Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Excellent national parks! Many things to do including hiking, sight seeing, short nature trails, cave tour, driving down the canyon, and more. One could spend a day in each park or multiple, depending on which activities are desired. There is no way to get around driving in either park. There is a lot of ground to cover and distance between them, but it is a beautiful drive! I would recommend staying at Gena's Place on 180 near the Kings Canyon entrance, then drive around to the south and make your way north.

Nice combo park, especially if you are into trees and plants. Some cool water features as well. If you are in Cali, worth checking out, only a few hours from either southern or northern cali

Absolutely stunning. We chose to go to general grant instead of Sherman to avoid some crowds. The trees in that grove did not disappoint. Limited rv parking in the lot but we found a place on the road before you enter the parking lot. Highly recommend.

What an incredible place so close to home! The rangers make it so easy to get around the park with shuttles to many destinations within the park. I do recommend you go early to find parking and move around in their shuttle system.

We were here for work but took some time off to see the general Sherman tree. It's an amazing ecosystem, right now it's replete with wildflowers and pollinating insects, chipmunks, mule deer, and you may even see black bear

Amazing parks! It's definitely a different vibe than any of the forests i have been in with the massive imposing trees. it's something else.

Beautiful, breathtaking, magnificent! Great vistas and easy to navigate most places.

It’s very different place. Important it’s all burnt. For trees who is good, but for people dangerous. You need to be careful. The beauty of the canyon is unusual

Having been to every corner of the West, I feel an ownership in my understanding of the most beautiful, celebrated and idolized region of the world. It is a land of legends. While I've been fortunate to visit many of these great places across the Western United States, Sequoia is a top fav since its beauty, uniqueness and grand trees are not replicated elsewhere. Be sure to stop in the visitor's center, there's plenty to learn.

Big trees!!! Though quite removed from the city you might live in. You haven't seen big trees, until you visit Sequoia National's Giant Forest. You will drive up maybe 30min from the gate to get to the first giant trees, and the. They are everywhere. The park is clean. There are many trails. If you are short on time or do want to hike from one place to another, there's a shuttle. Plenty of places to picnic We spent about 5hrs there hiking and learning about the area. The staff at the Foothills Visitor Center and the Giant Forest Museum were super nice. The temperature between the ground levels and the 6000+ feet of the giant forest was significant. We went in the summer, where it was 97-degrees at sea level and 75-degrees on the hill. One of the coolest, but scariest parts is Moro Rock. We took shuttle 2 from the museum there. It is a trail that takes you to the top of the rock face you see as you drive from the very bottom of the park. The biggest tree by volume in the world is here ..the Sherman Tree. It's a beautiful tree My 8-yeat old daughter rates this park as her number 3. I really enjoyed knowing these giant trees actually exist and walking among them was very awe inspiring. Tip: Get there early, and avoid the rush and enjoy the parking...you don't have to stop at the Foothills Visitors Center, everything you need is at the top.

Sequoia national park is just stunning. I came at the very end of March which is still technically winter so one trail I wanted to do (lakes trail) wasn't possible - they said you'd have to leave very early in the AM and use snow shoes (they told me this at 10am and said I wouldn't make it to the end @pear lake even id had snow shoes then, which I didn't). But I did do Congress trail which is about 3 miles, and it was super cute! Also saw the Sherman tree, and went to Moro rock (was cloudy/obscured at the peak that day, but still gorg along the way). The rangers @the museum were super friendly and helpful, and they have a great education center - it's perfect for anyone really, but extra great for grade-school kiddos of all ages :) Hope to come back in summer for more hiking!!

Great trails to hike and walk on with breathtaking views of nature. We hiked Tokopah Valley Trail to the Tomopah Falls. Some large rock steps on the incline so hiking shoes and possible trekking poles preferred. Gorgeous scenery. Campground spots available with reservation required. Don't forget to stop by the Visitor Center to get your book stamped.

We stayed at a campsite in Sequoia National Park and overall had a really great experience. The site was right by the river, which made for an amazing location. It was peaceful, scenic, and perfect for relaxing. You do have to walk a bit to get to your site, but it's totally manageable and worth it once you're there. The only downside was the prices at the Lodgepole Market.$ 9.99 for a parfait felt a little ridiculous. Just be prepared for overpriced food and merch. Other than that, it was a beautiful stay and I'd definitely come back.

