Sequoia National Park is home to the largest trees on Earth. Standing beneath them will fundamentally change your sense of scale. We’ve explored this park across every season, from snow-buried winter treks along the Congress Trail to summer scrambles up Moro Rock.
Sequoia National Park at a Glance
The park is more than just big trees. It encompasses a vertical relief of nearly 13,000 feet, contains the highest point in the contiguous United States (Mount Whitney at 14,505 feet), and offers everything from hidden cave tours to panoramic Sierra views that stretch for miles.
Here are the best things to do in Sequoia National Park, based on our many trips filming and hiking in the park.
Sequoia National Park has five distinct regions. Despite appearing close on the map, drive times between regions can be significant because there is no road across the top of the mountain. The $35 entrance fee covers both Sequoia and Kings Canyon and is good for 7 days.
- Roads in Sequoia close frequently due to weather, especially in winter. Check the park website before you go.
- Fill up on gas before entering the park. The nearest pump is a long way off once you’re in the thick of things. Three Rivers (south entrance) has the closest stations.
- Wear eco-friendly sunscreen. High elevation means you can burn fast, even on cloudy days.
- Cell service is spotty throughout the park. Download offline maps before you arrive.
- Best time to visit: August through October for mild temperatures and thinner crowds. We personally prefer winter when the park is pure magic.
- Crystal Cave tours require advance tickets purchased at the visitor center. Do not show up at the cave without one.
Arrive before 8 AM at the Ash Mountain Entrance. After that, the line backs up and the winding Generals Highway crawl to Giant Forest can eat an hour you did not plan on losing. If you are staying outside the park and sleeping in, go after 3 PM instead when day-trippers clear out.
Gas, Food, and Getting Around
Three Rivers is the main gateway town on the southern approach. Gas stations, restaurants, and a small grocery store. This is your last reliable resupply point before entering the park.
Lodgepole Village has a small market and deli inside the park. Limited but functional.
Wuksachi Lodge has the park’s only sit-down restaurant. Reservations recommended in summer.
Free shuttle: A free shuttle runs between the Giant Forest Museum parking lot and Moro Rock/Crescent Meadow during peak season. Use it. Parking at Moro Rock is extremely limited.
Cell service: Essentially nonexistent in most of the park. Brief patches near Lodgepole and the Giant Forest area. Plan accordingly.
Generals Highway between Sequoia and Kings Canyon is narrow, steep, and not built for large RVs. Vehicles over 22 feet are restricted on parts of the road. If you are renting, get something midsized.
Sequoia National Park Itineraries
General Sherman Tree and the Congress Trail first thing in the morning. Moro Rock for panoramic views. Tunnel Log for the obligatory photo. Big Trees Trail for a quiet loop through Round Meadow. That covers the park’s greatest hits in a single day.
One Day in Sequoia
Two Days in Sequoia
Day 1: Same as above. Day 2: Tokopah Falls in the morning (best in spring/early summer when snowmelt is flowing). Crystal Cave tour midday. Sunset at Beetle Rock for one of the best overlooks in the park.
Three or More Days
Days 1-2 same as above. Day 3: Muir Grove for sequoias without crowds. If you’re a strong hiker, Alta Peak is a full-day push with the best views in the park from the summit. With more time, drive over to Kings Canyon to see the General Grant Tree and the Kings River canyon.
Visiting Sequoia? The Montecito Lodge is a great spot. Also check out Wuksachi Lodge inside the park.
Pack layers even in summer. Giant Forest sits at 6,400 feet. Mornings start in the 40s and afternoons rarely crack 80. The temperature swing catches people off guard, especially anyone driving up from the 100-degree floor of the Central Valley.
Giant Forest Area
This is where the big trees live and where most folks spend their time. Everything here is accessed from the Generals Highway. You can hit all of these in a single day if you start early.
1. See the General Sherman Tree
Distance 0.8 mi RT from upper lot Time 30 min-1 hr Difficulty Easy (steep return)
The largest tree in the world by volume. No trip to Sequoia is complete without seeing it. The tree is 275 feet tall and over 36 feet in diameter at the base. Standing next to it is one of those moments where your brain genuinely struggles to process the scale.
