Sequoia National Park for Beginners: A Complete Guide
There really aren’t enough words to describe our love for Sequoia National Park.
Whenever someone asks us, “which national park should I visit?“
Our answer is always Sequoia.
Maybe it’s the unbelievably giant trees – bigger and wider than you can even imagine.
Or maybe it’s getting to stand next to the largest tree on earth.
Or maybe it’s because just a few miles away is the second-largest tree on earth.
Sequoia is simply incredible. And we want to tell you all about it.
Welcome to our beginner-friendly guide to Sequoia National Park!
Notes from the Newbies
Katie
Sequoia is the only park we have visited multiple times. There is something about those giant Sequoia trees that continually draw us back. It was the second national park ever created, and we think it might just be the best place on earth!
Gus
We think Sequoia is one of the most underrated US National Parks. I’ve seen lists where it barely cracks the top 30! This hidden(ish) gem is the perfect park for beginners like us to visit!
Sequoia National Park Basics
| Date Established | 1890 (the 2nd park ever established) |
| Annual Visitors | 1,153,198 |
| Rank in Popularity (by visitors) | 24th |
| Our favorite Hike | General Sherman Tree Hike |
| #1 Reason to Visit | To see the largest tree in the world! |
| Highest Visited Month | July (186,932 visitors) |
| Lowest Visited Month | Jan. (26,006 visitors) |
| Best time to Visit | Year-Round |
| Ideal # of Days to Spend | 1-2 |
| Closest Major City | Fresno, CA (77 miles) |
No other park has left us as speechless as Sequoia.
Getting a chance to stand next to the largest tree in the world – General Sherman – and be surrounded by giant trees is an experience we will never forget.
It is 100% our favorite park.
I want you to zoom in on the picture below. Notice the specs at the base of the tree. Those are people – teeny, tiny people.
Sequoia National Park Map
The primary highway that slopes through the park is called the Generals Highway. This will take you through the most popular areas of the park including the Giant Forest, General Sherman Tree, and up through the Kings Canyon Visitor Center.
In the northern part of the map you’ll also see the Sequoia National Forest and the Giant Sequoia National Monument. These are part of the USDA forest service
4 Tips Before You Visit Sequoia National Park
Given that this is the only park we have visited multiple times, I’d say we know a thing or two about Sequoia. Here are our best tips!
Tip #1: Hike General Sherman Early
The most popular trail in the park is the General Sherman Tree Trail (we’ll talk more about it in-depth below). It’s popular because you get to see the largest tree in the world by volume.
But if you’d like to get the most out of this hike, it’s best to get there early.
We have hiked this trail both in the early morning and mid-afternoon, and I’ll let you take a guess at which one we liked the most (morning!).
The biggest reason to get there early is to not feel rushed for your photo opportunity in front of the tree. On our mid-afternoon hike, we waited at least 15 minutes to take the photo.
And even though it’s cheesy to wait in line for photos at a national park, we think it’s a must!
So get there early and enjoy Sequoia a bit more serenely!
Tip #2: Utilize the Sequoia Shuttle
The Sequoia Shuttle makes visiting the park a bit easier and more accessible.
The shuttle runs from the Giant Forest Museum all the way up to the Wuksachi Lodge.
But the best part is that it allows hikers of all levels and abilities to see General Sherman. The shuttle drives up/down from the bottom of the trail to the parking lot.
During one of our trips, a family member had accessibility needs and it was fantastic to still be able to see the best hike in the park!
Always check the NPS website for the most up-to-date information about shuttle operations!
Tip #3: Visit Kings Canyon, too!
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park are typically grouped together, but it was definitely a surprise on our first trip there.
Kings Canyon is located north of Sequoia along the Generals Highway. From the Giant Forest Museum in Sequoia to the Kings Canyon Visitor Center is about an hour’s drive.
The highlight of Kings Canyon is the second-largest tree in the world, the General Grant tree.
It stands at a whopping 268 feet and is 1,300 years old!
Sequoia and Kings Canyon are two peas in a pod. Make sure you drive up to Kings Canyon to experience how magnificent it is for yourself!
Tip #4: Take a Motion Sickness Pill
We’ll admit this is a weird tip.
But on both of our trips, one of us has gotten car sick from the drive up/down to the parks.
