Sequoia & Kings Canyon - 10 Stops for a Perfect Visit
This week Sequoia National Park celebrates its 130th birthday! You could certainly spend years exploring the beauty of nature here, but today we’re taking a perfect day trip to ten amazing spots inside the park. Come join me!
And make sure to check out my free Sequoia & Kings Canyon Top 10 Guide, which outlines each destination listed below with exact locations! 😄
1. Tunnel Rock
This unique flat granite boulder makes for a great first stop inside Sequoia National Park. The narrow tunnel that was dug under this massive rock by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938 served as the only road for traffic to drive through on the west side of Generals Highway until 1997 when the road was widened. Enjoy a quick stroll underneath or scramble all the way to the top at this quick but photo worthy stop.
2. Hanging Rock
Hanging Rock Trail is one of the shortest and easiest trails in all of Sequoia, but the views are some of my absolute favorite in the whole park! The round trip hike from the trailhead is just over 1/4 mile with less than 100 feet in elevation gain. You can make this hike and enjoy the views in less than half an hour, but I love spending more time here…not just to view the massive precariously balanced boulder at the edge of the cliff, but also to explore the surrounding granite boulders and to enjoy the panoramic canyon views below.
3. Moro Rock
You can see Moro Rock’s peak from multiple places inside Sequoia National Park, but Moro Rock Trail is definitely a can’t miss hike. The path is just over a 1/2 mile (and I recommend adding the 1/10 mile detour to Roosevelt Tree just across Crescent Meadow Rd). Moro Rock rises 6,725 above sea level, and while this is a short climb, the last 350 stone carved stairs are narrow and located up pretty high, so you might just break a little bit of a sweat...but the views and the historic climb are worth every stair step. 😉
4. Parker Group
Named for the second acting superintendent of the park, the Parker Group is a cluster of Giant Sequoias along Crescent Meadow Road. Captain James Parker was acting superintendent in 1893 & 1894, and the 8 massive trees here were named after his family members.
5. Tunnel Log
The fallen Tunnel Log was a 275 foot tall tree that is believed to have been at least 2000 years old when it fell in 1937. The Civilian Conservation Corps cut a tunnel 17 feet wide and 8 feet high so cars could drive through as a visitor attraction. You can still enjoy driving through this tree today (but there is an alternate road if your vehicle is to large to pass through).
6. Halstead Meadow
This Meadow has undergone a wonderful restoration over the past few years. These Sierran meadows are important wetland habitats for the many animals that rely on it for food, nesting, and foraging. Naturally occurring meadows like Halstead also support surrounding ecosystems and provide resiliency in the face of climate change.
7. Big Stump Trail
In the 1880s, Smith Comstock Lumber Mill cut the trees here to be used as fence posts and stakes for farms and vineyards in central California. This gentle hike is located in Kings Canyon National Park (literally just inside the Kings Canyon entrance gate) and covers just over two miles. A highlight of this trail includes the Mark Twain Tree, which was believed to have been over 1300 years old when it fell after two men spent nearly two weeks cutting it. Another must-see is Shattered Giant, a massive tree that looks like it exploded when it fell.
8. Grant Grove
This short loop is under one mile, but these 154 secluded acres in Kings Canyon are filled with history and huge trees. The General Grant Tree, located here, was proclaimed the nation’s Christmas Tree by President Coolidge in 1926. The Fallen Monarch is believed to have fallen over 300 years ago, and in the early 1900s the US Calvary kept their horses here. Also sitting along this loop, the Gamlin Cabin was built by the Gamlin brothers in 1872 when their cattle used to graze here..
9. Kings Canyon Panoramic Overlook Point
This vista point is a small turnout right off Generals Highway about 5 miles east of Highway 180. Not only will you find magnificent panoramic views of the canyon below here, but you’ll also get to stroll through a strangely beautiful rock garden! For these views but at a higher elevation, there’s a trailhead to a bonus hike right around the bend. The Buena Vista Peak Trail is a 2 mile up and back hike with a 420 ft elevation change.
10. General Sherman Tree
We will end our time here at the largest tree in the world (measured by volume). This incredible tree stands over 275 feet tall and over 36 feet in diameter at the base. The trail to this tree is short at under a mile round trip, but the sudden 200 ft elevation change might just surprise you if you’re not expecting it. You can also access the Congress Trail here, which is a popular 2.9 mile paved loop through many other giants…and bonus, it’s much less crowded than the famous General Sherman.
In Summary & Behind the Blog Video
Thanks for joining me today in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. For an up close look at all the above-mentioned spots, see my Behind the Blog video below. And for more detailed information with exact pin locations, make sure to sign up above for the FREE Top 10 Guide. Until next week, I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go!
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like…
