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Must-See Sights in Sequoia National Park for First-Timers

ByKerry

Sequoia National Park is full of beautiful gems but it can be overwhelming trying to figure out what to see in Sequoia when you first start planning your trip there. We spent 2 full days in Sequoia National Park and saw a lot in that time so now I know what I would suggest doing and seeing if any of friends were to visit Sequoia for the first time.

Read on for a list of the must-see spots in Sequoia National Park for anyone visiting for the first time. This list includes a few of my favourite photo spots and the biggest tree in the world.

girl standing on top of the tunnel log drive through in Sequoia NAtional Park
girl sitting at the viewpoint at sunset at Moro Rock in Sequoia National Park

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What to See in Sequoia National Park

📸 Sequoia National Park in a Snapshot

📍 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

Map of the Must-See Sights in Sequoia National Park

The below map and list is of the best things to do in Sequoia National Park for first timers. For most of these spots I have given them their own separate blog posts with more information on them, should you need it. I have listed the things that you should not miss out on such as some of the most famous trees in Sequoia National Park.

Click here to open the map in Google Maps!

General Sherman Tree

Distance: 1.9km / 1.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 60m / 196ft
Time: 30-40 minutes
Dog Friendly: No
Toilets: Yes, in the parking lot

The General Sherman Tree is the biggest tree in the world from its overall volume of its trunk! In my opinion, it is THE number 1 thing that you should see while you are in Sequoia National Park.

General Sherman tree in Sequoia National Park

Congress Trail

Distance: 4.6km / 2.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 146m / 480ft
Time: 1.5-2 hours
Dog Friendly: No
Toilets: Yes, in the parking lot

The Congress Trail in Sequoia National Park is the one trail that you should do while you are there. It starts from the General Sherman Tree but can take a couple of hours to complete.

Alternatively, if you don’t think you have time to do the Congress Trail or have little kids who will struggle hiking that amount of distance, I would recommend switching it out for the Big Trees Trail, which is located next the Giant Forest Museum. You still need to make sure that you see General Sherman though! 😉

2 Giant Sequoias with a couple in between

Tunnel Log

The Tunnel Log Drive Through is one of the best photo spots in Sequoia National Park. It is just what the name suggests – a tunnel carved out of a log (a fallen Sequoia Tree). Tunnel Log is a quick stop with no hiking involved and not too far away from Moro Rock.

couple under the Tunnel Log Drive Through in Sequoia National Park. Man holding girl

Moro Rock

Distance: 0.8km / 0.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 56m / 183ft
Time: 45 minutes – 1 .5 hours
Dog Friendly: No
Toilets: Yes, in the parking lot

Moro Rock is one of the best sunset spots in Sequoia National Park. It is a short but very steep hike with crazy 360 degree views. If you are afraid of heights however, this might not be the best hike for you because although it is very safe with handrails along the trail and at the top, there are very steep, scary looking drop offs.

Girl sitting at viewpoint at Moro Rock at sunset

Big Trees Trail

Distance: 1.1km / 0.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 15.24m / 50 ft
Time: 30 mins – 1 hour (depending on how often you stop)
Dog Friendly: Yes
Toilets: Yes, in the parking lot

The Big Trees Trail is a great shorter alternative to the Congress Trail and one of the most easiest hikes in Sequoia. The trail takes you in a loop around a really pretty meadow. If you do have the time though, I highly recommend doing the Congress Trail over the Big Trees Trail because it is home to some of the most impressive and famous Giant Sequoia Trees like the President Tree and the Senate and the House Sequoia Clusters.

Girl standing next to Giant SEquoia trees looking up at how tall they are

Giant Forest Museum

The Giant Forest Museum is a great place to get information about the park because it is also the visitors centre and one of the main Shuttle stops in Summer. You can park across the road from the museum and leave your car there all day while you use the shuttles to get around the park. I recommend doing this during Summer because the parking lots fill up quickly and you may miss out on seeing certain things if you find yourself without a parking spot. There is also a

Crescent Meadow

Distance: 2.1km / 1.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 40m / 131 ft
Time: 1 hour
Dog Friendly: No
Toilets: Yes, in the Crescent Meadow Picnic Area

Crescent Meadow is something we missed out on this time around but it was next up on our list. It was extremely hot while we were visiting Sequoia and the Crescent Meadow hike was going to fall smack bang in the middle of the day so we decided to skip it and chill out instead. I have heard that it is a beautiful hike though if you have extra time. Plus! There are wildflowers in the Summer!