S&KC NP's are closer to LA than Yosemite, so it's a lot easier to pull up a day trip while still getting in some good adventure; however, biggest slice you decide to take! Just got back from my first winter visit to Sequoia and it was beautiful and the hikes were fun and challenging! Traffic was well and cold and I was happy to see a lot of Park Rangers around. We still have plenty of hikes to hit in both of these parks and I will run out of lifetime before I hit them all, but I'm gonna give it a good shot! Nature. Protect it at all cost.

Visiting the giant sequoias in this national park should be on your bucket list. There really is not anything else like them - seeing trees that are hundreds of feet tall can be very awe-inspiring. There are many highly accessible, easy trails to walk, most of which are actually paved, that go into the various groves around the park. For the more serious adventurer, there are also longer and more difficult trails. If you stop at the visitor center, the park rangers there can give you maps and all the information you need about anywhere you want to go. If you have younger kids, you can also have them complete a free Junior Ranger program workbook. When they turn it in, they will get a free laser-cut wooden badge with the park location. Sometimes they are plastic. They actually have this at all national parks and the badges can be really fun to collect. Driving through the parks can also be a really fun and beautiful experience. There are so many awesome views and places to see. We like to get sandwiches or Subway, hike out somewhere and have lunch. Five stars. A must visit!

The hour long winding road through the park is WORTH IT! TIP: We entered through the Kings/Sequoia NP entrance, drove into Sequoia, and exited heading towards Springville city. We got AMAZING viewpoints and it was the nice way to end the trip while heading back home. We came during Jan. 2025, on MLK (Free Entry day) and surprisingly it was not packed! We took our time on the road to checkout the viewpoints and play in the snow during this time. CAUTION: It was very chilly and would recommend to check the weather beforehand to check road conditions. We did encounter some minimal black ice on the road where there's shade but nothing too alarming.

Review is for a very short stay at the majestic Sequoia National Park, with mostly driving and minimal hiking. It was our 4 yo son's first time in a National Park and he was dozing through the drive from Visalia so we wanted a casual, low-key visit while seeing the best sites. 1. From Visalia, its 45 mins to the Park Entrance. We got our passes ahead of time but there's no real time savings since lines were short Thanksgiving week. Instead of stopping at the Visitors Center, we drove for like another 45 min or so to the Giant Forest Museum. The drive is pleasant and not too bad despite all the turns and gradual uphill climb to 6000 feet. 2. The Giant Forest Museum has some pit toilets outside the parking lot, but you should head to the museum itself for cleaner restrooms with plumbing. They had tour guides and exhibits inside that taught how wildfires can destroy and heal sequoias. Also a cool demo game of how statistically difficult it is for a seed to mature into a fully grown sequoia. Outside the museum you'll see the tall, Sentinel tree. If you think that's big wait until you see the Sherman Tree! 3. The Sherman Tree was our final goal. I forget but its maybe another 30-45 mins from the Giant Forest Museum. Follow the signs to the large parking lot and then take a short hike down to the trail entrance which has places to sit and bathrooms. Its an easy 0.5-mile hike down to the Sherman Tree. Paved roads, some steps, and lots of wooden benches to rest if needed. The Sherman Tree was a sight to behold. Some 2300-years old give or take a few hundred years and is the largest living tree on Earth by mass/volume. Definitely the highlight of our visit.

