Sequoia National Park in California is a truly incredible national park. It’s filled with trails through some of the oldest, biggest trees in the world, up some of the biggest mountains in the Lower 48 and shared with hundreds of species of animals. If you’re looking to visit, here are the things to know before visiting Sequoia National Park.
The Sequoias Are Mindblowingly Giant
It’s one thing to logically conceptualize from afar that these trees are, well, giant. But there’s nothing comparable to standing at their base, looking up and realizing just how truly massive they are! Some of these trees are 2,000+ years old. Just the magnificence, the beauty and the majesty of these trees are undeniable. Read our post on the Giant Forest here.
There’s More Here Than Just Giant Sequoias
On my first trip to Sequoia National Park we focused on, well, the Sequoias. My cousin and I came with essentially no planning going into it. But when Matt and I came in fall of 2023, we did a lot more planning and found that there are granite domes, insane mountain views and waterfalls in addition to the giants of the woods. And, not only are they there, they’re freaking spectacular! Check out our post on Little Baldy and Moro Rock if you don’t believe me.
You Can See A Lot of Beauty from Your Car
Some parks are just okay from the car and require taking some hikes to see its true beauty. While some of the most spectacular views come from taking hikes, you can still see a ton of spectacular views from the comfort of your car. We know everyone enjoys nature differently, and while we’re more boots on the ground kind-of people, we want to encourage people to see our parks however they’re able to.
But We Do Still Recommend Hitting the Hiking Trails
While you can see some beautiful mountain views and beautiful sequoias from the road, nothing compares to getting out of your car and out on foot. We absolutely loved standing atop the granite domes of Moro Rock and Little Baldy and walking through the beautiful groves along the Big Tree Trail and in the Giant Forest. Definitely bring your hiking boots and hit the trails if you can!
Sequoia Flows Right Into Kings Canyon National Park
While Sequoia and Kings Canyon are two different national parks, they’re often spoken about as one because they literally run right into each other. If, somehow, you haven’t seen that before, definitely take the time to get up to Kings Canyon to see some really incredible things and hike some really beautiful trails. We got Charleigh’s first Junior Ranger badge there.
Be Bear Aware
Black bears are listed as common in Sequoia National Park. Although I haven’t seen one there – *knock on wood* – they’re very frequently sighted in the park. Be prepared to encounter them, keep your food in bear-safe containers, know how to react if you see them. Know that bear spray isn’t allowed in the park and remember if bears react to your presence, you’re too close.
There’s a Shuttle Service
Parking areas are very small in this park and those areas fill up very quickly in popular areas. So, be sure to get there early if you feel you need to drive or check out the shuttle schedule to get to popular trailheads.
The Highest Mountain in the Lower 48 States is in Sequoia National Park
Mount Whitney, which stands at a whopping 14,494 feet, is located (partially) in Sequoia National Park. Climbing this mountain, no matter whether you’re backpacking or just doing it on a day hike, requires a permit. The shortest and therefore most popular trail to the summit is a little over 21 miles round trip. This is not a hike for the faint of heart.
There’s Also a Cave to Tour Here!
Sequoia National Park is home to Crystal Cave as well as giant sequoias and the Sierra Nevadas. Crystal Cave should open back up for the 2025 season after being closed in late 2023 and 2024. Tour tickets cannot be reserved at the cave entrance. You must get tickets online at least 36 hours in advance, but, as with most National Park reservations, the earlier the better.
If You Can’t Get a Room Reservation in the Park, Expect an Hour or So Drive
It can be super tempting to save money and stay outside of the park. When Matt and I booked our trip there last year, we looked at several different options in different towns. While the park lodge was a bit more expensive than we initially wanted to spend, the ability to get to trailheads in 10-20 minutes vs. 60-70 minutes, plus the extra cost of gas, we knew that this was going to be the best option to get as much time in the park as possible.
Food in the Park is Quite Expensive
As with any place that’s more isolated, the food is going to be harder to find and more expensive, obviously. Because more things were closed in late September than we had hoped, we ended up mostly eating in the lodge, which was expensive. On our next trip, we’ll plan ahead better and get things for sandwiches, snacks like hummus and carrots or other filling, yummy things and just splurge on occasion at the lodge.
Cell Service is Very Limited
We had service in a couple surprising locations, but mostly very little service. If you’re going out on a hike, be smart and let someone – even if it’s someone back home – know where you’re going before heading out for the day. Or, if you want to be extra cautious and are outside a lot, look into getting a Garmin InReach. I got one for my anniversary this year, and it’s become the most comforting piece of outdoor equipment I’ve ever owned.
Download Maps
I always recommend downloading the map for the area when I’m going out into nature. Not only does it help navigate the roads, but it can also greatly help if you’re on the trails too!
The Roads Here are Very Windy and Very Narrow in Places
We drove the Toyota Tundra we owned at the time and holy cow we were almost too big for a lot of the roads. We had to take a lot of turns slowly and with a lot of caution. Campers and trailers would be very difficult and depending on the length, not permitted. Many roads in the park have a maximum vehicle length of 22 feet.
Wildfires Are Common Here
In fact, sequoias require fire to grow. Their trunks are built to resist fire, and their cones require fire to open up and spread the seeds. So, wildfires are quite common and are often maintained over extinguished. In fact, when Matt and I were there in Sept. 2023, there was a fairly substantial wildfire. Check the Sequoia National Park website for updates on whether or not there are wildfires, weather and other closures.
Visit in a Shoulder Season
My family went in late September and we were able to fairly easily park at most trailheads. There were far fewer people and the temperatures were amazing. You potentially run the risk of a late or early snow causing a few road issues, but it’s so worth the lack of crowds and for the most part, you just get lovely, fairly temperate weather,
Gear We Recommend for an Adventure in Sequoia National Park
Being prepared for a trip into the national parks is such an important part of any trip. These are things we use and recommend specifically for a trip to Sequoia National Park.
Things We Use for Safety – I have a Garmin InReach Mini that just helps me feel so safe and secure in the wilderness. I don’t take it on every adventure, but if I’m going somewhere truly remote, I definitely have it with me. A first aid kit is imperative for backcountry or remote hiking. I like to have a basic first aid kit with me.
Footwear – Matt and I both love our Merrell hiking boots. Regardless of which brand works best and fits best for your foot, we recommend a boot with ankle support.
Daypack – If I’m doing a quick day hike, I’m obsessed with my Osprey Daylite. It’s the perfect size to cram water and snacks for the hike. Plus, if I have a light layer, it fits in the pack as well. If I’m doing a more intense hike I’m obsessed with my Deuter 28L slim pack that holds a little more without being monstrous, but will hold more water, more layers and more snacks. And always, always, always a little something to write in or write with.
What’s in My Pack? – Water in a Nalgene is always the very first thing that goes into my daypack and I love using these Nalgene water bottles because the wide mouth on the bottle makes it really easy to clean. Some snacks that you can almost always find in my backpack are beef jerky tender bites, peanut butter & honey crackers, peanut m&ms, trail mix and dehydrated fruit strips.
If You’re Carrying Kiddos… We love the Deuter Kid Comfort. It totally changed our hiking game when CJ got too big for her infant carrier, and we got a second one after Liam was born for adventures like this one.
Whether this is your very first visit to Sequoia National Park, or just a new experience there, I hope that this post gives you all the information you need to have the perfect trip. If you’ve been to Sequoia, are there any things you think we missed on a need to know list? Let us know in the comments!
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