how to explore sequoia national park

. However, if you're traveling from Sacramento and northern California, you'll want to exit U.S. Highway 99 at Fresno and take California Highway 180 east, which will take about an hour and a half to reach the Foothills entrance. However, the park is planning to install a new cell tower by 2020, so the signal available in the park may improve significantly in the near future. Walk over and check out Tunnel Rock. The loop will end at the General Sherman Tree, where you can continue back to the parking area. Insider Tip: Be advised, entering from this part of the park is not recommended for vehicles over 22 ft in length. Second, you need to prepare for a long drive not only to the park, but also inside it. Just sitting still on Beetle rock, away from others (or on a big log on the hill behind it) you'll start to see all kinds of things (including beetles, but also lizards, ground squirrels, tree squirrels, chimpmunks, … Some secondary roads have tighter restrictions, and so does the 12 miles between Potwisha Campground and Giant Forest Museum, where the maximum recommended length is 22 feet. Call (559) 563-3341 for a recorded message about road conditions or visit the alerts page of the national park website. Elevation varies at Sequoia but starts at more than 6,000 feet. This easy 3-mile loop will bring you deep into the Giant Forest while guiding you past the towering McKinley Tree and General Lee Tree. This park will treat you to the oldest and most spectacular trees in the world. You will be accessing the park through the Ash Mountain Entrance Station at the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas: the perfect start to any road trip to Sequoia National Park! Forest fires are always a possibility from spring through fall, but they're especially likely in the summer. Head back toward Generals Highway after your fun adventure through Crescent Meadow and park in the Giant Forest Parking Area. You will pass the visitor center, which is a great place to stop to buy a hiking map and get current park information. Time to rest up for another fun day in Sequoia National Park. It’s amazing to think Generals Highway used to direct traffic right under it! The sunset in a Sequoia Grove is unlike any other. There’s plenty of hiking trails to choose from and each of them gives something special to remember: from giant sequoias to waterfalls, quiet lakes and mountain top views. Sequoia National Park, well-known in part for its namesake giant trees, is also home to some fantastic alpine lakes. find a list on the national park website of places nearby that rent chains, visit the alerts page of the national park website, guide to finding hotels and campgrounds at Sequoia. This area has camping, hiking trails, river access, concessions, a visitor center, and even hot showers! Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks In summer, a free in-park shuttle runs through the Giant Forest and Lodgepole areas of Sequoia National Park, from Giant Forest Museum to Dorst Creek Campground. While not nearly as popular as Yosemite or Joshua Tree in terms of California's national parks, Sequoia and Kings Canyon are great destinations for travelers looking to escape into nature during their trip. The morning views from Beetle Rock are magnificent. From hiking to fishing, and rock climbing to wildlife viewing, activity opportunities are endless in Sequoia & Kings Canyon. Designed & Developed by Solo Pine. Notice the bowl-shaped carvings in the stone? Path is paved, which makes it less dusty. The Little Baldy Trail is a popular 3.5-mile out and back hike that will take about 2 hours to complete. The Top Destinations in Sequoia National Park Foothills. Search for NPS Sequoia & Kings Canyon and download the app from the Apple App or the Google Play store before you get arrive at the parks. The easiest to use resource is the California Statewide Fire Map. Her adventurous spirit has led her to the high peaks of the Sierras and the largest wilderness areas in the lower 48. Follow Generals Highway from Hospital Rock for about 8 miles until you reach Crystal Cave Road on the left. The river’s flows are powerful, especially in the spring and early summer, so use extreme caution at its banks! The tour lasts about 45 minutes and guides guests along a fascinating ½-mile loop. To find the best place for you, see the guide to finding hotels and campgrounds at Sequoia. This area is home to giant Sequoias, waterfalls, a rushing river, meadows of wildflowers, alpine lakes, deep canyons and black bears. The most scenic way to get to Sequoia (and the shortest route from Los Angeles) is to take California Highway 198 through Visalia and Three Rivers until you reach the Ash Mountain entrance, which is about an hour's drive from U.S. Highway 99. Most people drive to Sequoia National Park from Los Angeles or San Francisco, but Los Angeles is about an hour closer. The dramatic landscapes of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks lie side by side in the Southern Sierra Nevada Mountains – a testament to the majesty and geographic diversity of the Western United States. To get to the parking area, head north on Generals Highway. This location is also home to a beautiful panel of pictographs. Sequoia National Park, or “the land of giants” as it’s often referred, will make you feel like you’re wandering through a fairytale and leave you in complete awe! This neat tunnel carved out of a fallen Sequoia makes for a great op of you and your road-tripping rig. This is a great place to get an up-close look at the Kaweah River. If you’re interested in hiking a bit further, the Hospital Rock Trail continues down to the Kaweah River. The road will switchback and is best taken at a slow speed. Only a short 3-minute walk from the Giant Forest Parking Area, this is a spectacular viewpoint to hang out at while drinking your morning coffee. Remember, only take memories and photos of these beautiful groves. Midsummer temperatures can reach well above 100 degrees F! From General Sherman, follow signs for the Congress Trail. Enjoy! We’re continuing on the Crescent Meadow Road toward Tunnel Log! Mineral King. During the summer, you can drive down a steep, narrow, winding road near the Sequoia gate off CA 198 to explore Mineral King, a sub-alpine valley that's the only part of the park's backcountry accessible by automobile. Walk over and check out Tunnel Rock. For simplicity, this guide refers to them all as "Sequoia" in the descriptions below. As a result, you can typically find hotel rooms near the park on most weekends, even in mid-summer. Best Hikes at Sequoia National Park: General Sherman Tree (0.5 Miles) Get ready to whip out your Phone or camera, because the General Sherman is the largest tree in the entire world, by volume! These were created over many years of grinding acorns for cooking in a pestle and mortar fashion. If you have a big RV or are towing a trailer, check the limits before your visit. One of the side trails we opted to do was The Thorpe’s Tree loop. Bears are among the many creatures that live in Sequoia National Park. While Sequoia National Park is open year-round, some seasons are better than others, depending on what you want to do and see during your trip. Along the way, you’ll pass many of the area’s other giants! However, this may not be the best hike for folks with a fear of heights or exposure. There are plenty of day hikes available, in varying degrees of difficulty, that will take you to the base of giant sequoias, and through … The main trail walks by a meadow where you can see the contrast of the meadow with the large sequoias growing right on the edge of the meadow. There will be no food service in Sequoia until the lodge reopens, and travelers are advised to bring food from outside the parks. Take advantage of the opportunities to stop and enjoy the view! Mineral King is a glacial valley seven and a half miles … How to Spend a Weekend in Sequoia National Park Sequoia and Kings Canyon are called “hiker’s parks” and rightfully so. You’re not the only one. Additionally, according to California state law, you should always have chains with you in the winter. It's a very pretty drive, with optional stops to … The trailhead is located near the parking area. In spring and summer, you'll see showy wildflower blooms at Sequoia, and the waterfalls in the park are at their peak in summer. You’ve done quite a bit of hiking today! Restaurants Inside the Park. With Free Shuttle & Stay, visitors book a two-night stay in any of the 16 Visalia hotels and they receive two free passes for the Sequoia Shuttle, which includes entry into Sequoia National Park. Sequoia was America’s second national park designated in 1890. The two are contiguous, and the National Parks Service manages them as one unit. After your hike, grab a treat at the Lodgepole Market and Grill before heading off to your next site. If you need chains and don't have them, you can find a list on the national park website of places nearby that rent chains. 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