Sequoia National Park
“To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles”
Established in 1890 to protect groves of sequoias, Sequoia National Park is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and includes Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states at 14,494 feet. The park is home to the General Sherman Tree, the largest sequoia, estimated to be 2,300 to 2,700 years old and considered the world's largest living thing. It stands in the Giant Forest, an area of about five square miles filled with many groves of towering trees. Sequoias have fire-resistant bark, shallow roots, and can live for thousands of years. There's something magical about hearing the forest come alive when no one else is around.
We've enjoyed some great picnic spots, but being surrounded by giant sequoias is hard to top. Finding epic picnic places could be a new family goal! If you're on a budget, bring your own food, as park food can be expensive. However, be sure to have proper containers to store it, as bears have a highly perceptive sense of smell. There are several places throughout the park where you can refill water.
Despite visiting on a Sunday, we were fortunate to start early and beat the crowds. We went straight to the most visited areas. Summer weekends are the busiest time of the year, so the park implements a free shuttle system to ease parking limitations at popular locations and reduce traffic. The shuttle comes frequently on a first-come, first-served basis and runs through the Giant Forest and Lodgepole areas. On weekdays, the scenic routes are open to private vehicles.
The road through Sequoia National Park is called the General's Highway, connecting the Sherman Tree to the Grant Tree. This 33-mile road winds through thick forests with hairpin curves. Due to the sharp turns, vehicles over 22 feet in length are not permitted. If steep, curvy mountain roads make you uneasy, it's best to enter through the northern entrance of the park. Drew, who isn't a fan of steep roads and heights, was happy to pass on returning after work.
Driving through the park, you'll see incredible sequoias with their unmissable red trunks. There are some great pullouts for views. But as fun as the General's Highway is, exploring Sequoia on foot is a must. The Giant Forest is exactly as it sounds, making you feel tiny among the giant trees. Here, you'll find the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree in the world by volume, weighing 1,385 tons! Standing before the largest living organism in the world is awe-inspiring. We also checked out the President Tree (the third largest tree) and took the two-mile Congress Trail for a pleasant stroll away from the crowds.
A must-do spot is the Tunnel Log, a fallen sequoia you can drive through as long as your vehicle isn't over eight feet tall. Go early in the morning to avoid a backlog of cars. Also, make a quick pit stop at Auto Log, where you can hop out to take photos, though you can't drive over it anymore.
I would have loved to climb the 390 steps to reach the peak of Moro Rock, but being solo with three kids, I didn't want to risk it as it is quite steep and high.
Fortunately, Sequoia Coffee Co and Reimer's Candies, Gifts & Ice Cream are on Highway 198/Sierra Drive, within walking distance of Sequoia RV Ranch. We stopped for coffee for daddy, who had been working all day, and ice cream for all! I tried the Three Rivers Wild Blackberry, and it was delicious! Happiness is eating ice cream on a hot day and visiting national parks!
Follow our journey to our next stop… Yosemite National Park!