Such a beautiful national park here in California. It's sometimes hard to believe that we can get in our cars, drive a few hours north and feel like we are in an entirely different state! The drive up through the park took about any hour but the view along the way was spectacular! *It's pretty windy and you can't go too fast that is why it takes a while. Worth the wait! These trees are HUGE. I got to hug a tree!!!! Woo hoo. Being out in nature is good for anyone's soul. There are many trails to hike here as well as guided tours. *The weather here changes throughout the day so dress in layers. *Make sure you have a hat and sunglasses

This is a national park so it will cost you to get in, during our trip it was $35 total, but they do offer an annual park pass for $70 and other senior and military discounts. Once you're in your offered a map and you can start to navigate your way to the many overlooks and hiking trails. Since we have two small children, our one main goal to see General Sherman in real life, before the kiddos got tired and fussy. If you didn't know, the General Sherman tree is famous because at one point was the tallest tree in the world. A fire unfortunately burned a lot of the tree, so the top was cut, but it's still one of the oldest trees in the world at 2,000 years-old! Depending on the time of year you visit, there will be a line to take a photo in front of General Sherman. The line does move fast and there are other attractions and hiking trails near this tree to keep you and your family members busy. A few things if you plan on coming here during the busy summer season. Pack a lunch and some drinks, it does get hot, and with all the tourist here many of the restaurants and resorts are packed. My kids had a blast running around the trails, spotting deer, and Even going inside some of these massive trees. Totally worth a trip if you were in the area!

This is a quiet place where I can hear the wind rustling the leaves. I see branches reaching into the sky. I feel the solid and sturdy trunk yet there is a bit of softness. I smell an ancient forest. I love looking at trees. In San Diego I've admired palm trees, torrey pines, cherry blossom trees, pine, fir, cedar and various fruit trees. I've never seen a sequoia tree so I was excited to visit Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park. We stayed in Fresno and the drive was about an hour. The area is lovely with lots of trees to see. We parked at Grant Grove and visited the General Grant Tree. Sequoia's are the largest trees in the world. The General Grant tree is the largest in the General Grant Grove and is estimated to be 1,650 years old. It was amazing seeing a tree so big and tall. We spent the afternoon walking around admiring the sequoia's. Loved the sights and scents from the grove.

What a magical park! Visited sequoia and kings canyon before, and I just visited the sequoia national park and it was truly magical. Some things to note: The roads are very very very curvy. From the entrance gate to the main attraction is about an hour drive depending on how fast you go. Parking can be a bit tricky, so I would plan on arriving early to avoid people! Pack plenty of snacks, food, and drinks! One trail I absolutely loved was MORO ROCK. Anyone can do it.. I saw little kids to senior citizens complete this trail. The view from the top is absolutely amazing! The pictures don't do justice. MORO ROCK is about 350 steps (0.25 mile Up and 0.25 mile down) - total 0.5 miles. The trail is very safe with railings. Another trial I enjoyed was called Sunset Rock. I asked the ranger what he recommended and he recommend Sunset Rock because it's short with very little foot traffic. The road is not paved and it is a slight incline. I would recommend wearing hiking boots. It was 0.9 mile up and 0.9 mile down. Beautiful view and you sit on the Is massive rock!! General Sherman trail is a classic. Super popular trail. Wheelchair and stroller friendly. Not much of a hike, just a super easy stroll as you gaze upon all the massive trees! Crescent Meadow was another trail I enjoyed. It wasn't too busy. Part of the trail was paved and part of the trail was dirt. Beautiful easy stroll around the meadow! Big trees trail was another beautiful trail. Super short trail (1.2 miles) super touristy. Bathrooms were readily available, but lines were always long. The bathrooms were not in the best shape in the world. Overall, I would totally come back!!! Beautiful park

Loved walking among the giants, especially on the less frequented trails. The Giant Trees museum could have used better ventilation. A beautiful and well maintained park overall!

Amazing! We had such a great trip me driving thru this amazing wonderous landscape that offered spectacular views and seeing wildlife in natural habitats.

We visited Sequoia NP in November and were lucky to have nice partly cloudy weather, not too much traffic and gorgeous fall leaves. Several areas of the Park were closed for the winter and there was some snow in the Big Trees and General Sherman Tree area which limited hiking on the longer trails; however there was beautiful hiking near the foothills area along the river. Highly recommend the short hike to Paradise Creek and Buckeye flat from the Hospital Rock area. Doing a lower elevation river hike along with driving up to General Sherman tree, Beetle Rock and the Big Trees Trail makes a good half day trip in the late Fall.

Sequoia Park was incredible! I highly recommend visiting and spending lots of time hiking, picnicking, and otherwise soaking in the sun and nature. There are buses to take you all over the park which is nice plus gift shops, restrooms, and plenty of wildlife. You should definitely visit, the trees and views are excellent!

