A guide to Sequoia National Park

There’s no mistaking the main attraction of Sequoia National Park: giant Sierra redwood trees as tall as they are ancient. But even beyond the famous, towering sequoias, this park in California’s Sierra Nevada has mind-boggling dimensions.

The peaks of the Great Western Divide soar higher than 12,000ft, creating a skyscraping backdrop to the park’s 631 sq miles of woodlands, meadows and granite domes. It’s a grand setting for every level of adventure – easy strolls through sequoia groves, white water rafting or going off-grid in remote glacier-carved valleys.

Despite the proximity to A-list national park Yosemite, just about 1.2 million people come to this rugged realm of the Sierra annually (Yosemite sees about 4.1). If you’re one of them, well done on your excellent choice; you even have the option of exploring Kings Canyon National Park right next door too.

Before visiting any US national park, check on closures and special conditions with the National Park Service. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Sequoia’s huge peaks and titanic trees.

When should I go to Sequoia National Park?

The best time to go to Sequoia National Park is between June and September, especially if you plan to hike. July and August are the busiest months of the peak summer season – book lodges and campsites well in advance and seek shade in the middle of the day as temps can soar to 105°F (40°C). June or September are fine choices for mellower temperatures and quieter hiking trails.

Springtime is a roll of the dice. Stubborn snow hangs around in April and May, making higher-elevation trails impassable. Stick to lowland areas like the Foothills and the Giant Forest, which is even more enchanting with a dusting of snow. But for river rafting just outside the park, spring is paradise; crystalline snowmelt fills the Kaweah River from late March, and waterways are at their swift-running best in late May and June.

Many areas of Sequoia National Park are shuttered from October until the end of winter, which can be any time between late March and early June. Park lodges, campgrounds and shuttles don’t operate. Still, the Giant Forest Museum stays open, and it’s a great time to visit with kids – check out the Wolverton Snowplay Area, or in neighboring Kings Canyon National Park, toss snowballs around the Big Stump Grove picnic ground. Ensure that your car has winter tires or carry chains – and know how to put them on – and note that snow generally closes the Generals Hwy, which connects Sequoia and Kings Canyon, from late December through March.

How much time should I spend in Sequoia National Park?

Stay a day for a taster or a weekend to cover big forests and a couple of hikes, but ideally allow a week for some longer trails.

Some visitors come to Sequoia National Park purely for the Giant Forest; it takes only half a day to see goliaths like the General Sherman Tree (276ft), contemplate the beheaded Washington Tree (now 115ft) and walk along paths like the 2.7-mile Congress Trail. With a full day, you can hike up the 350 steps to the top of Moro Rock. Do this part first if you’re visiting in the heat of midsummer – even hardened hikers break a sweat on this exposed climb.

If you have a whole weekend, book a tour of the 100,000-year-old Crystal Cave (summer only) before heading on a hike around Crescent Meadow (1.5 miles or more as this loop is easily extendable) or to the small but lovely Marble Falls (6.2 miles return).

Got more time? Unfold a map of Sequoia National Park and you’ll see a huge realm extending east from the Generals Hwy, where far fewer tourists tread. With backcountry knowledge and a can of bear spray, you can strike out to the most remote area of the park, Mineral King (summer only). The expansive views en route to Monarch Lakes (8.4 miles return) are a fine introduction to this high-altitude realm. Bring plenty of water and mosquito spray.

Is it easy to get in and around Sequoia National Park?

Public transportation works nicely if you're flexible and visiting during peak hiking season (July to September). If you’re staying in the attractive gateway town of Visalia, 35 miles southwest, you can book a spot on the Sequoia Shuttle to visit the park car-free. Within Sequoia National Park, trailheads and major destinations are connected by free park shuttles, which typically operate between late May and the beginning of September.

The network of free shuttles doesn’t extend across the park's border into Kings Canyon, though, so self-driving is the best way to see both parks. It’s also essential to have your own wheels, ideally a 4WD, to reach the Mineral King area.

The downsides of driving are the slow crawl into the park on popular midsummer days and the scuffle for parking spots, especially on holidays. Even with a car, you might find yourself using park shuttles when your chosen parking lot’s full and you’re directed to an overflow, usually just a short park-and-ride away. Avoid the hassle by setting your alarm and arriving early, or staying overnight in the park.

Top things to do in Sequoia National Park

Hike the Tokopah Falls Trail

One of the most beautiful short hikes is the Tokopah Falls Trail (3.4 miles return). It’s a showcase of Sequoia National Park’s best features – towering walls of granite, forests filled with birdsong, the foaming waters of the Marble Fork Kaweah River. Begin at Lodgepole Campground and follow the Marble Fork until the trail climbs uphill, crisscrossing creeks and snaking up to 1200ft-tall Tokopah Falls. It’s spectacular in spring when the force of the waterfall hurls clouds of mist into the air.

