Sequoia National Park is located in the Sierra Nevada mountains in central California and is home to some of the world’s tallest trees, including the General Sherman Tree, the largest living tree in the world.

The park also features deep canyons, giant mountains, and incredible wildlife. Visitors can enjoy activities such as camping, hiking, horseback riding, and even rafting. So whether you’re looking for a relaxing escape or an adrenaline-filled adventure, Sequoia National Park is the perfect place to explore and experience nature at its best!

Best hiking trails

Taking a casual stroll in the park alone can be quite rewarding due to the ginormous trees, which is why hiking is one of the most popular things to do here. Finding trails in the park is a piece of cake as there are so many options, and hikers of every skill level end up finding the perfect track for them!

Moro Rock Trail

The Moro Rock Trail is a great hike that offers spectacular views of the Sequoia National Park. It’s a moderate trail, about 0.6 miles long, with an elevation gain of about 400 feet. It’s a loop trail so that you can start and end at the same spot. The trail is well-maintained and offers lots of scenic overlooks. This trail can be completed in 30 minutes.

Big Trees Trail

If you are looking for another easy trail, head to the Big Trees Trail, which is a little over a mile long and has minimal elevation. It enjoys the reputation of being the second most popular trail in the park as it takes you through one of the world’s largest groves of Sequoias.

While crossing the Round Meadow, hikers can learn more about these ancient trees that leave a lasting impression on the onlooker. The boardwalk begins at the Giant Forest Museum and is accessible to those with physical disabilities.

Franklin Lakes Trail

This 11-mile-long trail starts at the Mineral King area of the park and can be completed in 7 hours. Then, there is a steady climb of almost 1000 meters, where you trek toward the Franklin Lakes. Once you reach the endpoint, you will find three alpine lakes in the middle of a visually stunning landscape. Surrounded by the Sierra peaks, the view is breathtaking after a long and arduous hike.

Congress Trail

This is one of the easier hikes in the park, as it is just 3 miles long. The trail showcases the defining feature of the park; its giant Sequoias! Hikers get to pass the General Sherman Tree and loop out to two other Sequoia groves.

You can spot the McKinley Tree and President Tree here, which are also impressive. There is some moderate elevation gain at certain sections of the trail, but it can be easily navigated.

Alta Peak Trail

If you want to go for something more challenging, there is always the Alta Peak Trail which is 15 miles long with an elevation of 1200 meters. The entire hike can take up to 9 hours which tests your limits.

Once you get to Alta Peak, you will be treated to a stunning view of the valleys and expansive mountains in Sequoia National Park. On a clear day, you can also see Mount Whitney, the tallest peak in the lower 48 states.

Camping in the Park

There are seven campgrounds located in various regions of the park. Dorst Creek Campground and Lodgepole Campground are located in the Lodgepole area and are the most popular camping sites in the park. The Foothills area has the most campgrounds, including Potwisha Campground, Buckeye Flat Campground, and South Fork Campground. Many campers stay in the Foothills area because of its low elevation, which makes it a suitable spot to camp during winter.

The Mineral King area of the park does not receive many visitors, but it contains multiple alpine lakes. In addition, Atwell Mill Campground and Cold Springs Campground are located in this area.

Only South Fork Campground and Potwisha Campground are open year-round, while the remaining camping sites are only available during summer. Three of the most popular campgrounds in the park are listed below.

Lodgepole Campground

The most popular campground in the park is the Lodgepole Campground which has more than 200 sites, including 76 tents-only sites and 16 walk-in sites. The campground accepts RVs that are up to 40 feet in length and has the facility of flush toilets. Lodgepole Village is located nearby which also provides access to coin-operated showers.

Dorst Creek Campground

With 222 sites (12 tent-only and 33 RV-only), Dorst Creek Campground offers flush toilets, but no showers exist. There is a shuttle stop here, so you can easily visit the Giant Forest area and General Sherman Tree.

Potwisha Campground

Potwisha Campground is the most accessible campground in the park. Due to the lower elevation, the area stays snow-free in winter. There are 50 sites amongst the oak trees, including flush toilets.

Camping options near the park

While the national park has quite a few campgrounds, other alternatives exist. Some nearby campgrounds include Upper Stony Creek Campground and Sequoia RV Ranch. While Upper Stony Creek Campground has water and vault toilets, Sequoia RV Ranch includes hookups and restrooms, with the village of Three Rivers nearby.

Best Viewpoints

Crystal Cave

This deeply carved marble cavern is located at the heart of the park and makes for a very interesting visit. Tourists can explore the cave by signing up for a tour where they get to hike across the winding cave passages. After passing the Spider Web Gate, you will get to experience the cave in pitch-black darkness. It can get steep inside the cave, so be careful and wear proper boots for the tour!

Marble Falls

Located in the Foothills, Marble Falls is one of the less popular spots in Sequoia. Getting to the waterfall is slightly tricky as you have to traverse through deep canyons and hike more than 450 meters of elevation. Nevertheless, this spot feels refreshing when you want to cool off or have a small picnic after a hectic hike. Moreover, you can also have a quick swim in the pristine water!

Halstead Meadow

The Halstead Meadow in Sequoia National Park has undergone restoration over the past several years. As a result, Halstead is one of those rare naturally occurring meadows that provides an aesthetically pleasing view

and hopefully a spotting of wildlife.

Tunnel Rock

This flat granite boulder is one of the first roadside stops in the park. Located along the General’s Highway in the Foothills of the national park, the giant rock always did not look this way, as a tunnel was dug under it in the 1930s for traffic. Today, the giant boulder is a favorite spot for photo ops, and people mainly come here for a quick stroll under it.