Tips for visiting Sequoia for the first time

When is the best time to visit

Honestly, I don’t think you can go wrong with when to visit because Sequoia National Park is beautiful all-year-round. Oh except that during Winter, some of the trails and photo spots are closed because the roads are not ploughed.

Here is a bit of a breakdown of what each season looks like.

Summer (June – August)

Summer is peak season for a reason. You will find beautiful sunny skies, warm temperatures (which can be a blessing and a curse) and all the trails and viewpoints are open. It’s a perfect time to visit but also the busiest time so expect big crowds, especially near General Sherman which is probably the most popular spot in the entire park. Make sure you head out early each day and pack sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water.

Fall (September – November)

Fall is quieter, cooler, and kind of magical. The trails are peaceful, the air is crisp, and the park feels calm after summer. You won’t see bold fall colours in Sequoia National Park, but a few golden tones and much less people make up for it. The snowfall can start late October.

Winter (December – February)

Winter turns Sequoia National Park into a snow globe which sounds so so beautiful and I really want to visit. However, some roads do close and you may require snow chains and be comfortable driving in Winter conditions.

Spring (March – May)

Spring can be a mixed bag. Wildflowers begin blooming at lower elevation, while snow lingers higher up. Some trails and roads often stay closed but it depends on the year and the conditions. Don’t forget to pack layers and check the closures and conditions before you go!

Entrance information and 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.

America the Beautiful National Parks Pass

Wildlife in the park

There is a good chance you will see some wildlife while you are visiting Sequoia. We were there in the middle of Summer with all of the crowds for only 2 days and we saw deer, squirrels AND A BLACK BEAR! Other wildlife to look out for includes:

  • Chipmunks
  • Foxes
  • Coyotes
  • Birds
  • Lizards and snakes

Where to stay

Figuring out where to stay in Sequoia, can be confusing because Sequoia looks small on a map, but the winding mountain roads mean some towns are much farther from the main sights than they appear.

Check out my full Where to Stay in Sequoia National Park guide where I break down the best areas, lodges, nearby towns, and camping options.

What to pack

👗 Clothing

🥾 Adventure Gear

frequently asked questions

In my opinion, the best time to visit Sequoia National Park would be Summer or Fall. Fall is best to avoid the Summer crowds but also still get some great weather.

You do not currently need a reservation, however, you will need a national parks pass.

Sequoia National Park is open all-year-round, however, some of the trails and roads close during Winter because of the snow.

I recommend spending around 2-3 days in Sequoia National Park to make sure you see all of the best things!

You do not need to hike to see the Giant Sequoias in Sequoia National Park, however, the best ones are definitely along some of the popular trails such as the Congress Trail and the General Sherman Trail. If you really don’t want to hike, you can see the Sequoia Trees from your car while you drive. There is also a few impressive ones next to the Giant Forest Museum.

Dogs are allowed in the park, however, they are only allowed on a few of the trails in Sequoia National Park. Read more about pets in Sequoia National Park on the NPS.gov website.

There is no cell service in Sequoia National Park and unless you are staying at a hotel within the park, there is no Wi-Fi available.

An RV can get to all of the main sights in Sequoia National Park, however, if you are worried, you can park your RV outside the Giant Forest Museum and use the free Sequoia National Park shuttles to get around.

My thoughts

There is a lot more to see in Sequoia National Park but this list has the very top things that I would do and see if I were visiting again for the first time. I hope you have the best time visiting Sequoia National Park and I would love to hear what your favourite spot is. Let me know in the comments below!

Don’t plan your trip to Sequoia National Park without reading these:

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Guide on the Must see sights in Sequoia National Park
Guide on the best things to do in Sequoia National Park

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