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By Jacob
By Jacob
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks are located in east central California. They are two separate national parks but administered as a single park unit. Both parks contain the largest trees in the world, The Giant Sequoia.
1. General Sherman and Lost Forest
General Sherman is the largest tree in the world by volume and is the main attraction of Sequoia National Park. According to the National Parks Service, the tree is 275 ft tall, has a 36 ft diameter at the base and is estimated to be 2,000 years old.
Getting to the tree is simple. Follow the signs along the General Highway, the best way to get around the park. When we visited the General Sherman, we went on a weekend and the place was packed. Try to visit this in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the crowds of people. Follow down the trail .4 miles to see the tree. Note that this park is at a high elevation and hiking back up to the parking lot can be strenuous, fortunately the trail is all paved to General Sherman. Nearby is a tunnel tree that you can walk through, this can get a long line so be aware that there are other trees that you can walk through in Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park to the north.
General Sherman Tree
Want to get away from the crowds? I would recommend taking the nearby trails at the base of the General Sherman Tree. The Congress Trail is a great hike to take to get away from the mass of people at General Sherman. The trail is 3 miles long and takes you past some of the most impressive Sequoia trees in the park. On the trail you will see the President tree, the 3rd largest tree in the world. You will also pass by The House Group, the house of representatives, as well as the Senate. Something that is unique about this trail is that you can get off the trail and feel the trees. The Congress Trail is a great way to get away from the crowds and get up close to the big trees. It is one of my favorite hikes in the parks that I have been to.
2. Moro Rock and Tunnel Tree
Just south of the Giant Forest is the Moro Rock and Tunnel Tree that I would do together. Moro rock is a large granite rock that can be seen when driving up to the foothills entrance. The 350 steps will take you up to a sweeping view of the Pacific Crest and Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48 states. Moro Rock is a must do. The hike is .5 miles total and is not very strenuous. If you have a big fear of heights I would not recommend this short trail. You can hike to Moro Rock and Tunnel Tree from the General Sherman and Giant Forest if you wish. There is also a parking lot at the Moro Rock but only contains about a dozen parking spaces so you may have to park on the road to hike this trail.
Nearby is the Tunnel Tree. The tree is the only fallen sequoia, the only one you can still drive through. This can be a nightmare of traffic as people wait to get their pictures taken with the tunnel tree. We had to wait as 20 cars stopped to let people out, take a picture standing under the tree, on top of the tree. Next, they had to drive under the tree and stop again to take a picture of the car in the tree then get back in the car and finally move on. This process can take a minute and a half for everybody to take their picture as a line of cars stares at all of this wait for their turn. That being said it is still cool to drive under a tree so large you can drive through it. With that make a plan before getting out at the tree. Who is going to do what and in what order. This will save time and make the process easier. Avoid this area from noon until around 5 p.m when it gets congested.
Moro Rock
3. Crystal Cave
One thing that we missed during our trip due to COVID-19 is Crystal Cave south of the Giant Forest on the Generals Highway. I will still share what information I do know about the cave. You can only access the cave by guided tour due to the delicate formations in the cave. There are tours available for all skill levels and ages that can be purchased at the park visitor centers or the Sequoia Conservancy. The cave is a marble cave and features many spectacular cave formations, this would be a good break from the scenery of the sequoia groves on the surface. Accessing the cave is simple, follow the signs on the General Highway to the Crystal Cave road that leads to a parking lot. From there, take the steep .5 mile trail to the entrance of the cave to begin the guided tour.
4. Grant Grove and Panoramic Point
In the northern part of the park you find Grant Grove. The Grant Grove is home to the 2nd largest tree in the world, General Grant. General Grant is not alone and is surrounded by a large grove of sequoia trees. Another prime attraction is the fallen monarch, a fallen giant sequoia that has been hollowed out and can be walked through. The area can be accessed easily as the trails start at the parking lot for the General Grant tree. There are also some longer hikes around the grove for those who have more time to explore the area.
Sequoia in Grant Grove
Across the street from the entrance to the Grant Grove is the road to Panoramic Point. Follow the steep windy road then take the short trail to Panoramic Point. This vista offers views of Kings Canyon as well as the Sierra Nevada mountains and Pacific Crest. This is a great place to sit down and have some lunch, we did this on our visit and the views are spectacular.
5. Kings Canyon Scenic Byway
The Kings Canyon Scenic Byway is the only access to the Kings Canyon unit of Kings Canyon National Park. The road travels with Highway 180 through one of the deepest canyons in the world, deeper than the Grand Canyon, to Cedar Grove Visitor Center and Village. The road is 50 miles long and will take you by several groves of sequoia trees, waterfalls and caves.
Links Related to Post
Links Related to Post
Map of Sequoia & Kings Canyon
https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/maps.htm
Crystal Cave Tours
https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/251898
Sequoia Conservancy
https://www.sequoiaparksconservancy.org/
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park
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