There’s absolutely no way to prepare someone for how big the Giant Sequoias are. You can try your hardest to excite them, but until a person puts their own two eyes on a 250-foot tall, two-million-pound tree, there’s no way to conceptualize the size. And that’s the beauty of Sequoia! While pictures look great and tell a story, the real magic is visiting yourself. Because these only exist in one place, there’s a uniqueness and rarity to your trip that can’t be found anywhere else on earth. Here’s your comprehensive guide to exploring Sequoia National Park.
What to Know Before You Go
First, you don’t need more than three days in Sequoia unless you’re backpacking. The drivable part is relatively small, and you’ll soon run out of things to do and see. I’d recommend adding Kings Canyon into your trip as this will provide another day of adventures to your itinerary.
I also recommend staying inside the park to avoid driving the switchbacks each day. These are a time-suck, and traffic can get chaotic on the weekends. Plus, this allows you to get to the best location without having to wake up before sunrise.
Additionally, keep the weather in mind. The Giant Forest sits around 7,000 feet in elevation. Daytime temperatures can range from 50-80 degrees during the shoulder seasons and summer months. In the winter, Sequoia can receive heavy snow, which requires 4×4 and chains to access the central portion of the park. Unless you’re coming from another mountainous town, be prepared for fluctuating temperatures through the day and trip.
Sleeping
As I mentioned above, I highly recommend staying inside the park — whether that is camping or staying in a hotel/lodge. You will have a much better trip if you’re not driving 45-90 minutes out of the park each day.
Luckily, there are ample choices to stay near the park. There are three lodges and a handful of camping options in or near the Sequoia National Park boundaries. This means that your drive time will be around 20 minutes to the best areas. So instead of spending time commuting, you can use that to enjoy the beautiful scenery!
Hotels
- Wuksachi Lodge – This 102-person lodge is the only hotel inside the park. You’ll pay more, but the ease of access cannot be discounted.
- Stony Creek Lodge – This is a smaller lodge with only 11 rooms. It sits 20 minutes from the heart of Sequoia. If you plan on visiting Kings Canyon National Park, it’s a good middle area.
- Montecito Sequoia Lodge – This all-inclusive experience will take you off the grid and connect you with nature. It sits closer to Kings Canyon than Sequoia, and have room options for couples, families, and larger groups.
Car Camping
- Lodgepole Campground – This is the best place to camp, in my opinion. You’re only minutes from the Giant Forest and Visitor Center. Even though it has 191 sites, it’ll fill up quickly.
- Dorst Creek Campground – This is the next best camping option. With 203 sites, it’s the largest in the park. Dorst is about 15 minutes from Lodgepole.
- Upper Stony Creek and Sony Creek Campground – This campground sits in the National Forest. The Stony Creek spots are lovely and quiet. They have 61 sites combined. These get less fanfare because they aren’t in the National Park, and some people pass them over.
- Potwisha Campground – There are 36 sites near the entrance of the park. Keep an eye out for the weather. It can get hot down here.
- Buckeye Flat – This has 27 campsites. At the base of the switchbacks up into the park, you’re 35 minutes from the Giant Forest.
If you need to refresh your car camping skills, check out What to Know When Car Camping.
Hiking
The day hikes inside Sequoia National Park are pretty mild compared to other National Parks. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t come prepared. Having quality hiking shoes or boots, and layers for early mornings or late nights, are a must.
I also recommend having a quality backpack that is able to carry enough water for you and your group. Most of the hikes throughout the park don’t have access to natural running water which means you have to bring enough for your hike.
