Sequoia National Park: The Best Hikes, Where to Stay, & Things to Do

When spending a weekend in Sequoia National Park, there are some incredible hikes, vista points, and sights to see. It’s a national park in California that often gets overlooked for other parks, but let me tell you, after my long weekend there, I wish I had gone sooner.

Sequoia National Park is set in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains and spans 631 square miles. Often referred to as Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, as it neighbors Kings Canyon National Park, it’s one of the best parks to visit in the United States for several reasons.

First and foremost — big trees. It’s home to giant sequoia trees that grow nowhere else in the world. Quite literally, the largest living thing on our planet, the trees here reach heights of over 250 feet. The most visited one is the General Sherman Tree, which is the largest tree by volume in the world.

Sequoia National Park is also home to vast landscapes and incredible elevation ranges reaching up to 14,000 feet. So if you love to hike deep canyons and rugged mountains, then there is plenty to do here. But the best part is that most of the famous trails that visit the sequoias are quite doable, with little elevation change.

You’ll find wildlife from bears to marmots, meadows, and a lot of snow in the winter months, so the season you visit does matter. As you begin to plan your weekend adventure, I’m giving all of my tips from my time visiting Sequoia National Park.

My style of outdoor travel? I like to do trails that have rewarding views, don’t take the whole day, and visit the main sights. I love leaving time for afternoons to relax, hang by the campfire, and be by the river. So this weekend guide is exactly that!

Short on Time? Here’s are My Top Picks for Where to Stay Near Sequoia National Park:

1. AutoCamp Sequoia, for the best overall stay

For more California national park guides, don’t miss my guides to Joshua Tree, Yosemite, and Lassen!

Visiting Sequoia National Park

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Important Things to Know Before Planning Your Sequoia National Park Trip

The Best Time of Year to Visit Sequoia National Park

The time of year is one of the most important parts of visiting Sequoia National Park. The winter months bring heavy snow into the park, often leading to road closures that could impact your trip. And while the roads will get cleared, it’s worth considering. My recommendation is to visit after the main snow melt, sometime in late May through late September.

This season will give you the best chances of doing all of the trails. It may be hot in the afternoons, but the high elevation for the majority of the park will cool off a lot at night and in the morning.

Where is Sequoia National Park, and How to Get There?

Sequoia National Park is located in Central California, west of Death Valley National Park in the Sierra’s You can only access the park with a car from the west side, from either Fresno or Visalia. Using Highway 198 to enter Sequoia National Park and then Highway 180 to Kings Canyon, you’ll take the same roads back out.

Hiking Checklist — Don’t Forget These!

• Insect Repellent, the mosquitoes can be intense
• SPF Lotion and layers, sun exposure is strong here
• A Reusable Water Bottle, there are fill stations at a few trailheads like Big Tree, but do keep extra water in the car!
• Hiking Boots, I just upgraded mine to these <$100 Merrells
• Layers for morning to night

Other Helpful Tips for Sequoia National Park

• Bears and wildlife — Be bear aware when hiking here, black bears are often sighted on trails. Know that it is illegal to carry bear spray in Sequoia National Park.
• Leave no trace — pack it in and pack it out!
• Get a National Park Pass online before arriving!
• I recommend spending 3 nights to see Sequoia National Park.
  

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Where to Stay for Sequoia National Park: The Best Lodging

AutoCamp Sequoia, Three Rivers

For our trip, we stayed at AutoCamp’s newest location in Three Rivers, the gateway to Sequoia National Park. Having stayed at AutoCamp before in Joshua Tree, we were excited to check out this location, only 15 minutes to the national park entrance and about 45 minutes to the main Giant Forest.

This trip, we tried out a stand-alone cabin which was set with a private kitchen, bathroom, and outdoor fire pit. Being right on the Kaweah River was lovely, and there was a small beach area there too for kids to play in (the river is not suitable for swimming).

On the property, there’s a pool and clubhouse with a kitchen and gift shop. You have everything you need for a glamping experience as well. It’s the kind of place that sets up well for a “camp experience” but without needing to set up your tent and bring all the gear. There are also airstreams and glamping tents here, too!

Other Options

• John Muir Lodge, for a lodge in Kings Canyon National Park
• Wuksachi Lodge, for a lodge in Sequoia National Park

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The Best Easy Hikes in Sequoia National Park

General Sherman Tree Trail

Distance: 1.0 miles loop

The General Sherman Tree Trail is arguably the most popular trail in Sequoia National Park. There are two parking lots — a handicap lot and the main parking lot, which is where the shuttle drops off. The parking lot gets very full, so plan to arrive early if you want to self-park, or you may wait for some time.

This full trail is paved the entire way, with a handful of other trees to see along the way. You’ll also find water station fill-ups and bathrooms at the top. Please note that from the main parking lot to the tree, there is a 200-foot elevation drop, which is quite steep. The return can feel challenging due to the thin air at high elevation (7,000 ft).

My recommendation is to visit the General Sherman Tree first thing when you arrive on a full day in the park, and then consider adding on the Congress Trail, which continues past it (more information below). It is so impressive to see the largest tree in the world by volume!

