepole Campground and Wolverton Picnic Area. Parking at the Giant Forest Museum and the General Sherman Tree is usually full by mid-morning on weekends and holidays.

In addition, there is a shuttle from the town of Visalia to Sequoia National Park. Reservations can be made by calling 877-287-4453 or at sequoiashuttle.com.

Ash Mountain Entrance

There is only one entrance to Sequoia National Park. It borders the town of Three Rivers.

Highway 198 goes from Visalia and Three Rivers to the park entrance. The road then becomes Generals Highways. Beyond the entrance station, the road is narrow and winding., so length advisories are in place.

Historical Entrance Sign

The first thing you will see after you enter Sequoia National Park is the Ash Mountain Entrance Sign. It features a colorful Native American based on the old “buffalo” nickel minted in 1913. Made of sequoia wood, the sign was constructed in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

There is a parking lot so visitors can pull over to take pictures. Of course in today’s social media age, there is a line to take a picture in front of the sign.

The Foothills

The Foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range are located between the Central Valley and the high Sierra Nevada. With hot summers and mild winters, they contain more types of plants and animals then any other area of the park.

Reptiles, birds, and small mammals live there year round. During the cooler months, deer and bears often move downhill to find food. Black Bears gorge on across from Blue Oak trees to survive the winter. Foxes are frequently seen in the early evening and twilight hours.

Views extend up and down the Kaweah Canyon as the highway winds up alongside the rapidly descending Kaweah River.

Foothills Visitor Center

The next stop is the Foothills Visitor Center, which is located one mile from the park entrance. There are exhibits on the Sierra Foothills, restrooms, a pay phone, and first aid. And you can purchase tickets to Crystal Cave or get a local wilderness permit. There are bear canisters for sale or rent.

The Foothills Visitor Center is open October 1 – March 15 from 9:00am – 4:00pm. And from March 16 to September 30 from 8:00am – 4:30pm.

Tunnel Rock

Next up is a unique rock formation called Tunnel Rock. In the past, the granite boulder created a tunnel over Generals Highway that cars could drive under.

However, the road has now been rerouted. There is now a paved path so you can walk on under the rock.

Potwisha Campground

Potwisha Campground offers camping for both tents and small RVs. (Vehicles longer than 24 feet are not advised). It is located in a sprawling oak woodland along the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River. Open year round, reservations are required.

Due to hot and dry weather in the Foothills, there are frequent fire restrictions in the summer. In the winter, the campground is usually snow free. Sites include mandatory food storage boxes, to protect food from bears.

Reservations for Potwisha Campground can be made online or by calling 877-444-6777.

Hospital Rock

The next stop is Hospital Rock, where you can view Native American pictographs and mortars. There is a lot of evidence of the natives that lived here. This includes pictographs, bedrock mortars, historic fire pits, and obsidian artifacts.

The granite rocks near the pictographs served many purposes. This includes a shelter, place of healing, and a location for ceremonies. Native Americans called this place Pah-din, which means place to go through.

Every Native American society has healers who practice traditional medicine to aid ailing community members. On occasion, healers cared for injured travelers at this site. The English name Hospital Rock was first used in 1873 after a pioneer recovered here from a trapping injury.

Buckeye Flat Campground

To get to Buckeye Flat, you need to drive past the turn towards Moro Rock and Kings Canyon National Park. Note that RVs and trailers are not permitted.

Campers can hear the rush of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River from most sites. Due to high temperatures and dry conditions, there are usually fire restrictions in place. The trailhead to the Paradise Creek Trail is at the campground. And the Middle Fork Trail is located nearby.

Amphitheater Point

Right after the Hospital Rock area, make a sharp left turn towards Moro Rock and Kings Canyon National Park.

As soon as you enter Sequoia National Park, you will see Moro Rock looming overhead thousands of feet above the highway. This massive granite dome juts out from a ridgeline at the edge of the Giant Forest.

Amphitheater Point offers a side view of Moro Rock. As well as stunning views of the steep elevation change from the foothills to the granite alpine peaks.

Crystal Cave

Next up is Crystal Cave, a 20,000 year old marble cavern. It is 1 of the 200 caves located inside Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

Due to fragile formations, the only way to view Crystal Cave is to take a guided tour. There is a steep .5 mile hike from the parking lot to the cave entrance. The tour itself is a .5 mile loop trail. Note that it is 50 degrees F inside the cave.

Tours are offered from spring through fall from 10:00am-4:00pm Thursday through Sunday. (Closed Monday–Wednesday). Tickets are not on sale at the cave. Reservations must be made in advance. (They sell out so it is recommended that you buy your tickets two months in advance).