Summer crowds are heavy and parking fills fast. Fall and winter see fewer folks and the experience is dramatically better. In winter, with snow draped across the branches, this place feels sacred.
Parking: Upper Sherman lot fills by mid-morning in summer. Use the Wolverton overflow lot and walk down.
Tip: Stay on marked trails. The sequoia root systems are shallow and fragile. Walking off-trail damages them.
2. Hike the Congress Trail
Distance 2.7 mi RT Time 1-2 hrs Difficulty Easy
This paved loop through the Giant Forest starts right at the General Sherman Tree and passes three of the five largest trees in the world. The McKinley Tree, General Lee, and the President Tree are all here. The trail is family-friendly and flat.
The Senate Group is the highlight. Six massive, deep-red sequoias growing close together, some showing centuries of fire damage but still standing tall. Their intertwined root systems are what keeps them upright. Because those roots are shallow, staying on the trail is critical.
3. Big Trees Trail
Distance 0.7 mi loop Time 30 min Difficulty Easy
A boardwalk loop around Round Meadow with some of the most photogenic sequoia views in the park. Manageable for all ages and abilities. The far end of the trail has some zig-zagging that creates beautiful compositions with the giant trees. Keep an eye out for wildflowers in the meadow during spring and summer.
4. Climb Moro Rock
Distance 0.5 mi RT Time 30 min-1 hr Difficulty Moderate (350 steep steps)
As you drive into the park, Moro Rock looms overhead. Getting to the top requires climbing 350 granite steps carved into the rock. The steps are steep and the path narrows in places, but the panoramic view from the summit is the best easily accessible overlook in the park.
Parking: Very limited at the Moro Rock lot. Use the free shuttle from Giant Forest Museum.
Open: Typically May through late September.
5. Drive Through Tunnel Log
Distance Roadside stop Time 10 min Difficulty Easy
This enormous sequoia fell in 1937 and workers from the CCC cut a hole in it big enough for a car to drive through. The opening is 8 feet high and 14 feet wide. If you’re cutting it close with your vehicle, do not attempt it. Located on Crescent Meadow Road, half a mile past Moro Rock. Typically accessible May to late September.
6. Giant Forest Museum
Distance Indoor museum Time 30 min-1 hr Difficulty Easy
Built in 1928 and a historical landmark in its own right. The museum covers the history of the sequoias, including the story of a tree that was chopped down and shipped to the 1876 World’s Fair. The stump (called the Centennial Stump) is still in the park and is so wide that people used to use it as a dance floor. Located off the Generals Highway with a large parking lot.
7. Sunset at Beetle Rock
Distance Short walk from parking Time 30 min-1 hr Difficulty Easy
This granite dome offers an expansive view across the park and is the best sunset spot in Sequoia. We actually prefer it at sunrise when you can skip the crowds entirely. Bring a headlamp for the walk back. Also works as a mid-afternoon picnic spot. Located behind the Beetle Rock Educational Center.
Deeper Into the Park
Beyond the Giant Forest, Sequoia opens up into wilder territory. These spots require more driving or more hiking but the payoff is solitude and scenery that rivals anything in the Sierras.
8. Crystal Cave Tour
Distance 0.5 mi underground tour Time 1-1.5 hrs Difficulty Easy-Moderate
One of the most unexpected things to do in Sequoia. The cave is made of marble and filled with incredible stalactites. It’s chilly inside compared to the surface, so bring a jacket. There are two tour options: a walking tour on a man-made path (great for families) and a more adventurous crawling tour through tighter spaces.
Tickets: Only available at visitor centers. Do NOT show up at the cave without a ticket.
Access: Turn-off on the Generals Highway, clearly marked “Crystal Cave Road.”
