Established
1890
Size
404,064 acres
Visitors / yr
1.2M
Entrance
$35
Best season
June through September
Nearest airport
FAT Fresno Yosemite International
01
Why Sequoia is worth the trip
California · Established 1890
Sequoia protects the biggest living things on Earth, and the gap between reading that and standing under one cannot be closed by photographs. The General Sherman Tree holds 52,500 cubic feet of wood and is still adding more every year, and it is merely the largest of the giants in the Giant Forest, trees that were already old when Rome fell. America figured out this mattered early. Sequoia became the country's second national park in 1890, created specifically to stop the loggers.
Slip past the Sherman crowds onto the quieter Giant Forest paths, where you can stand alone with 2,000-year-old trees within ten minutes. Then climb the stone staircase up Moro Rock, a granite dome with a guardrailed route to a view across the Great Western Divide. High country, marble caves, black bears. The big trees just handle the marketing.
Start with our full Sequoia guide, then use the planning below.
02
Top things to do in Sequoia
Where we would start, and what we would plan a day around. Read the full guide.
Start here
15 Things to Do in Sequoia National Park
Read the guide
01
Hiking · nps.gov
Monarch Lake
Upper and Lower Monarch Lakes are gorgeous alpine lakes that lie at the base of Sawtooth Peak. You can hike this 10-mile route as...
02
Hiking · nps.gov
Eagle and Mosquito Lakes
Both Eagle and Mosquito lakes offer beautiful views of Mineral Kings alpine landscape. Eagle and Mosquito Lakes trails share the same route for the...
03
Hiking · nps.gov
Cold Springs Nature Trail
The Cold Springs Nature Trail is a great option for visitors looking for an easier trail and staying at the Cold Springs Campground. Many...
04
Hiking · nps.gov
Roaring River Falls
This is a short, paved walk to a cool waterfall (literally and figuratively!) On a hot day, it’s a great place to stop because...
Hiking · nps.gov
Monarch Lake
Upper and Lower Monarch Lakes are gorgeous alpine lakes that lie at the base of Sawtooth Peak. You can hike this 10-mile route as...
02
Hiking · nps.gov
Eagle and Mosquito Lakes
Both Eagle and Mosquito lakes offer beautiful views of Mineral Kings alpine landscape. Eagle and Mosquito Lakes trails share the same route for the...
03
Hiking · nps.gov
Cold Springs Nature Trail
The Cold Springs Nature Trail is a great option for visitors looking for an easier trail and staying at the Cold Springs Campground. Many...
04
Hiking · nps.gov
Roaring River Falls
This is a short, paved walk to a cool waterfall (literally and figuratively!) On a hot day, it’s a great place to stop because...
03
Best hikes in Sequoia
The trails that define the park, with the distance and elevation numbers that decide your day.
1
General Sherman Tree Trail
A short walk to the heftiest single stem tree on Earth.
2
Big Trees Trail
The quintessential Sequoia hike, a loop around Round Meadow.
3
Congress Trail
For anyone who loves trees, this paved loop is non negotiable.
4
Alta Peak
One of the most sublime views you will experience in a lifetime.
5
Tokopah Falls
The best waterfall hike in Sequoia, cascading 1,200 feet.
Before you go
Get the Sequoia heads-up
Permit windows, closures and seasonal alerts, plus our best Sequoia guides, in your inbox before you go. Free, no spam.
04
Plan your trip
Our guides for the big decisions, plus the gear, maps and lodging we would actually use for Sequoia.
Where to stay
Gateway towns with lodging, food and outfitters.
Maps & guides
Carry paper. Cell service dies fast inside most parks.
America the Beautiful pass
$80 a year. Covers entrance fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.
Get the pass
What to bring
Field-tested picks we bring on park trips.
-
Bear SprayRequired carry in grizzly country. Practice the quick-draw before you need it. View on REI
-
Trail ShoesLightweight with good traction for maintained trails. View on REI
-
Rain JacketMountain weather turns fast. Pack a shell even on clear mornings. View on REI
-
Merino Hiking SocksPrevent blisters and keep your feet comfortable for miles. View on REI
Getting there
- FAT Fresno Yosemite International 80 mi
Some links in this section are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we would use ourselves.
Sequoia map
VC Visitor Center
CG Campground
Nearby Park
05
When to go
Loading weather...
Month-by-Month Conditions
Tap any month for details
Month
High
Low
Crowds
Roads
Jan
39°
17°
Light
Open
Feb
41°
18°
Light
Open
Mar
45°
22°
Light
Open
Apr
50°
26°
Moderate
Open
May
58°
33°
Heavy
Open
Jun Best
68°
40°
Heavy
Open
Jul Best
76°
46°
Peak
Open
Aug Best
76°
44°
Peak
Open
Sep Best
70°
39°
Heavy
Open
Oct
59°
31°
Heavy
Open
Nov
47°
23°
Light
Open
Dec
37°
17°
Light
Open
Best months to visit
Crowd level (low to peak)
07
Parks near Sequoia
Within reach if you are building a longer trip.
Worth protecting
Sequoia belongs to all of us
Protections that took generations to win can be rolled back in a single session of Congress. We keep watch so they hold.
Stay in the Loop
Free dispatches on the parks and the policy fights around them, almost every day. Threats tracked, wins celebrated, no fluff.
Threatened Lands Map
Follow what's happening on federal lands across the country with our interactive map.
View the Tracker