Beautiful national park! Loved the fact that they offer shuttles within the park so you can park at one spot and go around the park without having to worry about parking. They also have shuttles from Visalia you the park. Very convenient! Very beautiful. Do the Moro Rock climb on a clear day for a beautiful view. We didn't have a clear day.

One of the most beautiful places on earth. We love to camp here. The last time we spent one week and it was worth it. Everyone wanted to stay longer. Go for as many hikes as you can. The short hike to General Sherman's tree (largest by volume in the world) is nice. Tip - park at the top and walk down. You can take the shuttle bus back up. Great when you have little ones. We've seen bears on this walk. The Giant Forest Museum is fun. You should walk on Beetle Rock across the street. Amazing views. Take a day and drive through Kings Canyon.

GOLDEN HOUR at Moro Rock in Sequoia it was so romantic my GF Patty "PattytOH" P.gave me the courage with her beautiful nature driven spirit to go there with her.I love nature and this place has all of it the trees are so amazing,the beautiful deer I felt like I was in a movie.Thank you Patty P. for all the beautiful road trips and memories we have made together.Love you since 1902 (As you always said) :) Patty & Levi

My goodness me! Have been wanting to visit for a while now. What a sight! What a place... Magnificent trees! Well kept parks and trails. There was people and vehicles, however it was not packed. The trees are so gorgeous and impressive to see in person *.* I hope I get to come back and experience this park all over again.. and soon!

Magical. Truly magical. We visited Sequoia National Park the weekend following Christmas, and the area is absolutely stunning. The hour long drive, with its winding roads and an elevation of nearly 2000 meters, is undeniably worth it. The groves throughout the park are spectacular, offering numerous photo opportunities, overlooks, and just be in the moment among the giants. To see the General Sherman tree, we parked at the General Sherman parking lot and took the shuttle down. The driver informed us that it's better to shuttle down rather than up since the wait time to drive up can be between 45 minutes to an hour! The hike back to the parking lot was manageable, except if you have bad knees like me. We plan to return in spring or summer for more hiking and sightseeing.

We went to Sequoia National Park at the beginning of August and luckily we did not encounter a lot of traffic. There was a nice drive with winding roads and beautiful views on the way to the top of the mountain, where the sequoia groves are located. Also, there were a lot of stopping points. I recommend that you check the National Park Service website before you go to check for road closures, etc. https://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm Seeing the giant sequoias was awe-inspiring, each around 250 to 300 feet tall with circumferences around 94 feet. The texture of the bark was interesting, very fibrous, and soft. I also learned that the bark is a great insulator and protects the trees from fire. Great trip, but one thing that did make me sad was the number of trees that burned due to a lightning strike in 2021.

This national park preserves the iconic Sequoia trees. The park begins in the mountain foothills and ends up above 6,000' where sequoias grow to immense heights. Four of the five largest trees in the world are in the same area of the park. There are a few visitors centers, but the largest is at the top of the park the Lodgepole one which also comes with a large museum area and souvenirs. Buying from the lodge across the street means your money won't go directly to the park so buy from visitor centers directly. There are no working showers in the park as of May 2024 due to plumbing issues, but they should be up at some point. You must pay and entry fee to enter the park. Bring bug spray if you're staying in the Potwisha campground. Hike to General Sherman early due to overcrowding. A shuttle service is provided freely around the park during summer months, but it might be tough finding parking if you arrive past 10am. King's Canyon requires a very long drive up and down mountains but will be one of the prettiest drives you'll see. The river below has waterfalls, meadows, and caves to explore apart from beautiful mountain hikes. Can't recommend the experience more!

This whole place is just breathtakingly awesome! The trees are incredible and the scenic vistas up and down the mountains were unreal. The whole park is just unreal otherworldly and ancient. The big trees grove and general sherman are just so big and amazing it's well worth the trip. There are a lot of sites to see and explore here and the nature centers and visitor centers are excellent as always. It's 35 dollars for a day pass into the park with a standard car regardless of the amount of people you bring. There are tons of places to park and explore, hike, and take in the beauty of this place and if you can make it here it is absolutely not to be missed. Such an amazing experience I can't recommend it enough.