9. Tokopah Falls
Distance 4 mi RT Time 2-3 hrs Difficulty Moderate
Most of this hike is easy and flat. The last 10% near the falls gets steep and rocky. The falls are best in spring and early summer when snowmelt is flowing strong. By fall the water slows to a trickle but the hike is still beautiful. Accessed through Lodgepole Campground. Bring bug spray in spring and summer. The mosquitoes here are aggressive.
10. Muir Grove
Distance 4 mi RT Time 2-3 hrs Difficulty Moderate
If seeing giant sequoias without all the crowds is your goal, this is the hike. Muir Grove is accessed through the Dorst Campground area. Depending on the season, the campground may be closed, which adds about 2 miles to the total hike. Worth it. The grove at the end is one of the most peaceful sequoia experiences in the park.
11. Hanging Rock
Distance 0.5 mi RT Time 30 min Difficulty Easy
The less popular sibling of Moro Rock, and honestly one of our favorites. You get a fantastic view of Moro Rock’s granite dome from this vantage. Not for folks with a fear of heights. Shares a parking lot with Moro Rock so parking is limited.
12. Alta Peak
Distance 14.9 mi RT Time 8-10 hrs Difficulty Hard
This is the big one. Nearly 15 miles with over 4,000 feet of elevation gain. Many folks spread it over two days with a backcountry overnight. The trail is exposed in sections, wildflowers are beautiful when timed right, and watch for marmots in the rocks near the top. Snow can linger into summer at the summit. Bring crampons, trekking poles, and layers. Accessed from the Wolverton parking lot.
13. Marble Falls Trail
Distance 7.8 mi RT Time 4-5 hrs Difficulty Moderate
A day hike with significant elevation gain (1,499 feet) and a lot of sun exposure. Start early in the morning. Hiking boots are necessary for traction on the narrow, steep-edged sections. The falls at the end make a great lunch spot in the shade. Accessed through Potwisha Campground. Long pants recommended because of the brush along the trail.
14. Stargazing
Distance N/A Time 1-2 hrs Difficulty Easy
The high elevation and minimal light pollution make Sequoia excellent for stargazing. Looking up at the Milky Way filtered through thousand-year-old giant trees is unlike anything else. The park offers ranger-led stargazing programs. Check the park website for schedules.
15. Visit Kings Canyon National Park
Distance 30 min drive from Giant Forest Time Half day minimum Difficulty Varies
Sequoia and Kings Canyon are separate parks but co-managed. Your entrance fee covers both. Kings Canyon has some of the best Sierra views anywhere, serious backcountry hiking, and the second largest tree in the world (the General Grant). If you have time, get over there. It is worth the drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the must-see spots in Sequoia?
General Sherman Tree, Congress Trail, Moro Rock, and Crystal Cave. If you only have one day, those four will give you the best overview of the park.
How old is the General Sherman Tree?
Roughly 2,200 years old. It was a seedling around 180 B.C.
When is the best time to visit?
August through October for most folks. Mild temperatures and thinner crowds. Winter is magical if you’re prepared for snow and road closures.
Frequently Asked Questions
A 7-day vehicle pass costs $35 (covers both Sequoia and Kings Canyon). Walk-in or bicycle entry is $20 per person, and motorcycles pay $30. The $80 America the Beautiful pass is accepted.
June and September are the sweet spot. You get full access to Giant Forest, Moro Rock, and the high-country trails without the July and August gridlock. May and October work as deeper shoulder months with thinner crowds and cooler temps, though some higher-elevation roads may be snow-covered.
No timed entry or parking reservations required. Crystal Cave tour tickets must be purchased in advance through Recreation.gov and sell out regularly. Wilderness permits are required for overnight backcountry trips.
Plan for at least 1 full day to hit General Sherman, Moro Rock, Big Trees Trail, and Crescent Meadow. Ideally spend 2 to 3 days, especially if you want to include Kings Canyon (Cedar Grove, Zumwalt Meadow) and longer hikes like Tokopah Falls or Lakes Trail.
The nearest major airport is Fresno Yosemite International (FAT). Drive time is about 1 hour 45 minutes to the Ash Mountain Entrance via CA-99 South to CA-198 East through Three Rivers.
