Hiking the Stunning Congress Trail in Sequoia National Park
The Congress Trail in Sequoia National Park is one of the must do trails in the park because it has some of the most photogenic clusters of Sequoias like the Senate and the House. I would honestly love to go back just to spend more time taking photos there.
The Congress Trail technically starts from the famous General Sherman Tree, which is the biggest tree in the world!
We did a free ranger tour of the Congress Trail which I do not regret at all, but it did only allow for a short amount of time at each stop which Dave and I struggled with because we take a while to get a good photo. Plus, because there were about 25-30 people on the tour, it was super hard to get a shot without people in it.
If you do the ranger lead tour like we did, you will learn a lot of interesting facts about the Sequoia Trees. For example, they need fire to reproduce! LIKE WHAT!
Anyway I’m starting to waffle so I’m going to get straight into it. This guide has everything you need to know about hiking the Congress Trail in Sequoia National Park, including the stats, whether or not I think it’s a trail worth doing and tips for hiking the Congress Trail.
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Sequoia National Park Quick Links
📍 Where is Sequoia: California – a 4-5 hour drive from San Francisco
✈ Where to Fly into: Fresno – Find FLIGHTS here!
📆 When to Visit: Best time to visit Sequoia: Summer, Spring or Fall. Winter is also a magical time to visit!
🛌 Top Places to Stay in Sequoia National Park:
Wuksachi Lodge ⭐⭐⭐ 8.2 rating
The Gateway Restaurant & Lodge ⭐⭐⭐ 7.6 rating
🚗 Rental Car: Discovercars is our go-to for the best rental car prices!
Park Permits: America the Beautiful Pass required
Park Hours: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year unless a Winter storm causes road closures
Everything You Need to Know About the Congress Trail
Hike Stats
Distance: 4.6km / 2.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 146m / 480ft
Time: 1.5-2 hours
Dog Friendly: No
Toilets: Yes, in the parking lot
Where is the Congress Trail
The Congress Trail is located in Sequoia National Park at the same trailhead as the famous General Sherman Tree.
How to get to the Congress Trail
You can drive and park in the Sherman Tree Parking lot or during Summer, you can park at the Giant Forest Museum and catch a free shuttle (because the parking lots get full pretty quickly during Summer). I recommend parking somewhere (probably the Giant Forest Museum because it is the most central parking spot) and then using the shuttles to get around the park during Summer.
We made the mistake of not doing this and we were stuck for a while in the middle of the day having to drive around while all of the parking lots were full.
Best time to hike the Congress Trail
The best time of the day to hike the Congress Trail is first thing in the morning or late afternoon to try to avoid some of the crowds. Summer is the busiest time of the year in Sequoia National Park but we found that although the paths around the General Sherman Tree were packed in the late morning, once we were on the Congress Trail, it was a lot less busy.
We did this trail in the late morning so it was probably the busiest time of the day.
During Summer you will probably get to see wildflowers along the trail which were so pretty and I totally wasn’t expecting it!
Spring and Fall will probably be a little less crowded and a little more chilly.
During Winter, there may be snow on the trail which transforms the park completely. I would actually love to revisit in Winter. Some of the roads are closed during Winter so you won’t be able to drive to places like Moro Rock or Tunnel Log. Make sure you bring along a pair of micro spikes in Winter to stop from slipping on the trail.
How long is the Congress Trail
The Congress Trail is 4.6km / 2.9 miles and will take anywhere from 1.5 – 2 hours. The trail is a loop so there is no backtracking required.
Facilities
There are no facilities along the trail itself, but there are bathrooms at the trailhead, along with a tap for refilling water bottles.
National park passes
To enter and visit sights in Sequoia National Park, you will need a national parks pass. The America the Beautiful pass is the best option if you plan to visit multiple national parks over the period of a year. Even if you just plan on visiting Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks this year over a few days, it is still worth it to purchase the America the Beautiful Pass.
Leave no trace
The 7 Leave No Trace principles are important to be aware of to help keep places like the Sequoia National Park beautiful. To remind yourself of the 7 Leave No Trace principles, check out the LNT website.
Tips for hiking the Congress Trail
- Start early or visit in the late afternoon
- Join a free guided tour with a ranger – this is what we did and we learnt so much!
- Don’t forget your camera – there are some really impressive trees on this trail
- Bring plenty of water and some snacks
- Wear sunscreen and bring a hat – even though you are in the forest, this trail is quite exposed.
