Henry L.
Yelp
We really enjoyed your trip here in April. I highly recommend staying in Visalia, where there are lots of lodgings as well as homestays (depending on the online platform) that are extremely comfortable and affordable. The park is not far from Visalia. There you will enjoy the wisdom and tranquillity of the magnificent sequoia trees... Now as for how to plan your trip:
1) Weather. Sequoia National Park's location makes it one of the most unstable places when it comes to the weather, especially in the Spring and early Summer. Be sure to check the forecasts, check the websites, and call the park to make sure weather for your trip is desirable. I spent lots of time trying to figure this out about 5 days ahead of time. So be sure to do your homework, and pack snow chains (Fall, Winter, Spring) just in case, because if you do not have all weather tires or all wheel drive, they will definitely check.
2) What to pack and preparations. If you are doing a day trip, you'll want to pack enough water, meals, and snacks. I did not have a problem with bugs, but bug spray may be a good option, just in case. You will want to bring layers of clothes, that is, a base layer, a sweater, a jacket, and a hat/beanie for head coverage (there's lots of forest coverage, but this is for those bald spots). You'll want to bring your own toilet paper as the restrooms here are not that well maintained. Last, anticipate having a harder time breathing, because when you are up there the elevation can range from 5000-8000 ft. or higher, which will impact endurance if you are not used to it.
3) Trip planning. If coming south, here is a nice sequence: Sequoia National Park Museum, Drive to General Sherman and hike around, Drive to Giant forest and hike around, Drive to Moro Rock and scale it, and Drive to Crescent Meadow and walk the loop to enjoy the "Gem of the Sierras." This will pretty much allow you to see much that Sequoia National Park has to offer, with variations of forest hiking and mountain scaling.
This is a fun national park and offers beautiful views, as well as amazing sequoias that will have you reflecting on impermanence, the passing of time, the unadulterated meditation of trees, and their existence as symbols of limitless creativity and potential (see Daoism, uncarved block).