What to do in Sequoia National Park
If you are visiting Yosemite National Park, you might as well want to visit the nearby Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Although administered as a single unit by the National Park Service, Sequoia National Park, and Kings Canyon are actually two national parks. Together they are larger than Yosemite but receive less than half as many annual visitors.
After 2 great days in Yosemite, we hit the road from Mariposa early in the morning and headed to Sequoia National Park. It was around 4,5 hours driving, so according to our plan, we would have enough time to see the major sights in one afternoon. We had time just for one day and was planning to leave the park in the evening and drive to our next motel, two hours away from the park.
Unfortunately, it was a Memorial Day weekend, and a really bad weather, very cold, foggy and misty. We spent a lot more time waiting in the long line to enter the park than we thought, and driving through the park to find a parking spot. And we didn’t see 5 meters in front of us.
I know you can’t predict a weather, at least if you are planning your trip a few months earlier, but one thing that is for sure, DO NOT GO THERE ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, or other holidays. You might even avoid weekends, especially in peak season. Unless you really like crowds and waiting.
Plan before you go
ENTRANCE FEE – Like in other National Parks, there is also an entrance fee, 35$ per vehicle for 7 days, which covers both parks, Sequoia & Kings Canyon and also the nearby Hume Lake District of the Sequoia National Forest. If you are planning to visit more National Parks or even some recreation areas, I recommend buying an Annual Pass, America the Beautiful. It costs 80$, valid for a year and covers the pass owner and three accompanying adults. You can buy it when entering the park, or online at USGS Store or at Rei.
RESEARCH – Before you go, search for the places you want to see, things you want to do… It might help you choose where do you want to stay and how long can you stay there. Most important pieces of information you can find on a U.S. National Park Service site, a lot of interesting stuff and personal experiences from fellow travelers and bloggers, and my favorite, travel guidebooks. You never know whether you’ll have a reception on your phone, so it’s good to have some paper maps in your hand. I get most of my books from Book Depository, my favorite about Sequoia National Park is from Lonely Planet: Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. It includes great information about all hikes, location, duration, distance and just everything you want to know. You also get a simple map while entering the park and it’s quite helpful.
TRANSPORTATION – It’s best to leave your car behind in one of the parks’ parking places, and just use free shuttle bus or take a walk. If you are staying only one day, spend more time in one section of the park. If you are staying more days you can drive al through both parks and can see a lot more. Plan to go one way, you can enter in one entrance and exit through another, but remember, both parks are only accessible by car from the west. There are no gas stations within the park, so fill up before you enter. And pack a lot of water and some food, because there are not as many options to buy in the park.
WHEN TO GO – The parks are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Occasionally, winter storms will close roads leading into the parks. Most people come in summer when temperatures in the sequoia groves are comfortable. In the fall, beginning in September, weather usually begins to cool at night, though days may still be warm. In the winter sequoia groves are snowy, peaceful, and cold, tire chains may be required. Depending on the elevation, spring in these parks generally lasts from April to mid-June. Sequoia groves are often still snowy at this time of year, though snow begins melting at most elevations, late spring snowstorms are common.
For example, we were there in late May, on Memorial Day weekend, we had from 0-3°C and it was foggy and misty. While the cold didn’t bother us so much, it was the fog that made us unsatisfied, because we really didn’t see much because of it. I believe it’s beautiful in every season and worth visiting many times. But maybe the best time to see more would be in June or early July, but it’s best to avoid weekends as they get more crowded.
Where to stay
Three Rivers village is a perfect spot if you are entering the park in the Ash Mountain Entrance, or if you are exiting there, and want to find a place to rest after visiting Sequoia. There are also some other villages near the parks, or you can stay in one of the lodges & campgrounds in the park.
SIERRA LODGE THREE RIVERS – This hotel is only 4.8 km from the southern entrance of Sequoia National Park. The hotel offers a seasonal outdoor pool and free pastries every morning.
SILVER CITY MOUNTAIN RESORT – Located in the Sequoia National Park, this resort is surrounded by hiking, biking, and fishing areas. Some of the private cottages feature fully stocked kitchens. Free Wi-Fi is available in common areas. Omg, it looks so beautiful, next time definitely staying here.
SEQUOIA RESORT – Offering a private pond, this 370-acre resort in the Sierra Mountains features accommodations with fully-equipped kitchens and large terraces. Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks are around 20 kilometers away.
FIVESPOT CABIN – Located in Sequoia National Forest, this 1940s 1-bedroom cottage in Pinehurst offers free Wi-Fi and a fully-equipped kitchen. Hume Lake is 40 minutes’ drive away.
LODGES & CAMPGROUNDS in parks are usually full in summer, you should reserve early.
What to do & see
GENERAL SHERMAN TREE – all the trees here in Sequoia National Park (and around) are big. But, this one, named after American Civil War general William Sherman, the General Sherman Tree is the largest living tree on Earth by volume. Other trees may be taller or wider, but none compare to the combined width and weight of General Sherman.
The main trailhead is located at the bottom of the General Sherman Tree parking lot off Wolverton Road. It’s an easy paved trail and could take 30-60 minutes.
MORO ROCK – To reach the top of this granite dome, follow a stairway composed of over 350 steps. A spectacular view of the Great Western Divide and the western half of the park. The parking area is 3.2 km from the Generals Highway, it’s best to use a free shuttle.
TUNNEL LOG – The fallen Tunnel Log of Sequoia National Park came into being after an unnamed giant sequoia fell across the Crescent Meadow Road in late 1937 as a result of “natural causes.” The following summer, a tunnel was cut through the fallen log as a visitor attraction. The road is usually opened for cars after 5 pm. If you want to go there by car, check about road closures.
TOKOPAH FALLS – The trail to Tokopah Falls starts just beyond the Marble Fork Bridge in Lodgepole Campground. It is an easy/moderate 2.7 km one-way walk along the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River to the impressive granite cliffs and cascading waterfall of Tokopah Canyon. With 365.8 meters of height, Tokopah Fall is the tallest waterfall in Sequoia National Park and is most impressive in early summer.
BUCK ROCK LOOKOUT – Located in the Sequoia National Forest, Buck Rock Lookout sits perched atop a granite dome and offers a breathtaking view of the Great Western Divide and other spectacular high mountain peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Access to the top is via a series of stair flights (consisting of 172 steps) suspended from the side of the rock. Check the opening hours before you go.
SEVEN TEACUPS – Seven Teacups is a short section of Dry Meadow Creek just before it joins the Kern River. The canyon is mostly used for canyoneering but the upper pools are accessible without gear. This canyon is best visited in summer or fall, or whenever the flow is not extremely high as there are flow-related challenges.