Congress Trail Details
The Congress Trail is a loop on a gentle paved trail with a little bit of incline. There are also various benches along the trail. You will start your hike from the Sherman Tree Trailhead and you can check out General Sherman first before continuing onto the Congress Trail (follow the signs). If you want to join a ranger lead hike, wait beside the Congress Trail sign about a 1-2 minute walk away from General Sherman.
Along the trail, you will want to look out for:
- The President Tree – a lone Sequoia
- The House and the Senate tree clusters – I absolutely love the tree clusters because they make for good photos!
- The tree tunnel walkway – like the Tunnel Log Drive Through but a fallen tree over the trail for you to walk through.
- Wildlife you might see – deer birds black bears – We were shocked to see a black bear when while we were with the tour group! It was so busy on the trail and yet we still saw one! Absolutely amazing!
- A tree that looks like a split tree but that I think is actually 2 trees very close to each other. I don’t know though – you tell me. (photo on the right below)
- Wildflowers in Summer! We saw lots of lupins which were just gorgeous!
Congress Trail vs the Big Trees Trail
| Feature | Congress Trail | Big Trees Trail |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 4.6km / 2.9 miles | 1.1km / 0.7 miles |
| Difficulty | Easy – moderate | Very easy |
| Elevation Gain | 146m / 480ft | Minimal |
| Trailhead Location | General Sherman Tree | Giant Forest Museum |
| Highlights | Massive Sequoia Groves, fewer crowds because of the length of the trail, immersive forest feel, wildflowers | Interpretive signs, beautiful meadows, giant sequoias, great for kids |
| Accessibility | Fully paved, however with inclines so powered wheelchairs will make it easier | Yes! |
| Best for | Those who want a deeper walk into the forest + fewer crowds | Families, strollers users and those short on time |
| Crowds | Less crowded than at the General Sherman Tree | Can get busy mid-day |
| Suitable for kids? | Yes, if they are okay with walking longer distances | Perfect for kids! |
Where to stay in Sequoia National Park
Planning your trip to Sequoia? Don’t miss my Where to Stay in Sequoia National Park guide where I share the best areas, lodges, nearby towns, and camping spots.
What to pack for the trail
👗 Clothing
- Merino t-shirt
- Hiking Pants, shorts or leggings.
- Fleece – mornings can be cold
- Sunhat, sunglasses and sunscreen – the trail is quite exposed
🥾 Adventure Gear
- Daypack
- Reusable water bottle
- Bug spray (the mozzies can be fierce in the forests and on the trails here!)
- Camera!
- Hiking Boots or Trail Runners
Things to do nearby
If you are planning on doing the Congress Trail, you need to make sure you check out the General Sherman Tree which is the biggest tree in the world!
Once you have finished with these 2 trails, you could head over to the Giant Forest Museum to escape the sun for a bit and learn more about the Giant Sequoia Trees.
Moro Rock, which is a great sunset hike, Crescent Meadow and the Tunnel Log Drive Through are a short drive away past the Giant Forest Museum.
Tip
Your next read: An Epic 2 Day Sequoia National Park Itinerary
frequently asked questions
Our thoughts and why the Congress Trail is worth it
The Congress Trail is one of the most popular trails in Sequoia National Park for a reason. It has some of the most beautiful clusters of Sequoia trees that we saw in the park so I recommend not skipping it if you have the time. If you do the ranger lead tour, you will learn a lot of interesting facts about the Sequoia Trees. For example, they need fire to reproduce!
Don’t plan your trip to Sequoia National Park without reading these:
- How to Spend an Amazing 2 Days in Sequoia National Park
- An Incredible 4 Day Yosemite Itinerary
- Instaworthy Photo Spots in Yosemite National Park
- The Ultimate 15 Day California Road Trip Itinerary
- The Best 2 Day Lake Tahoe Summer Itinerary
- Yosemite vs Sequoia National Park
- The Most Instagrammable Spot Near San Francisco
- Beautiful Golden Gate Bridge Photo Spots
- Moro Rock – The Best Sunset Spot in Sequoia National Park
- Instaworthy Sequoia National Park Photo Spots
- Is the Tunnel Log Drive Through in Sequoia National Park Worth it?
- The Big Trees Trail in Sequoia National Park
- Must-See Sights in Sequoia National Park for First-Timers
- Everything You Need to Know About General Sherman: The Biggest Tree in the World
- Where to Stay in Sequoia National Park
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