This is such a great national park with long loopy road to drive through to get to each destination while enjoying the scenery. I went early in the morning in order to avoid traffic because it will get busy as each hour passes by. It's always best to check on the NPS website to see if there are road closures. There was a section where there were workers working on the road, but they did direct the cars so it wasn't too bad. A few minutes from the entrance by Sierra Drive is the Tunnel Rock on the left (park on the right and make a stop to take a few photos). About 45 minutes is the Giant Forest Museum on the left. If you keep going a little, you can turn right to go up a one-lane road to Moro Rock or the Tunnel Log. After I left that area and kept driving, somehow I got to the General Sherman Tree. Highly recommend this National Park to spend a day in. You can also keep going on the same road to get to the Kings Canyon National Park.

Our nation's National Parks are my favorite thing about America. Visiting Sequoia National Park in late April felt like a climate change wake up call. When I visited, about 90% of this park was closed due to snow/road damage. We did not see a single sequoia tree in Sequoia, so I would love to return. We still made the most of our trip here. We hiked the beautiful Marble Falls Trail, which had great views. The wildflowers along the path were very beautiful. What was open of the driving roads felt like we were staring in a car commercial. We had a blast at the Foothills Visitor Center. Simon, the ranger there, was probably one of the best park rangers I've ever met. He was kind in helping us reroute our California NPS plans and taught us about the park. He even offered me to join the Junior Ranger Program (which I eagerly/gladly accepted). We did the oath and everything. I loved the badge and postcards he gave me at my initiation. I can't wait to revisit when more of the park is open.

Wow truly amazing, the land of the giants in my opinion. Soo glad we finally came. My only down fall is that I am really out of shape and had to take lots of breaks. This location will definitely won't be my last.

I'd like to give it a 3.5 if that were an option. They were the only patk that asked to see id when shown the lifetime pass. We have been to several national parks .. this week, we went to Lake tahoe and Yosemite. This park is ok but compared to others meh. We found it disappointing. We had never been here and had read many reviews, but nowhere did it say anything about so much being closed. Bummer. Our first day was intended to ve kings canyon only to learn no one can go to Kings Canyon at all and several other areas. There was a detour sign to a lake we drove forever up bumpy dirt roads to find that was also closed. But there was no sign to indicate it was closed we werent the only ones to make that mistake. Road construction and delays. Over an hour of hair pin turn switch backs. Annoying and traffic. Also, a lot had been devastated by fire....oh and they are aware the fires are still going. The smoke made the view ... well no view. The smoke in areas made it just grey. The smoke and elevation made my asthma bad. Really nice huge trees. The sequoias are really nice but they look pretty similar. We did see sequoias. At the end of the last day, we glimpsed bears and a deer. Tips look at national park website before you both reading reviews and waste your time. Research everything before in the area as gps phone service and internet didnt work. Come prepared with food snacks sunscreen layers and water. I like bringing a walking stick. If u have sun roof open it for view. Go slow. Stop and enjoy every view. It was 20 degrees colder up in the mountains. Be courteous .

Home of the great sequoias. While the giant redwoods are the tallest trees in the world, the largest in terms of volume are the huge sequoia trees. Also considered among the oldest trees living, there are more than 8,000 of these nature's skyscrapers living in this forest alone. Hiking through the grove of the sequoias will leave you in awe and feeling very small. Literally, the biggest attraction here is the General Sherman Tree. Estimated to weigh over 2,000 tons and is over 36 feet in diameter at the base. It stands 275 feet tall and is the largest tree in the world. There is a paved trail half a mile long that runs down to the tree. The Congress Trail, which is a 2-mile loop, runs near the General Sherman Tree. There are plenty of campgrounds and cabins to stay at even during the busy summer months. The massive trees provide a lot of shade and keep the daytime temperatures down, making it ideal for hiking. Lodgepole Campgrounds is popular because it is a short drive to the most visited attractions throughout the park. It is alongside the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River. The Giant Forest area, where many of the largest trees are, is about two miles from the campground. Besides visiting the General Sherman Tree and the sequoia groves, other recommended activities I enjoyed include the following: climbing Moro Rock, day hiking, and exploring the meadows and mountainous landscapes (you can also do the latter along the scenic Generals Highway if you want to travel by car). I also recommend visiting Kings Canyon National Park during your visit here. It shares a border with Sequoia National Park and has many of its own remote locations and tourist destinations - such as lakes, canyons, rocky domes, waterfalls, and large groves of sequoias - only accessible by hikes. One must-see natural wonder that is accessible by car is the General Grant Tree. It is the second largest tree in the world and stands nearly 270 feet tall. It has been called the Nation's Christmas Tree. Both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are home to 7 of the 10 largest trees in the world. Far less crowded and visited than Yosemite National Park, you can often avoid the long lines of cars trying to get into the entrances of the park and there is an abundance of amenities including shuttle service and parking spaces. There are thousands of hiking trails - from easy to moderately challenging - within the borders of the parks. Moreover, they are the only national parks where you can get a grand view of the ancient, majestic sequoias.