Moro Rock

Next up on Generals Highway is a road that leads to Moro Rock, Tunnel Log, and Crescent Meadow.

The hike to the top of Moro Rock is one of the highlights of Sequoia National Park. The 350 step hand rail staircase leads to spectacular panoramic views. This includes the Great Western Divide, which is a Sierra Nevada mountain range that forms part of the border between Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks.

You will see the foothills and San Joaquin Valley to the west, and the deep wilderness in the east. If you look over the railing, you can see the Kaweah River and the Generals Highway thousands of feet below you.

How to Visit Moro Rock

In summer, there is a free daily shuttle from the Giant Forest Museum to the Moro Rock parking area. On weekends, the Moro Rock / Crescent Meadow Road is closed to private vehicles. The only way to reach Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow is by shuttle. On weekdays, the road remains open. However, the small parking area may be full.

In winter, the Moro Rock / Crescent Meadow Road closes due to snow. Ski trails lead to the parking area. But the stairway is closed due to the danger of ice or snow on the steps.

Tunnel Log

Next to Morro Rock is Tunnel Log, which is located along the Crescent Meadow Road in Giant Forest. It is a Giant Sequoia tree that fell in 1936 due to natural causes. A year later park management cut a hole through the downed tree for the enjoyment of visitors. Cars are able to drive through it.

That never would never happen in today’s world. The current goal of the National Park Service is to preserve nature. And to make sure that every site under their care looks the same 100 years from now as they do today.

Eleven Range Overlook

Next up on the scenic drive is Eleven Range Overlook, a vista overlooking the Kaweah Canyon toward the San Joaquin Valley.  On clear days, you can see California’s Coast Range on the opposite side of the San Joaquin Valley.

It’s not that great. If you don’t have the time, there is no need to stop.

Crescent Meadow

Moro Rock / Crescent Meadow Road ends at Crescent Meadow, a lush meadow surrounded by Giant Sequoias. It is breathtaking! Environmentalist John Muir famously called Crescent Meadow “the gem of the Sierras.”

Located 2.6 miles from the Giant Forest Museum, the meadow features picnic tables and is located near Moro Rock and several trailheads. You can follow the High Sierra Trail deep into the wilderness. Or take the easy 1.3 mile Crescent Meadow Loop Trail.

During the winter you have to hike, snowshoe, or ski to get to Crescent Meadow.

I saw a Bear!

According to the National Park Service, the best chance of seeing a bear is in a meadow. They are right – I saw a baby bear in Crescent Meadow!!!

As I was walking the Crescent Meadow Trail I came upon a crowd watching a small brown bear in the meadow eating berries. I know its dangerous to come between a mama bear and her cubs. He was really far away.

I was told that a large brown bear was eating about a mile up the trail. I had to go to work the next day and was already not going to get home until after midnight, so I turned around and went back. I will regret that for the rest of my life!!!

Big Trees Trail

Big Trees Trail circles Round Meadow in a .7 mile loop. It is flat, paved, and has benches along the way. The Hazelwood Meadow Trail on the other side of the road goes through another part of the Sequoia Grove.

Giant Forest

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks protect over 30 of the world’s 75 Sequoia Groves. Giant Forest is one of them. Home to over 2,000 Giant Sequoias, it is located between the Marble and Middle Forks of the Kaweah River.

Environmentalist John Muir named the Giant Forest in 1875. He declared it the best of all Sequoia groves. He was right – 4 of the 5 largest Giant Sequoias reside within these 3 miles.

Giant Sequoias have dominated the Giant Forest for about 4,500 years, which is only two or three Sequoia lifetimes. Before that it was probably too dry here for the big trees.

Giant Forest Museum

The Giant Forest Museum features exhibits on the Giant Sequoias, meadows, and human history of the Giant Forest. There is a large parking lot across the street, so it is a great place to park your car and catch the free park shuttle.

There are several trails from the museum to the Round Meadow and Hazelwood areas.

Beetle Rock

A short hike from the Giant Forest Museum takes you to Beetle Rock, a flat expanse of granite with wide views.

Beetle Rock offers a view of the western edge of the park and the San Joaquin Valley below. Notice the hardy trees growing in the cracks and crevasses of the rock. They are small because of a lack of nutrition and water. However, these survivors hang on in their niches.

The nearby Beetle Rock Education Center is used for park events and classes.

Congress Trail

Congress Trail is a 2.7 mile roundtrip lollipop shaped trail on a gentle, paved incline. It begins near the General Sherman Tree, the largest living tree on Earth.

Along the path there are excellent examples of mature sequoias, including the House and Senate groups, and the President Tree.

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