Must see Sequoia National Park offers the perfect escape with its towering trees and tranquil landscapes. When our family visited in the summer of 2022, I was completely maxed out at work. This was our first stop on our 5 park tour around California, and I was amazed at what a rejuvenating effect it had on me.
Before you begin planning, check out this guide to a perfect 1-day trip with kids filled with views, hiking, and wildlife spotting.
Sequoia: A Sanctuary of Giants
Nestled in the southern Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, Sequoia National Park was established in 1890, making it one of America’s oldest national parks. Though not the only park with monarch sequoia trees, Sequoia National Park’s Giant Forest contains the largest unlogged grove of around 8,000 giant sequoia trees.
Some giant sequoias are over 3,000 years old, towering up to 300 feet tall, with diameters around 30 feet. When you stand next to them, you feel a profound perspective on time and are reminded of how short our time here really is.
💡 Tip: Plan your trip during June to August to fully enjoy and see all that Sequoia National Park can offer. While most of the park is open 365 days a year, snowfall in the Sierras can make some roads and trails impassable.
Getting to Sequoia National Park from LA
You can find several ways to get to Sequoia National Park. Since we planned this as the first stop of our 14-day California National Park tour, we came from Los Angeles, our travel hub. The numerous carriers, flight times, and rental car options at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) make finding something for every budget easy.
When planning your travel day, account for a 4-5 hour drive, depending on traffic and stops. You’ll pass lots of grocery and big box retailers early on your journey, so stop and pick up all of your lunch and snack supplies on the way. Save time, money, and empty calories and instead gain more energy to hike in the parks. There’s nothing worse than hangry kids to ruin a road trip or hike.
💡 Tip: Before you leave your house, place a curbside order to save time and get you to your destination quicker.
Where to stay near Sequoia National Park
Though Visalia is the largest city near Sequoia National Park, Three Rivers is the gateway. It’s a quaint little town of 2,000 people located at the south entrance of Sequoia National Park. The town’s name comes from its location at the junction of the North, Middle, and South Forks of the Kaweah River. When the Sierra snowfall melts, it’s flows out of Sequoia via the Kawaeah.
You’ll find a handful of hotels, rentals, restaurants, and a small grocery store. We stayed at the Buckeye Tree Lodge, located next to the park entrance. It offers a variety of room types from standard rooms to suites to cabins. The best part is its location along the Kaweah River. While we waited for our table at the Gateway Restaurant, the resort’s private access offered our kids their very own playground of large boulders, waterfalls, and wading ponds.
💡 Tip: Sequoia recently ranked 24th in the most visited US National Parks squeezing most visitors into a short window. Plan your trip at least 6 months in advance to get your preferred lodging, campsites, and passes.
Day 1 Begins: Navigating Sequoia’s Winding General’s Highway
After a quick photo op at the Sequoia National Park monument sign, we stopped briefly at the small Foothills Visitor’s Center. The rangers reminded us to pack layers, as the temperature can range 20-30 degrees as you hit higher elevations.
Generals Highway is the park’s main artery, providing access to its most iconic landmarks. The drive up into Sequoia is characterized by its sharp switchbacks and panoramic mountain vistas, a testament to the park’s rugged terrain.
💡 Tip: Always check the National Park website for the most up-to-date road and trail closures before planning your trip.
Stop 1: Medicine Rock – Acknowledging the People Before Us
Every Sequoia National Park must see list with kids should include a stop at Medicine Rock. It’s a site steeped in Native American history and culture and offers a unique educational opportunity for the whole family.
Situated along the lush Kaweah River, Medicine Rock, known originally as “Pah-din,” meaning “a place to go through,” was once home to the Monache, Yokuts, and Tubatulabal tribes. Before white settlers arrived, this area thrived with a population of nearly 500 people.
Before embarking towards Medicine Rock, read the informative exhibits that set the stage for your visit. From there, a brief stroll will bring you to the site where you can explore firsthand how the indigenous tribes utilized the granite boulders.