The roads twist and turn on the way up. There are several switchbacks along the road that make car sickness likely.
I guess I don’t even know if motion sickness pills truly help with car sickness, but my ultimate point is: if you are prone to car sickness, drive or sit in the front seat!
Most Popular Hike at Sequoia: General Sherman Tree
We could talk your heads off about the General Sherman Tree Trail. Here are just a few reasons we love this hike:
- You’ll see one of the largest living organisms on earth
- You get to stand just a few feet from it
- You can meander around and get a chance to touch sequoia trees
- It’s so accessible (when the shuttle is in operation) that you almost have no excuse but to see it!
- It’s our favorite hike in any national park we’ve been to
Last but not least, it’s severely underrated – and that’s just how we like it!
Don’t even read the rest of this article. Just go hike the General Sherman Tree Trail!
General Sherman Tree Trail Basics
- Location: Center of Sequoia National Park
- Best Time to Hike: Early
- Length: 1.2 miles round trip
- Average Time to Complete: 1 hour
- Level: Moderate
- Elevation Change: 200 feet
- Why it’s Popular: Getting to see the largest tree in the world!
Our Experience Hiking to General Sherman Tree
We wrote extensively about hiking General Sherman Tree, but here are more highlights.
First: The hike itself is moderately challenging – especially on the way up
- Lots of trail guides will call it easy, but in our opinion it’s not that easy.
- If you do the round-trip route up/down from the tree, the way up will feel significantly more challenging.
- The elevation and incline make it challenging. Make sure to bring extra water and snacks.
Second: The tree is enormous
- It is really hard to explain how giant this tree is. It left us absolutely stunned.
- It’s one thing to see something like a giant mountain. We can comprehend it from a distance. But it’s another thing to stand right next to something so giant that you can’t even see the top.
- The only comparison would be standing right at the base of a skyscraper, except the tree was created naturally.
Third: There are giant sequoias all around
- One of the most interesting facts of sequoia trees is that they grow in groves.
- While driving through the park, you will suddenly see dozens and dozens of them – almost out of nowehere.
- Down at General Sherman, there are groves of sequoia trees all around and you can actually walk right up to them.
- Once you are done seeing the General Sherman Tree, make sure you check out the surrounding Giant Forest.
One Day in Sequoia National Park Itinerary
We think 1-2 days is the ideal amount of time to spend at Sequoia. But if you only had one day, here’s a simple breakdown of how we’d spend it!
- Morning: Drive into the park and hike the General Sherman Tree Trail
- Mid-day: Drive the Generals Highway to Kings Canyon and see General Grant
- Late afternoon: Drive back down to Sequoia and hike Moro Rock
You can read our full definitive Sequoia National Park itinerary here.
If you do nothing else, see the General Sherman (Sequoia) and General Grant (Kings Canyon) trees.
Three Other Things to Do in Sequoia
Moro Rock:
The hike up to Moro Rock will give you stunning panoramic views of the surrounding Sierra Nevada wilderness.
This hike is daunting! You get to climb up a set up stairs that have been carved into the side of the granite dome. It’s… nerve-wracking to say the least.
But once you get to the top, you will get a stunning view of the Great Western Divide – a line of 12,000 foot peaks that divide the Kaweah River from the Kern River.
It’s the best place in the park to enjoy the sunset.
Giant Forest:
The Giant Forest is the centerpiece of the park.
From here you have access to General Sherman and the paved Congress Trail.
The giant forest is home to some of the best collections of big trees inside of Sequoia National Park!
Sequoia & Kings Canyon Scenic Byway (Generals Highway):
This scenic byway connects Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, offering stunning views of the Sierra Nevada mountains and access to various attractions along the way.
The drive provides opportunities to spot wildlife, explore hiking trails, and marvel at the majestic sequoia groves dotting the landscape.
Sequoia Tree Facts for Beginners
Sequoia Tree Age
The oldest known sequoia is estimated to be between 3,200–3,266 years old. Sequoias can live for over 3,000 years, making them some of the oldest living organisms on Earth.
Sequoia Tree Height
Sequoia trees can reach incredible heights, with the tallest known specimen measuring over 300 feet (91 meters) tall.
Natural Habitat
Sequoia trees are native to the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
How many sequoia trees are left?
