HikingAdventures
Bring your hiking poles, sturdy shoes and plenty of high-energy foods, because with miles of hiking trails for you to discover, you aren’t going to want to stop.
Sequoia National Park
Moro Rock
Distance: 6 miles round-trip
Time: 40 minutes
Trailhead: Moro Rock Parking Lot
Elevation Gain: 300 feet (nearly 400 stairs)
Description: Ready for a “hard rock” experience? Moro Rock is a granite dome located just off the Generals Highway near Giant Forest. On any given day visitors may see rock climbers clinging to Moro Rock’s cracks and knobs. For the rest of us, there’s a 400-step, 1/3-mile staircase from the parking lot that ascends more than 300 feet to the summit. The reward: spectacular views of the western half of Sequoia National Park and the Great Western Divide. Keep your binoculars ready and steady. In the background: the sawtooth sentinels of the Great Western Divide. In the foreground: the shy and speedy peregrine falcon,
free-wheeling in the surrounding sky it calls home.
Alta Peak Trail
Distance: 7 miles each way
Time: Approximately 7 to 8 hours, round-trip
Trailhead: Wolverton
Elevation Gain: 4,500 feet
Description: Though strenuous, this Sequoia hiking trail to Alta Peak is considered by many to be one of the best day hikes in Sequoia National Park. At 11,204 feet, the summit of Alta Peak provides jaw-dropping views of the Great Western Divide and the High Sierra. On a clear day you can even see all the way to
Mt. Whitney!
Congress Trail
Distance: 2 miles
Time: 1 to 2 hours, round-trip
Trailhead: General Sherman Tree, just off Generals Highway
Elevation Gain: 200 feet
Description: This popular, paved Sequoia hiking path loops through the heart of the Giant Sequoia Grove and is perfect for first-time visitors.
Tokopah Falls Trail
Distance: 3.4 miles
Time: 2 to 3 hours, round-trip
Trailhead: Log Bridge in Lodgepole Campground
Elevation Gain: 500 feet
Description: The trail to Tokopah Falls is an easy walk along the Marble Fork of then Kaweah River. Tokopah Falls is 1,200 feet high and most impressive in spring and early
summer. Measuring 1,200 feet long, Tokopah Falls is the tallest waterfall in Sequoia National Park. Unlike the famous free-falling waterfalls in that other national park to the north, Tokopah Falls
features a long series of steep picturesque cascades. The 4.2-mile round trip hike to the waterfall is fairly gradual, gaining 630 feet up a trail that should be enjoyable for hikers of all abilities. To make things simple, there are no junctions to worry about along the way to the waterfall where the trail dead ends.
Big Trees Trail
Distance: 1.2 mile self-guided loop trail
Time: 1 hour round-trip
Trailhead: Giant Forest Museum parking lot
Elevation Gain: 60 feet
Description: One of the most accessible Sequoia National Park trails in the park, this trail circles Round Meadow and features trail-side exhibits describing the area's ecology.
Crescent Meadow Loop Trail
Distance: 1.8 miles
Time: 2 hours, round-trip
Trailhead: Crescent Meadow parking lot
Elevation Gain: 200 feet
Description: This scenic loop trail takes you around the picturesque Crescent Meadow. Most impressive in the spring when wildflowers are in bloom, wildlife sightings are common in this area. The Sequoia hiking trail also goes by Tharp's Log, a hollowed out Sequoia tree that was converted into a summer cabin by one of the park's earliest
settlers.
Hazelwood Nature Trail
Distance:
1 mile, self-guided loop
Time:
1 hour, round-trip
Trailhead:
Starts at Trail Center near Giant Forest Museum
Elevation Gain:
50 feet
Description:
This pleasant Sequoia hiking experience will take you along gentle grades through excellent stands of giant sequoias. Trailside exhibits tell of historic figures who helped make these parks what they are.
Converse Basin - Boole Tree | Sequoia National Forest
Distance:
2.5 miles, self-guided loop
Time:
2 hours, round-trip
Trailhead:
Converse Basin is accessible by a graded dirt road off Highway 180, 6 miles north of Grant Grove. Converse Turnoff (Forest Road 13S55). There is a sign at this point saying Converse Basin Grove, Stump Meadow and Boole Tree Trail. Take Forest Road 13S55 about 0.5 mile into Converse Basin Grove
Elevation Gain:
No net gain; gentle climbs and descents
Description:
Boole, the largest giant sequoia on National Forest System Land, is the 8th largest of all known sequoias. This trail offers spectacular views of the Kings River gorge and spectacular high Sierra Nevada mountain vistas. As you travel along the trail, you’ll come across remains of sequoias left where they fell in the historic logging days.