Discover their shelters, marvel at ancient story depictions, and imagine their traditional food preparation methods involving acorn grinding and seed processing.
Stop 2: General Sherman – In the Presence of Giants
Anticipating we wouldn’t see the giants of Sequoia National Park until we arrived at Giant’s Grove, we were surprised and in awe of the trees all along Generals Highway. These ancient giants, with their colossal trunks and towering canopies, are a testament to the enduring power of nature.
Giant’s Grove contains several top-rated hiking trails. First, check out the museum to learn about the monarch sequoias. Then embark on Big Trees Trail, a wheel-chair accessible network of trails winding through sequoia-rich meadows.
The General Sherman Tree is the largest tree on earth by volume. Though it stands as the grove’s crown jewel, there is much more to explore here. After your photo op, walk through a smaller version of Tunnel Log, count thousands of rings on a trunk cross-section, and get up close to burn scars.
Stop 3: Morro Rock – A Panoramic Must See Vista
During peak dates and times in Sequoia National Park, catch the shuttle from the Tall Trees Trail up to Morro Rock. It’s a prominent granite dome you likely noticed on your drive up Generals Highway.
You’ll climb a 400-step stairway to the summit – though built in 1930, it’s still sturdy! Beware if any in your family fear heights, like Stella. The stairs sometimes feel like they are hanging off the edge of the rock, and it’s very windy at the top!
Fortunately, Stella has handrails all the way to the top, which she used to pull herself up. We were relieved and rewarded with unparalleled, must see views of Sequoia National Park, the Great Western Divide and the Kaweah River Valley below.
Stop 4: Crescent Meadow – via an off-the-beaten-path Sugar Pine Trail
After our picnic lunch at the base of Moro Rock, we were eager to escape the crowds and long line for the shuttle. So we decided to hike to Crescent Meadow via Sugar Pine Trail. This is a 1.5 mi, relatively flat dirt hiking trail along the side of the mountain.
Because we were the only ones on the trail we could take our time getting close to large sequoias and flowering plants.
Following the leisurely hike, we arrived at the quiet end of Crescent Meadow and took in the open meadow view. The flat trail around the meadow is wheelchair and stroller accessible. As we walked, we got 360-degree views of a mother bear foraging. Around the bend, we noticed her two cubs who had climbed high in a tree above.
💡 Tip: If you want to see Sequoia National Park’s famous Tunnel Log, you will pass it on your way back from Crescent Meadow to Big Trees Trail parking.
Stop 5: Tharp’s Log Homestead – A Step Back in Time
Take the .3 mile offshoot toward Log Meadow. Along the way, you’ll find even more stunning must see sequoias. Not to mention potential bear sightings on your way to Tharp’s Log.
Take a moment to imagine living in Tharp’s Log, an ingenious homestead created within a fallen sequoia. A nearby sign describes how the meadow was once drained to pasture livestock. This historical site offered a glimpse into early life and survival in the wilderness.
Wrapping Up
Though we didn’t do strenuous hikes, we were exhausted and full of pleasure when we drove back down Generals Highway.
Sequoia National Park is absolutely a must-see place. It’s perfect for families with kids of all ages, and there is a variety of things to do.
Don’t wait! Add this park to your “Must See” list now. You won’t regret experiencing the rejuvenation and life perspective from standing among ancient giants.
Stella’s Take
A teenage perspective
Which hike was your favorite?
The Crescent Meadow loop. It was a short walk (I don’t like long strenuous hikes). We saw a lot of huge trees, a mama bear, and her cubs up in a tree!
Did you have a favorite stop?
After hiking around Crescent Meadow, we saw a “Treehouse” – a fallen sequoia someone turned into their home.
Would you recommend Sequoia National Park for kids?
I definitely recommend this Sequoia National Park for families – especially if they like adventures but don’t like long hikes. There’s a lot to do here, and you can always find one more adventure at the end of your day.
Resources
Map, Planning Guide, Itinerary, and ChatGPT Prompts