Easy Hikes
- Crescent Meadows Loop – 2 miles round-trip, mostly flat
- Big Trees Trail – 1.3 miles round-trip, mostly flat
- Crystal Cave Trail – 1 mile round-trip, mostly flat *ticket required for admission*
Medium Hikes
- Morro Rock – 1 mile round-trip, 200 feet elevation gain with mostly steps
- Congress Trail (including General Sherman) – 3 miles round-trip, 500 feet of elevation gain
- Tokopah Valley Trail – 4 miles round-trip, 600 feet of elevation gain
Hard Hikes
- Pear Lake – 13 miles round-trip, 3,000 feet of elevation gain
- Twin Lakes Trail – 13 miles round-trip, 3,200 feet of elevation gain
- Monarch Lakes Trail – 8.5 miles round-trip, 2,600 feet of elevation gain
- Franklin Lakes Trail – 13.5 miles round-trip, 3,000 feet of elevation gain
- Sawtooth Pass Trail – 12 miles round-trip, 4,700 feet of elevation gain
Backpacking
When it comes to backpacking, Sequoia may be the best playground in the nation. With incredible trails, peaks, and lakes to frolic amongst in the Sierra Nevada’s, new and experienced backpackers will find joy throughout their trip.
Sequoia’s best attribute is long and hard multi-day trips into the stunning backcountry. With many routes pushing 23+ miles and 4,000 feet of elevation gain, you best be prepared for the trek in and out.
Before you go, please know that it’s mandatory to carry a bear cannister while in the Sierra Nevada mountains. You can find multiple sizes here.
As you can imagine, there is a permit system with an area this beautiful. This requires you to plan months ahead or be willing to take whatever trail has open slots that week. For any route, permits are available six months prior. More information can be found here.
With trails connecting at different points, anyone can plan an epic backpacking trip. Below are a few treks that will blow your mind.
- High Sierra Trail to Hamilton Lake – 35 miles round-trip, 2-3 days in total
- Little Five Lakes and Big Five Lakes Loop – 30 miles round-trip, 3-4 days in total
- Mineral King, to Hamilton Lake, through Big Five Lakes, over Sawtooth Pass – 45 miles, 3-4 days in total
Best Time to Visit
The beauty of Sequoia is that it’s stunning year-round. In winter, seeing the Giant Sequoias covered in snow is surreal. Plus, for those looking to visit a National Park without the crowds, you’ll find this timeframe to be nearly empty Keep in mind, 4×4 plus chains or snow tires are required when visiting in the winter months.
Now, in the shoulder seasons, temperatures may still be a bit chilly in the mornings and night, but the daytime temperature will be perfect. In the spring, keep your eyes out for wildlife emerging from their winter slumbers with newborns. Additionally, spring will see rivers running high and fast.
In the fall, while it isn’t a must-see for fall colors, the fog becomes more prevalent, creating moody photography scenes among the Giant Sequoias. If you like photographing animals, this could be a special time to visit.
Lastly, summertime is where dreams come true. With elevations over 6,000 feet, the weather is perfect and the long days will give you ample time to explore the park. As you can imagine, this is when most people visit so be prepared for longer lines and crowds. To combat this, visit on the weekdays or plan to be in the park before 7:30am.
Photography Tips
- When hiking in the Giant Forest, you’ll want as wide an angle as possible to capture the huge trees. A 16-35mm or wider lens will be perfect. If you’re going for something lightweight, a GoPro Hero10 would also work great.
- Aim for the Congress Trail. It’ll be your best bet to capture stunning photos without the massive crowds. In addition, the trees near the Senate and Congress sections let you surround your subject in Sequoias, making it seem otherworldly.
- Try to get a person into the photo to show a scale of how enormous the trees are.
- If the forecast calls for low clouds, this could be an excellent opportunity for moody shots among the Sequoias.
Wildlife
Wildlife is aplenty in Sequoia National Park and the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. However, this doesn’t guarantee you’ll see any of them on your trip. The most likely animals you’ll see are are black bears and deer. So, whether you’re camping or just in for a day trip, make sure to be bear safe and dispose of trash and store your food correctly. Other wildlife includes wolverines, coyotes, sheep, beavers, and mountain lions. On multiple trips into the park, I have only seen black bears.
Check out How to Protect From Bears While Camping for more information.
Article and Photos by Alec Sills-Trausch
Alec is a photographer, writer, and avid hiker who enjoys pushing the limits to find incredible destinations. He hopes through his work to inspire others to get outside and to respect planet earth so future generations can enjoy it just the same. He’s also a cancer survivor. And, he hopes to use his voice to show that you can have a wonderful life after the treatment.