Congress Trail

Distance: 2.9 miles combined with the General Sherman Tree Trail loop

My favorite trail of the entire time was the Congress Trail, which extends after the General Sherman Trail. We did it counter-clockwise early in the morning after seeing the General Sherman Tree. Along the paved loop, you pass by several of the famous big trees. You’ll park at the same Sherman Tree Trailhead.

Go right after seeing the General Sherman Tree and continue on the loop trail on the Congress Trail. You’ll pass by the McKinley Tree, named after William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, before making it to the junction. At that point, go left toward the House Grove.

The House Grove is so beautiful, the light poured in early in the morning, just watch for mosquitoes. From there, continue on to the Senate Grove, keep your eyes out for marmots here!

All before passing by the President Tree, the second largest tree on earth, and then continuing on the loop back to the parking lot. It’s paved the entire way, and is easy for all ages.

Big Trees Trail

Distance: 1.4 miles loop (From Giant Forest Museum)

Another personal favorite trail was the easygoing Big Trees Trail. It’s rarely busy, so keep it for the afternoon after lunch. The paved circular loop goes around several sequoias and is in the Giant Forest, with the trailhead starting at the Giant Forest Museum.

You’ll find several larger trees, such as the Sentinel, and several signs posted along the way provide great information on the history here. The trail is nearly completely flat and popular, but easy to access. From here, you can also connect to the Hazelwood Nature Trail (more information below).

Crescent Meadow Loop

Distance: 1.4 miles loop

If you do one early morning hike in addition to the Congress Trail, let it be the Crescent Meadow Loop. It’s after the famous Tunnel Log, and it’s this quiet meadow that feels much more rural than the rest of the park.

Crescent Meadow is also one of the best spots to spot a bear, so keep your eyes open in the meadow when walking here. The loop trail circles the meadow and has a few spots that are dirt, but most of it is paved.

This trail is popular, so I recommend arriving early to guarantee a parking spot, or considering a late afternoon hike. There are public bathrooms and a picnic area at the trailhead, so it makes for a good base camp to do a few loop hikes without having to re-park. The trail follows the High Sierra Trailhead, so you can also consider adding on longer loops to this in addition.

Moro Rock Trail

Distance: 0.3 – 2.1 miles out to the view (depending on where you pick up the trail)

Moro Rock is a prominent granite dome located in Sequoia National Park, California, standing at an elevation of 6,725 feet (2,050 meters). Accessible via a 350-step stairway, the trail offers hikers a challenging yet rewarding ascent with panoramic views of the Great Western Divide and the San Joaquin Valley.

The Moro Rock Trailhead is situated along Moro Rock / Crescent Meadow Road, approximately 1 mile from the Giant Forest Museum. In the summer, free shuttles operate between the museum and the trailhead; however, the road may be closed to private vehicles on weekends due to high traffic. The parking here is very small, so it’s something you’ll want to do first thing.

Hazelwood Nature Trail

Distance: 0.7 miles loop

The Hazelwoood Nature Trail is a short and easy trail to do that has parking spots on the side of the road, or pick it up from the Giant Forest Museum. It’s super kid-friendly and has informative signs along the way. We did this after lunch one day to burn off some energy before making the drive back to the hotel.

Wuksachi Trail Head

Distance: 6 miles out and back

One of the trails I didn’t get to but had saved was the Wuksachi Trail from the Wuksachi Lodge. It goes through pine trees, is more remote, and takes a touch more time to do. Worth considering if you want a longer day hike.

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Sequoia National Park Things to Do

Giant Forest Museum

The Giant Forest Museum serves as a gateway to understanding the majestic giant sequoias and the surrounding ecosystem here. Housed in a historic 1928 building designed by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood, the museum was originally the market for Sequoia National Park. Today, it features a museum, a visitor center, and a small gift shop.

Renovated and reopened in 2001, it now offers visitors a chance to delve into the natural and human history of the area. Exhibits provide insights into the life stages of giant sequoias, the fire cycle that aids in their reproduction, and the differences between sequoias and coastal redwoods.

Sequoia National Park’s Tunnel Log

This fallen giant sequoia, originally standing 275 feet tall and 21 feet in diameter, toppled across the road in late 1937 due to natural causes. In 1938, park workers carved a 17-foot-wide, 8-foot-high tunnel through the trunk, allowing vehicles to pass through—a unique attraction that continues to draw visitors today. The tree’s age at the time of its fall is estimated to have exceeded 2,000 years.

Crystal Cave (Sequoia National Park, Tickets Required)

Crystal Cave is a captivating marble karst cave renowned for its intricate mineral formations, including delicate stalactites and the impressive Marble Room. As the only cave in the park open to the public, it offers a unique underground adventure. The cave is accessible exclusively through guided tours provided by the Sequoia Parks Conservancy. These 50-minute tours are available from June 1 through August 31, 2025, with tickets going on sale starting March 31 at 10 a.m.

Tickets for Crystal Cave tours are available exclusively through the Sequoia Parks Conservancy website. The cost is $21.20 for adults and $11 for children under 10. It’s important to plan, as tickets often sell out well in advance. Pre-book your tickets here.

Pinewood Picnic Area

We stopped both days to have our lunch at the designated picnic area called Pinewood. Well maintained by the National Park Service, there are about a dozen picnic tables (each with its own parking spot), a public bathroom, and a water bottle refill station. Be bear aware with your food here!

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