Sequoia National Park is a UNESCO designated biosphere reserve and national park in the southern Sierra Nevada that was established in 1890 by President Benjamin Harrison. The second national park created in the United States following Yellowstone, the park was formed in an effort to save giant sequoia trees from logging. You can easily spend one day in Sequoia National Park as part of a north – south California road trip. In good weather you can add Kings Canyon National Park to your Sequoia trip.
Jump to our list of what you need to know to spend one day in Sequoia National Park
Located east of Visalia, Sequoia National Park is contiguous with Kings Canyon National Park and the two parks are managed jointly, which includes one entrance fee for both parks.
A trip to Sequoia and Kings Canyon is sure to be an unforgettable experience for visitors to the Golden State. The world’s largest trees live here and the dramatic landscape includes groves of our famous giant sequoia trees, granite domes, caverns and canyons. .
These parks are a fantastic option to work into a California vacation because you can see and do a lot in just a single day. As with Yosemite, we strongly suggest that you allow a day for travel and plan to start your park activities the following day. Be aware that there are no gas stations within the parks so plan your fuel carefully and be sure to pack some food and water.
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Getting There
By Car
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are a particularly good option for travelers who are traversing the state from Southern California. From L.A. it is I-5 N to 99 N to 65 N to CA-198 E. Follow 198 to the Ash Mountain entrance into Sequoia.
Travelers headed south from the Bay Area or Sacramento can take either I-5 S or 99 S, both of which connect directly with CA-198 E. Or you can take CA-99 to CA-180 E to the Big Stump entrance to Kings Canyon. The parks are connected in the summer by the General’s Highway, a narrow, winding, switchback-riddled road running 32 miles between CA-198 and CA-180. Always check road conditions with the NPS or Cal Trans before visiting the Sierra Nevada.
By Shuttle
The Sequoia Shuttle picks up at several hotels in nearby Visalia as well as stops in Exeter, Lemon Cove and Three Rivers. The $15 service into the park also includes free rides around the park via 4 separate sightseeing routes. This is a fantastic way to see some of the Sierra Nevada for folks using tours or public transportation to get around California or if you’d rather not tackle the windy mountain roads yourself.
By Train and Bus
If you are traveling on Amtrak, you can take the train to Bakersfield from the south or Fresno from the north and transfer onto a Thruway bus to Visalia. Some of the hotels on the shuttle pickup list are near the Visalia depot and the Sequoia Shuttle also picks up at the depot.
If you’re starting your trip with Sequoia and Kings Canyon, the closest airport to fly into is Fresno International Airport (FAT). Meadows Field Airport in Bakersfield (BFL) is a very convenient airport to fly in and out of and it’s a short drive from BFL to CA-65 which takes you to CA-198 E.
If you are driving into or through the parks please be cautious on the narrow roads and use good sense. If you need to exit your car for any reason pull out of the roadway or make use of the parking lots available throughout the park.
Things To See and Do
Visit the Sequoia Groves
According to the NPS, giant sequoias are only found on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada at an elevation of 4,000 to 8,000 feet. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are home to multiple groves of giant sequoias, and visiting these magnificent trees is the reason so many people come this way each year. The most popular and easily reachable groves of giant sequoias are Giant Forest in Sequoia and Grant Grove in adjacent Kings Canyon. Both have paved trails and are fairly accessible. Drivers with a DP placard can check with the visitors center for additional information and alternate parking.
There are many trails through the giant sequoias in both parks with options for people who want to take a short walk through the groves or for hikers who want to spend a day or two among the trees. The visitors centers in Ash Mountain, Lodgepole, Grant Grove or Cedar Grove have trail maps available.
Giant Forest is located about an hour north of the the Ash Mountain entrance to Sequoia. Follow the signs or you can ask for assistance at the visitors center. Giant Forest is home to the General Sherman Tree, the largest known single stem tree on Earth. There is a parking lot and paved trail that leads to General Sherman – however it is an easier walk down than it is up and there are stairs to navigate.