While the exact number is difficult to determine, it is estimated that there are roughly 70,000 to 100,000 individual sequoia trees remaining in the wild. Some numbers indicated there are less than 80,000 total remaining sequoia trees. They are considered endangered.
This is an important reminder of the importance of the conservation efforts put forth by national parks and our impact on the world.
Directions to Sequoia National Park
The park is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in central California. The two closest major cities near sequoia are Los Angeles and Fresno. San Francisco is doable, but would be a trek to get to sequoia. The best (and pretty much only) way to get around Sequoia national park is by car. Here are the best routes and driving directions to Sequoia National Park.
Fresno to Sequoia National Park
- Sequoia is located 75 miles southeast of Fresno.
- You can expect to drive between 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the park.
- Driving directions directly from Google Maps here. The tolls indicated are to get into the actual park.
Los Angeles to Sequoia National Park
- Read one of our more popular posts: Weekend Trip from Los Angeles to Sequoia and Kings Canyon.
- Sequoia is located 200 miles north of Los Angeles.
- You can expect to drive 3 to 4.5 hours to reach the park.
- Driving directions directly from Google Maps here (taking the 5 North)
San Francisco to Sequoia National Park
- Sequoia is located 270 miles southeast of San Francisco.
- You can expect to drive 4.5 to 5 hours to reach the park.
- Driving directions directly from Google Maps here (taking the 5 South)
Closest Airports to Sequoia National Park
The three closest major airports to Sequoia are:
- Fresno Yosemite International Airport (80 miles)
- Los Angeles International Airport, LAX (200 miles)
- San Francisco International, SFO (270 miles)
Best time to visit the park
Our opinion is that Fall is the best time to visit Sequoia National Park.
The weather is cooler. The crowds are thinner. And it’s not quite yet the frigid winter temperatures. We wrote about this (and more) here: The perfect time to visit Sequoia National Park.
Sequoia National Park FAQs
What are the park’s opening hours?
Sequoia national park is open year-round: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Winter storms, fires, or other natural events will occasionally close the park to visitors. Be sure to check the national park service website to be sure the park is still open.
Are pets (dogs) allowed in the park?
Pets are not allowed on national park trails. But pets are generally allowed inside of the national parks.
Are there any fees to enter the park? What are the entrance fees for sequoia national park?
Yes, there are entrance fees to Sequoia National Park.
- $35 for private vehicles
- $20 per person (on foot)
- $30 for motorcycles
You can purchase an Annual National Parks Pass (also known as the America the Beautiful Pass) for $80, which gives you access to all the National Parks for a year. This is the most bang for your buck.
Can you see sequoia trees outside of the park?
The largest concentration of sequoia trees will be found inside the park. You will see them along the main highway and on several hikes.
Do I need a reservation to camp in the park?
YES! If you’d like to stay in the park, it’s best to reserve a campsite.
You can find information and availability for all the campsites inside of the park here: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park Campsites.
Is Sequoia National Park a difficult drive?
Kind of. Because the park sits within a mountain range, it requires several switchbacks leading up to the main attractions of the park.
On both occasions that we have visited, a passenger has gotten a little bit carsick (sadly). Unless noted by the rangers, park roads are generally safe to drive.
Be mindful of your brakes when coming down the mountain, as you will be activating them for the majority of the way down.
Where do you go first in Sequoia National Park?
General Sherman Tree. It’s the most popular area of the park. The earlier you get there, the better!
How many days do you need at Sequoia National Park?
You can do the majority of the main attractions in one weekend. But if you are feeling ambitious, you can get them all done in one day!
Start Planning your trip to Sequoia National Park
We first visited Sequoia for the first time together in 2018. This park guide is still framed and sitting in our bedroom.
Until you see Sequoia Trees for yourself, it’s impossible to explain how magnificent they are.
This is the place that made us fall in love with national parks. It’s probably the number 1 reason we have this obsession with seeing them all.
Sequoia gave us a magical experience and feeling. And we’ve been chasing that feeling ever since.
We hope this Sequoia National Park travel guide has proven to be helpful whether you are planning a few hours or several days in the park. These are our best travel tips for beginners!
Now it’s your turn. When are you going to Sequoia national park? Email us at [email protected] to let us know (or just say hi!)