Moro Rock : Views from the top of Moro Rock is worth the drive . You have to drive on the winding narrow roads. I recommend going from 180 rather than 198. 198 is possibly the worst winding roads where we saw over ten cars pulled to the side cuz people were showing a sign of car sickness (y'all know what I mean ). Lol. If you are vertigo like me , afraid of heights, don't worry cuz there are railings on both sides of the staircase. Like i said, the view is totally worth it. It's also an easy hike , kids can do it. Pear Lake Hike: If you are up to a strenuous hike , you can do a Pear Lake hike which is long and has quite an elevation gain. I only made it to the Emerald Lake but it was worth it. Wildlife: I saw a mama bear and two cubs near Eagles Point. One deer kept on walking in front of us on the trail to Pear Lake , saw a deer munching on grass up close on the way to Moro Rock . I'm so glad I did a Marble Falls hike before the burn , majority of the scenery is different after the fire. This place used to look like a tropical forest with mists and fog , deep green forests. After the burn , it's dry and you'll see lots of burnt trees. Hopefully this area will restore itself to the original state.

Based on all of the reviews I have read about this national park, my review is going to be less favorable and unpopular. I've been to 19 national parks. Each and every one was unique in its own way and worth visiting. Unfortunately, I didn't feel the same way about Sequoia. My personal experience did not fulfill my expectations and it left me feeling disappointed. During my visit, about 75 percent of the trees were dead and lifeless. My guess is that it's partly due to to the drought and wild fires in California. There were numerous trees that were cut down, too. It wasn't exactly a scenic or spectacular view. I also feel like I'll get hate for this, but I wasn't impressed with the General Sherman whatsoever. I understand that the entire point of the park is to see this tree; however, I felt like it was overhyped because of social media trends. To further that, the whole idea of having visitors get on and off a shuttle bus to get to the tree felt like the daily attraction at Disneyland. Luckily, we drove to the park early in the morning and avoided all the crowds, but I still felt it was overrated. Although I have had great experiences in all the national parks I've visited, I didn't think it was worth visiting Sequoia National Park. It's a huge forest and makes you feel like an insignificant little speck, but in the end, it wasn't as impressive as other forests I've visited. Driving to the end of the park, I thought to myself, "oh, this is it?" If I had to pick between Sequoia and Kings, I would definitely go with Kings. Kings was more serene and scenic and had less people. Here are some helpful tips: -If you want to avoid crowds, get to the park around 7:00 AM. -If you arrive before 7:00 AM, you don't have to pay an entrance fee. -There is no cell phone reception for most of the drive so be sure to download a map to your phone. -Bring food and water. There are some places to eat, but they are scarce. -Bring bug spray (in the heated months).

