Is the Tunnel Log Drive Through in Sequoia National Park Worth it?

The Tunnel Log Drive Through is one of the best photo spots in Sequoia National Park and one that doesn’t require any hiking to get to. In recent years, it has become a famous “Instagram spot” because of the large cut out in the middle of the giant Sequoia Tree to make room for cars to drive through.

We had lots of fun taking photos under the tree tunnel and on top of it without any crowds at all!

In this guide I will tell you everything you need to know about visiting the Tunnel Log Drive Through in Sequoia National Park, including how to get there and how to avoid the insane crowds. The first time we visited the Tunnel Log, there was a line of cars going back along the road all the way around the corner!

Couple - girl and man standing under the Tunnel Log Drive Through for a photo in Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park Quick Links

Table of Contents

📍 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

The Tunnel Log Drive Through in Sequoia

What is the Tunnel Log?

The Tunnel Log is a tourist feature in Sequoia National Park. The popular photo spot originated from a fallen down Sequoia Tree which first fell in 1935 and because it was too heavy to move, it was left across the road until workers carved a tunnel through it. It is now one of the most photographed locations in Sequoia National Park.

Vehicles that are taller than 8 feet (2.4 m) can use a bypass as they will not fit through the tree tunnel.

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

How to get to the Tunnel Log Drive Through

The Tunnel Log Drive Through is located along Crescent Meadow Road, not too far from Moro Rock so it’s a great idea to do them both in one go.

Girl sitting at viewpoint at Moro Rock at sunset — *Sunset at Moro Rock*

From the Giant Forest Museum, it is about a 6 minute drive to the Tunnel Log. You will need to take the Crescent Meadow Road which is actually closed to private vehicles during the weekends from 9am – around 6pm. During these times, you will need to take the Sequoia National Park Shuttle. We went right at sunrise so the road was still open and there was literally no one else there!

There is no real parking at the Tunnel Log Drive Through so you will need to line up and wait your turn straight away.

Opening and Closing Times

The Crescent Meadow Road is usually open from late Spring – Fall and then closes for the Winter as it is not ploughed.

Driving through Tunnel Log

Tunnel Log is a spot in Sequoia National Park which is open to the public, however, not all vehicles can drive through the Tunnel Log. It can accommodate vehicles that are less than 8 feet (2.4 m) high. Vehicles that are taller than this are able to use a bypass so that you can still see the Tunnel Log but don’t have to go through it and potentially get stuck.

If your car doesn’t fit, there is a pull-out that is a bit further up the road near the Parka Group Sequoias and you can walk down to it for a photo.

Girl standing in the middle of Sequoia Trees — *Parker Group Sequoias*

Is Tunnel Log worth it? My honest opinion

Yes! Tunnel Log is such a fun little photo spot, however, with the crowds it makes it a little less fun so read my point below on how to avoid the crowds at Tunnel Log. If the line up is long, it might take you a while to get to the front of the queue, but if you can avoid the crowds, the whole experience will only take around 5-10 minutes.

I think this is an especially fun spot in Sequoia National Park for kids!

couple standing on top of the Tunnel Log in Sequoia NAtional Park

How to Avoid the Crowds at Tunnel Log

The business time of the year in Sequoia National Park is Summer so this is when Tunnel Log is likely to be the most crowded. Late Summer, Fall and Spring will be a bit less busy.

We found that the absolute best time during Summer to avoid the crowds at Tunnel Log was to go at sunrise, just after the sun came up. We actually also tried to visit the evening before, but the line up was insane! We still waited in line and took a quick photo, but there were loads of people waiting after us and the line of cars kind of ruined the photo.

I thought for sure that it would be a little busy at sunrise as well, what with everyone being obsessed with Instagram photos these days, but we were the first ones there and the only ones there for a good 20ish minutes at least.

couple standing on top of the Tunnel Log Drive Through in Sequoia NAtional Park

Photography tips

We had plenty of time to try different lenses and angles at the Tunnel Log Drive Through and in the end we liked these the best:

Lighting: You are in the forest so I don’t know how much light gets through during the day but the early morning light was nice because there weren’t any harsh shadows to ruin our photo. So I would say if you want to play it safe, the best time for lighting would be early morning or late afternoon.

Best angles: The best angle of the Tunnel Log Drive Through (in my opinion) is if you place your camera past the tunnel looking back down the hill.

Best camera settings: We shot a mix of photos at 47mm and 63mm. We wanted to get more zoom in our shots but it was hard to fit the windy road in behind the tree tunnel if we went too zoomy so the best we could do was 63mm. The lens we used was Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8.

Extra tips: Bring a tripod for shots with you in the middle of the tunnel and wear something bright. My brown jacket definitely didn’t help me stand out against the trees but Dave’s white shirt looks great!

Where to stay in Sequoia National Park

Sequoia may look small on a map, but the winding mountain roads make travelling to the main sights from outside towns take longer than you would expect. 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.

frequently asked questions

RVs will not fit through the Tunnel Log Drive Through but you can take the bypass road so that you can still see it.

The road to Tunnel Log closes in the Winter due to the snow.

When we visited during Summer, the queues were quite crazy in the late afternoon, however when we went back at sunrise, we were the only ones there.

You will only need to spend around 5-10 minutes at Tunnel Log, unless you are like us. I think we spent probably around 20 minutes there taking photos.

You can snowshoe, ski or hike down the road in the Winter but you cannot drive as the road is not ploughed during the Winter months. It usually opens back up in late May.

Our thoughts

At first when we got to Tunnel Log and saw the huge line to take a photo I thought pffft, this is soooo not worth it! But then when we went back bright and early the next day, we had SO much fun being literally the only ones there for quite some time before the first car or 2 showed up.

I definitely think Tunnel Log should be included in your Sequoia National Park Itinerary and if it’s not, just go ahead an add it.

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