Best Hikes in Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is such a breathtaking place to visit, with sequoia trees that are over 3,000 years old towering over you. I am listing my top favorite hikes in Sequoia National Park that are all special for their own reasons. Whether you are looking to be surrounded by the gigantic old growth of sequoia trees, experience stunning views, rushing waterfalls, or be in a meadow looking for bears, deer, and other wildlife, my top hikes in the park all offer something different than the others that make them special! Keep reading to find out about the best trails!
Congress Trail
Distance: 2 miles
Time: 1 to 2 hours, round trip
Trailhead: General Sherman Tree, just off Generals Highway
Elevation Gain: 200 feet
One of the most popular hiking paths in Sequoia is the Congress trail. Though it can be busy in the summer months, it is definitely a must if you want to see some of the oldest and most famous gigantic trees in the park. To get to the Congress trail, you will park in the main Sherman tree parking lot and walk down about a half-mile to the start of the Congress trail. The trail starts near the General Sherman tree and is about 2 miles round trip. Before or after your hike on the Congress trail, make sure you stop to look at the most famous tree, the General Sherman. The General Sherman tree by volume, is the largest known living single-stem tree on Earth. This is the perfect hike if you are looking to see an abundance of giant sequoias!
Tokopah Falls Trail
Distance: 3.4 miles
Time: 2 to 3 hours, round trip
Trailhead: Log Bridge in Lodgepole Campground
Elevation Gain: 500 feet
Tokopah Falls trail is a great hike to go on especially if there has been a lot of snow/rainfall in the previous months. The start of the trailhead is in the Lodgepole campground, right next to a bridge called the log bridge. The trail is an easy walk along the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River. The falls is 1,200 feet high and is flowing the most if you visit in spring and early summer!
This hike was not super busy when I have hiked it the past few years. Keep in mind, I hiked in the later summer months, so there was not much water flow, but it is still an amazing hike to do any time of year! (See photo posted below of the end of the trail in later summer) This is the perfect hike if you want to hike along a river and end up with a stunning view of a waterfall.
Crescent Meadow Loop Trail
Distance: 1.8 miles
Time: 2 hours, round trip
Trailhead: Crescent Meadow parking lot
Elevation Gain: 200 feet
Crescent Meadow is one of my favorite places to go in all of Sequoia because you are almost guaranteed to see wildlife. The loop trail is an easy 1.8 round trip walk. I have seen many animals here including bears, deer, birds, squirrels, and so many others. The best time to go to see wildlife out in the meadow is early morning or evening time. If you do the entire loop trail, you will go past Tharp’s Log, which is a hollowed-out Sequoia tree that was converted into a summer cabin by one of the park’s earliest settlers.
Please be mindful of the wildlife and keep your distance while taking photos and observing them. I have seen many people walk in the middle of the meadow, which is definitely a big no because it damages the plants and disturbs the animals, so please stay on the trail if you are planning to do this hike! If you are coming to see wildlife in Sequoia, Crescent Meadow is definitely a must do to see many animals!
Moro Rock
Distance: 0.6 miles round trip
Time: 40 minutes
Trailhead: Moro Rock parking lot
Elevation Gain: 300 feet (nearly 400 stairs)
Moro Rock is a quick steep climb to get to the top, with views of the landscape on either side of you. Moro Rock is a granite dome located just off the Generals Highway near Giant Forest. This climb can be pretty narrow at some points, especially if there are a lot of people on the trail, so keep that in mind if you have small children. Once you get to the top, you can enjoy the views of the western half of Sequoia National Park and the Great Western Divide. This is also the perfect place to view the sunrise/sunset! This is the perfect hike to do if you want to get spectacular views of Sequoia within seconds of starting the hike!
Let me know if you go on any of the hikes listed above and let me know how you liked them in the comments below!