Grant Grove is named after another Civil War general and is home to the second largest tree in the world, the General Grant Tree. As with General Sherman, there is a paved path to the tree that includes the Fallen Monarch, a hollow, fallen sequoia tree that has served as a saloon, hotel and horse stables.
The NPS website has information about other Sequoia Groves to visit during your stay.
Climb a Granite Dome
Moro Rock is a dome shaped granite monolith that rises above Sequoia National Park between Giant Forest and Crescent Meadow. (Not to be confused with our other Morro Rock, a volcanic plug off the coast of central California in Morro Bay.) A staircase was cut and poured into the rock in 1931, replacing what must have been an incredibly frightening wooden staircase that was originally installed in 1910. Now visitors can climb over 350 steps to the top of the dome in relative – though still somewhat hair raising – safety. It’s definitely a climb but is easily doable for people of all ages in reasonable physical condition. Once at the top you’ll see a breathtaking panorama of mountain peaks that make up the Great Western Divide.
As with any activity in the wilderness things can go wrong without warning. Weather is changeable, rocks fall, animals are wild no matter how many trash cans they’ve eaten from. Please exercise caution and good sense when hiking among the redwoods or climbing Moro Rock and heed all signs and warnings placed by the NPS.
Explore a Cave
Crystal Cave is a marble karst cave located near the Giant Forest that is a cool and dark wonder of geological formations. Visitors are able to enter the cave as part of a guided tour that is offered from late May to late September. Ticket prices range from $5 to $16 and must be purchased in advance. There is a steep half mile walk from the cave parking lot to the entrance. The tour takes approximately 45 minutes. Driving directions to the cave can be found on the NPS website. Purchase tickets here.
Drive (or walk) Through a Log
Contrary to popular belief there isn’t a tunnel tree in Sequoia or Kings Canyon National Parks.
There is, however, a Tunnel Log on the Crescent Meadow Road in Sequoia. Walk through it, drive through it, Instagram it; it is one of those quirky sights that make our National Parks so special.
Where to Stay
Lodging is limited within the parks. The Wuksachi, John Muir and Cedar Grove Lodges, as well as the Grant Grove Cabins within the parks can be booked here – make reservations early!
Stony Creek is a small rustic lodge located just off the General’s Highway. Reservations are available for dates from May to September.
Not too far from Stony Creek is the Montecito Sequoia Lodge, a year round resort that operates as an all-inclusive family camp during the summer months and gets rave reviews from parents.
There are 14 campgrounds located throughout both parks, most are first come, first serve. Potwisha is a popular camping spot located only four miles past the Ash Mountain entrance to Sequoia. Rates are $22 per night but book early. Prepare for hot temps when camping at Potwisha in the summer. Camping reservations can be made here.
Staying outside the park can be an easy and economical option. If you are entering the park via Ash Mountain from CA-198 the nearby towns of Lemon Cove and Three Rivers have plenty of convenient lodging options. There is a Comfort Inn and Suites in Three Rivers that is about 7 miles from the park entrance. A Pizza Factory restaurant, market, post office, and bank are all within easy walking distance as well. If you plan to stay in Visalia your drive will take closer to an hour but it can be a comfortable choice for travelers who prefer staying in a city with more hotels and restaurants to choose from.
If you are planning to enter Kings Canyon via CA-180 and the Big Stump entrance your best bet for lodging outside the park is in Fresno. If you stay near the CA-180 turn off from CA-99 it will take about an hour for you to reach the park entrance.
Even if you stay outside the park, you will have plenty of time to experience the sights of Sequoia and Kings Canyon. If you leave your hotel early and drive into the park on 198, you can see General Sherman, climb Moro Rock, eat a picnic lunch, drive along the Generals Highway to Grant Grove, and still have time to take a walk through the trees before exiting the park on CA-180. From there you can easily head north and continue on your way.
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