This park needs improvement. We spent one of our two days off there today. This visit would be our sixth time in the last few years but the only trip that inspired me to review. There is some beautiful sights to see, that is a fact. But damn! You pay $35 to drive in and after that it is ALL you do (drive). We were stuck in our fucking Toyota driving so long. Parking is so hard to find. It is bullshit. This parking lot is full, next parking is full over and over. Godamn, if we were gonna look at this place from the truck windows we could just watch some program on TV. The roads are very narrow, and I total understand it. What I do not understand is all the people parking the cars on the shoulder of BOTH sides of the road with the parked vehicles hanging over into the traffic lanes. Sections of the roads are only big enough for two travel lanes, now they are more narrow because of parked cars. Damn, there goes that parking trouble again. Anyhow they are so happy to take $35 from so many people that there is no place to put all the vehicles. National Park Service, get a manager up ther and straighten this mess out. If you don't there will be accidents where you allow four cars abreast (two parked and two traveling). But I know that it will continue to be run like the Gov't ran citizen funded shit show that it is. I probably do not want to go back, but this park holds a significant positive memory of a wonderful event in my life. So we will be back. Sad to think about how this place went to shit in ten years or so.

This park is beautiful, but the drive up and down the mountain is TERRIFYING for anyone really scared of heights. They have bears here, so be prepared for that and know what to do ahead of time if you encounter one. Sadly, they don't have "bark badges" for dogs here. The trails are awesome, but one thing I dislike is that trail markers (signs) are very small and easily missed. Also, I 100% recommend being prepared with survival items at all times. My partner and I got lost here, and we ended up hiking while it was pitch black outside. There are NO LIGHTS ANYWHERE AFTER DARK.

I've now been to 4 of the 9 National Parks in California and Sequoia ranks a strong #2 to me. Lots of great short and long trails to hike an explore. Some of the big attractions here is Moro Rock, General Sherman, and all the other giant sequoia trees around the park. There's even a campground near the back of the park by the Lodgepole Village so you can camp overnight in the park and explore more. They have a really good shuttle service during the weekend and holidays that gets you around you park so you can avoid trying to find parking when you want to move on to another area of the park. The Giant Forrest Museum is where you should head to first if you get to the park before 9am. You can get the same park information at the museum that would would at the visitor center, but you'll most likely find parking there, and the shuttle service starts there so you can get your day of exploring started right away.

Sequoia /Kings Canyon National Park (Sequoia, CA) June 19 2023 - We arrived at the Mountain Ash entrance from highway 198 at about 9:30 AM. They only had one kiosk open and it took about 10 minutes for them to process 6 cars. We showed them our lifetime annual pass and ID when it was our turn and proceeded into the park. Unfortunately, the Generals Highway was closed for repairs between Hospital Rock and Giant Forest Museum further into the park due to rockslides that had occurred over the unusually wet winter season. There was only about 6 miles of road leading to Hospital Rock; however, we made the best of it. We drove a short way in to the Foothills Visitor Center where there are some nice interpretive displays, an information center with maps, and a gift store. We picked up a Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks lapel pin and some other gifts. We then drove on to Tunnel Rock where we got a few photos before continuing on up the road to Hospital Rock. Why do they call it Hospital Rock? This is were Native American people would bring those who were injured to be treated. No sequoias in this section of the park. It was still a pretty drive along the Kaweah River for about 6 miles past the entrance to Hospital Rock where they have parking, interpretive displays, bathroom facilities, and a nice shaded picnic area. You can pick up the trailheads to Marble Falls and Potwisha-Hospital trail there. Coming into the park at the north entrance along Highway 180 would have granted us access to the sequoias, including the General Sherman Tree, which measures 103' around and soars 275' feet into the sky. Next time! Note: Check for road closures before you make the drive.

must see must visit. very fun spot. stunning views. scary trail to top of moro rock. beautiful huge trees.

This is the first-time visiting Sequoia Park and definitely not the last. This park has soo many GIANT TREES, it makes me feel tiny. The views from Moro Rock are breathtaking! I just loved how beautiful nature can be. Also, the drive alone is fun if you have a greater driver! Beautiful Park with amazing views, and lots of hiking trails. However, it was a really hot day! can't wait to visit during winter or fall!

One of the most beautiful national parks that I have ever been to. Went on hikes and saw a few waterfalls, huge trees and a deer. The roads are narrow but they're worth for its' breathtaking view that makes you want to shed tears of joy. I came in at around 7:30am and everything was quiet, but it started to get pretty crowded at around noon time, then saw a really long line of cars at the entrance (recommend coming into the park early). The admission ticket to enter the park is $35 and it's good for 1 week. If you're coming in with an electric car, be sure to have sufficient mileage, as there is only 1 Tesla destination charger (not supercharger), but gained about 10 miles on the way down (from general sherman tree) thanks to regenerative braking.

