Sequoia
Home of the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree on Earth by volume.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, all year
- Entry
- $35 per car
- Reservations
- Not required
- Size
- 404,064 acres
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Sequoia was established in 1890, making it the second-oldest national park in the country. It protects some of the largest trees on the planet, including the General Sherman Tree in Giant Forest. The park climbs from hot foothills around 1,700 feet to the summit of Mount Whitney at 14,505 feet, the highest point in the lower 48 states. In between are granite domes, deep river canyons and alpine meadows.
Most visitors spend their time in Giant Forest, where short paved trails lead past sequoias that are thousands of years old. The Generals Highway gains about 5,000 feet in elevation through tight switchbacks between the foothills and the big trees. Mount Whitney is not visible from the main roads; it sits on the park's remote eastern edge and is usually climbed from the Owens Valley side. Sequoia shares its management, entrance fee and annual pass with neighboring Kings Canyon National Park.
The park and surrounding area
- Park boundary
- Other parks
- Major highway
- Road
- Rivers and lakes
- Town
Plan your trip
- Best time to go
- June through October, when all roads are usually open; September and October bring smaller crowds and mild days.
- How long to stay
- Plan two days to see Giant Forest and the foothills, or three with Mineral King.
- Getting there
- Fresno Yosemite International (FAT) is about 1.5 to 2 hours from the Ash Mountain Entrance via Visalia and Three Rivers. Los Angeles International (LAX) is about 4 hours away.
- Wildlife
- Black bears, mule deer, yellow-bellied marmots in Mineral King, Steller's jays, and rattlesnakes in the foothills.
Plan and book
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Where to stay
- Hotels in Three Rivers (opens in a new tab)California
- Hotels in Visalia (opens in a new tab)California
- Hotels in Exeter (opens in a new tab)California
- Lodges inside the park (opens in a new tab)Official NPS list
Tours and activities
- Guided tours on Viator (opens in a new tab)Day trips, wildlife, photography
- Tours on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)Compare options and reviews
- Campsites on Recreation.gov (opens in a new tab)Official federal booking site
What to pack for Sequoia
- Layered jacketMornings are cool in the sequoia groves even when the foothills are hot.
- Tire chainsChain controls can go into effect on park roads with little notice from fall through spring.
- Reusable water bottleThe foothills can top 100 degrees in summer and water stops are spread out.
- Bear canisterRequired for food storage on many overnight trips into the backcountry.
- Trekking polesHelpful on the steep Moro Rock stairs and longer trails like Tokopah Falls.
A first day, start to finish
- Foothills Visitor Center and Tunnel Rock
- General Sherman Tree
- Giant Forest Museum
- Moro Rock climb
- Crescent Meadow and Tunnel Log
Don't miss
- General Sherman TreeThe largest tree on Earth by volume, reached by a paved half-mile trail that drops about 200 feet from the main parking area.
- Moro RockA granite dome with a stairway of about 350 steps built in the 1930s, topping out on views of the Great Western Divide.
- Crescent Meadow and Tunnel LogDrive through a fallen sequoia on Crescent Meadow Road, then walk the easy loop around the meadow John Muir called the Gem of the Sierra.
- Tokopah FallsA 1.7-mile walk (one way) from Lodgepole along the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River to a 1,200-foot cascade below granite cliffs.
- Mineral KingA subalpine valley at 7,500 feet at the end of a slow, winding 25-mile road, with trailheads into high lakes and peaks.
Know before you go
Do
- Store all food and scented items in the metal bear boxes at campsites and trailheads.
- Carry tire chains from fall through spring; they can be required at any time.
- Fill your gas tank before you come; there are no gas stations in the park.
Don't
- Bring an RV or trailer over 22 feet up the Generals Highway from Ash Mountain; use the Highway 180 entrance instead.
- Swim or wade in the rivers when they run high; drowning is a leading cause of death here.
- Climb on or walk around the base of the giant sequoias; their shallow roots are easily damaged.
The park is open 24 hours a day, year-round, but winter storms can close roads until plowed and tire chains can be required at any time. Mineral King Road and the Crystal Cave area close for winter, and the Generals Highway toward Kings Canyon can close temporarily during major storms. Foothills Visitor Center and Giant Forest Museum stay open all year (9 am to 4:30 pm after October 12, 2026), while Lodgepole Visitor Center closed for the season on September 27, 2026.
Arrive before 9 am or after 3 pm to skip the lines at the Ash Mountain Entrance and find parking at the General Sherman Tree.Trekker's tip