Go stargazing

For the best possible experience (and to enjoy the peace after the day-trippers leave), stay overnight in Sequoia National Park and stargaze amid the stillness of the forest. On stargazing tours that depart from Wuksachi Lodge, expert guides point out the stars while you look into the twinkly darkness, your imagination running riot.

Drive through Tunnel Log

How about driving through a gigantic log? Tunnel Log, a fallen sequoia more than 2000 years old, lies flat across Crescent Meadow Rd in the Giant Forest. A tunnel was carved through it in 1938, and regular-sized cars can still pass underneath. It’s 17ft wide and 8ft high, so know your vehicle’s measurements and steer with care.

My favorite thing to do in Sequoia National Park

What I love most about Sequoia National Park are the places that bend my sense of time and space. Hanging Rock, a short walk that branches off Crescent Meadow Rd (near the bottom of the Moro Rock Trail), is one of my favorite lookouts – the panorama across the Kaweah River Valley is almost too vast for my mind to process.

How much money do I need for Sequoia National Park?

The cost of visiting Sequoia is on par with other national parks in the US. For dining and sleeping within the park, you’re very much paying for the location, but there are simple ways to trim the costs, like camping or staying in towns outside the park, such as Three Rivers or Visalia. A bonus for day-trippers is grabbing breakfast from Sequoia Coffee Co on the way into the park or pausing for a bite to eat and something cold and hoppy at Three Rivers Brewing on the way out.

The park is cashless, so anything you buy will be via credit card or smartphone.

• Park entrance fee: 20–35 US dollars (US$)

• Breakfast burrito in Three Rivers: US$6

• Sandwich: US$10

• Night at a standard campsite in the park: US$32

• Night in a double room in a park lodge: US$300

• Dinner for two with wine at the Peaks Restaurant: US$130

• Stargazing tour: US$22

• Roundtrip shuttle bus ticket between Visalia and the park: from US$7.50

• Motel room in Three Rivers: US$180

Are Sequoia and Kings Canyon the same park?

Think of these two national parks as look-alike siblings, each with their own individual talents. Both parks have monumental peaks, tall trees and excellent hiking, but Sequoia (naturally) has the bigger sequoia groves while its neighbor boasts the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, a road trip linking waterfalls, panoramic lookouts and the glorious Zumwalt Meadow. Kings Canyon and Sequoia are jointly administered, which means the entry ticket grants access to their combined 1353 sq miles.

Which is the best entrance to Sequoia National Park?

Reach Sequoia National Park from the southwest through the Ash Mountain entrance, passing through the town of Three Rivers (Hwy 198). Alternatively, you can start in Kings Canyon National Park, which is accessed through the Big Stump entrance. Continue north along Hwy 180 for General Grant Grove, the starting point for Kings Canyon’s main attractions (including General Grant, the world’s second-largest tree), or take the Generals Hwy southeast into Sequoia National Park.

What are the best places to stay in Sequoia National Park?

Campgrounds like Potwisha and Buckeye Flat are an ideal balance between easy road access and proximity to hiking trails, or you can stump for comfort at the Wuksachi Lodge. When the national park campgrounds are full, the US Forest Service campsites expand your menu of options. Many travelers stay in Three Rivers or Visalia – both of which have good-value motels and guesthouses – and do a day trip into the park.

Are dogs allowed in Sequoia National Park?

As in other US national parks, dogs (other than service animals) are not allowed on any trails in Sequoia National Park. Dogs on leashes are permitted in parking lots and campgrounds, but pet owners are encouraged to leave furry friends at home for the benefit of local wildlife. Trails on surrounding land operated by the US Forest Service do allow canine companions provided you keep them leashed.

What’s the best time of year to visit Sequoia National Park?

For sheer accessibility, summer (June to August) is prime time. Trails are open, shuttles are operational, and campgrounds and lodges alike welcome visitors. This is also the hottest time in the park, and high-altitude hikes are best attempted early in the day. If you’re sensitive to heat, May or September are superior choices, with seasonal perks like spring flowers and fall colors.

Are there bears in Sequoia National Park?

Yes, black bears are very much at home in Sequoia National Park. Keep your distance if you see these curious foragers in the wild. Secure your food, and under no circumstances approach or attempt to feed them. Not only does it disrupt the bears’ natural habits but you’re practically training them to seek human company and food (something to contemplate as you zip your tent's flimsy canvas closed each night).

What should I pack for Sequoia National Park?

Weather in lofty terrain like Sequoia can change in a flash, so cover your bases by packing a medley of light cotton and moisture-wicking base shirts along with warming fleece layers. Make sure your hiking boots are fully broken in.