High Sierra Trail to Bearpaw Meadow
Distance: 11.5 miles each way
Time: 5 to 10 hours, one way (average 7 hours)
Trailhead: Crescent Meadow, approximately 10 miles south of Wuksachi Lodge
Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet
Description: Well marked and easy to navigate, the High Sierra trail is considered moderate with a warm southern exposure. The trail follows a ridgeline of mixed conifers, offering spectacular views of the Great Western Divide and lush meadows along the
journey. The journey gains and loses elevation the entire way. It is wise to rest and enjoy Buck Creek (it has a concrete bridge) because the last 1.3 miles gains 600 vertical feet and is without water. The High Sierra trail crosses three major tributaries before reaching Bearpaw High Sierra Camp®. A number of popular day hikes are accessible from the camp.
Kings Canyon National Park
Big Stump Trail
Distance:
2 miles
Time:
1 hour
Trailhead:
Next to the entrance station inside the Highway 180 entrance
Elevation Gain:
200 feet
Description:
One of the lesser-traveled trails in Kings Canyon National Park, the Big Stump hiking trail features many enormous stumps left over from the logging days. Two points of interest along the trail include the Mark Twain Tree, a giant stump you can climb onto via a small ladder, and the Sawed Tree, a sequoia tree that bears an enormous scar from being partially sawed through which now stands perfectly healthy.
Redwood Canyon Trail - Hart Tree Loop
Distance:
7.3 miles, round-trip
Time:
4 hours
Trailhead:
Redwood Saddle parking area
Elevation Gain:
850 feet
Description:
The Hart Tree Loop is another less-traveled Grant Grove hiking trail located in Redwood Canyon, which contains the largest sequoia grove in the park. To get to the trailhead, drive south on Generals Highway from Grant Grove and turn right at Quail Flat onto a dirt road. The Redwood Saddle parking area is 1 ½ miles down the road. The Hart Tree Loop trail goes past an old logging site from the 1800's, past Hart Meadow and Fallen Goliath, and through Tunnel Tree, a hollowed out giant sequoia. Roughly halfway into the hike you will reach a spur trail that leads to the Hart Tree, the largest tree in the grove. The hike is relatively easy and provides numerous vista points along the way.
Big Baldy Trail
Distance:
4.5 miles, round-trip
Time:
2 ½ hours
Trailhead:
Parking area on Generals Highway, approximately 8 miles south of Grant Grove
Elevation Gain:
600 feet
Description:
The trail to the summit of Big Baldy is considered moderate difficulty. The trail alternates between forest and granite covered areas and eventually reaches an elevation of 8,209 feet with jaw- dropping panoramic views. For those interested in a little more Kings Canyon hiking, continue on for another half mile to catch a view of a formation called Chimney Rock.
Zumwalt Meadow Loop
Distance:
1.5 miles
Time:
1 to 1.5 hours
Trailhead:
Zumwalt Meadow Parking Lot
Elevation Gain:
no net gain; gentle climbs and descents
Description:
A mile west of Roads End, Zumwalt Meadow Loop is best taken in the early morning as the gentle trail circles a picture-perfect Sierra meadow. As you walk along the Kings River, the towering granite North Dome and Grand Sentinel fill the sky.
Mist Falls Trail
Distance: 9 miles round-trip
Time: 3 to 5 hours round-trip
Trailhead: Roads End
Elevation Gain: 600 feet
Description: A riverside walk into Kings Canyon features a natural granite staircase that eventually leads to Mist Falls, thunderous in late spring and early summer, and still impressive into autumn.
Sequoia National Park Foothills Hiking Trails
Trails in the foothills are are accessible year-round. Fall brings cooler temperatures for hiking in this diverse environment. In winter and spring, the foothills are clothed in a glorious array of wildflowers. Late March through late May are especially colorful. As summer approaches the temperature rises, and so do the rivers. Avoid the dangerous rivers during this time!
Please note that pets are not permitted on any of the trails in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
Marble Falls Trail
This trail climbs 3.9 miles (6km) through chaparral to a lovely cascade.
Park near site #14 at Potwisha Campground. Follow the dirt road across the concrete ditch. The trail starts along the steep bank to the right.
Middle Fork Trail
Leading through chaparral to highcountry, the first mile offers views of Moro Rock and Castle Rocks. Panther Creek Falls is 3 miles (5 km) from the parking area.
To reach the trail, take the Buckeye Flat Campground road and turn left on the dirt road before the campground. Go 1.3 miles (2 km) to a parking area. Park at Hospital Rock if Buckeye Flat is closed.
Lady Bug Trail
Hike along the South Fork of the Kaweah in the upper foothills (moderately steep). The trail ends 3 miles (5 km) near one of the lowest-elevation sequoia groves. The trail begins at South Fork Campground. From the campground, cross the river via a footbridge to find the trailhead.
Garfield Grove Trail
This trail is a relatively steep 5-mile (8.3 km) one-way climb to the Garfield Sequoia Grove.
From. South Fork Campground start on the south side of the river in the campground.
North Fork Trail
This trail can be difficult to access. Please check at a visitor center for details.