Sequoia National Park is a nice park to visit. I hadn't been here though I had been to other parks in California like Lake Tahoe Death Valley Yosemite..etc. A group came here in the summer. It was really hot. If you can bear the 100 degree heat(from SF) or need to come here in a cooler temp period..The sequoia trees are fascinating. The tree trunks are big and they are tall. These aren't neighborhood trees. Basically want to visit stops like Moro Rock General Sherman Tree and the visitor's center. It's a forest so you can find hiking but we only walked the trail at Sherman Tree. It's a 5 hour drive from SF and truly shows you what California has to offer.

Gotta love Mother Nature and she made you feel so tiny. Walking thru these giant trees fell so great . We even got lucky to see a bear cub crossing the street. So yeah they do have . The narrow snake like roads sure did slowing down driving. We plan to also go to the canyon but we enjoy sequoia so much that we didn't have time to go to the canyon.

Amazing National Park. Came into the park via kings canyon. This park had it all. The General Sherman tree was the highlight. Hike down was easy. The tree was HUGE! OMG! Hitting Moro rock was a definite. The climb up there can be a little scary but once to the top your eyes will be thanking you. Great hiking here!

fun snow day...nice gift shop..pretty clean bathrooms..alot to offer..I recommend this place for kids fun

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).

I gave his four stars because of being a human being and that my species is partly responsbile for the fires and destruction of these magnificent trees. I weep for their future. Highly recommend, very long twisty turny road to get there. Treat them with the reverence they deserve.

Such a pretty place but we went after they had a snow storm so the road that connects sequoia national park to kings canyon national park was close. A lot of the trails were also covered in snow and close. Otherwise, I'd probably come back in the summer time when the snows are gone.

Firstly, I would applaud that this national park is built and managed so well for the handicapped! Major attractions are handicap accessible. Secondly, the giant sequoia trees, the hiking trails, the black bears, the tunnel log, the meadows and Moro Rock are amazing. We had a fun time exploring the park for a full 3 days. Finally, the rangers and shuttle drivers are extremely knowledgeable and helpful! We will come back again to explore different parts of the park.

Totally worth the visit. Yes, the drive in feels perilous if you are not used to driving in the mountains, especially given how dumb other drivers are. However, the giant sequoias are worth seeing! Beautiful park. I would leave not too late though, while you still can see while driving in the perilous roads.

I struggle with my rating of this park because it's not the park service's fault that a massive fire burned down a lot of the surrounding forest or that we have been in a pandemic for two years so finding help to run the visitor centers is a challenge. But as I thought about it I'm rating this on my experience. The drive to get our first stop was long and windy. A little too much for me. Moro Rock was our first hike. This alone was worth the drive there and the slight vertigo I felt climbing the stairs. The climb itself isn't bad, only a quarter of a mile but hold on to the rails if you are like me and get a bit dizzy from heights. The views are well worth it! This was five stars! After Moro Rock we went to the General Sherman tree and all the trails it has to offer. Honestly it's hard to describe how majestic these trees are. We hiked there for an hour or so and then decided to picnic at Lodge Pole area. Unfortunately that whole area was closed (we should of read the paper they gave us about park information ) So after eating lunch in the parking lot we headed out to Kings Canyon and the visitor's center there and to also see and hike the General Grant tree area. The drive to King's Canyon is, again, a windy road and a good portion of it was burned from last year's fire. It's heartbreaking to see a lot of this forest devoured by fire. I will have to say it is amazing how resilient the Sequoia trees are! Most of the burned down trees were the surrounding pine trees. We had planned to have three full days at this park but after the drive back to our hotel in Three Rivers, which took us two hours, I was not excited to drive back up that windy road and felt I had my fill of the park. So for me it was a one day only park, but that is because most of the services were closed and the trek back up that mountain to hike or see something new was just not worth it. I do recommend at least coming one day to check out these beautiful trees.