One Day in Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is located in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains of California. It is known for its towering giant sequoia trees, including the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree on earth by volume. The park spans over 400,000 acres of diverse landscapes, from high alpine peaks and deep canyons to lush meadows and crystal-clear rivers. The park is known for being home to a wide array of wildlife, including black bears and mountain lions…once again though I spent the whole day in the park and didn’t see anything more exotic than a squirrel.
One thing to note from the get go is that Sequoia is perhaps not for those who suffer with travel sickness. I didnt realise this until it was far too late but to access the parks highlights like General Sherman and the Giants Forest you need to first pass over the mountain, which means driving along a 16 mile road that bends and curves around and over the top of the mountain. This can take about 45 minutes to get over this pass and there are no straight parts of the road until you reach the Giants Forest.
There is also a significant temperature change as you weave through the mountain pass, with the heart of the park maintaining much lower temperatures than at the entrance. We even saw some snow left over and we visited in May.
The Giants Forest is where the park truly begins and there is plenty to see around that area. The park provides a free shuttle bus that takes visitors to the foot of the General Sherman tree and there is plenty of parking in and around the area. The Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park is a breathtaking wonderland home to some of the largest trees on Earth, including the famous General Sherman Tree. Covering over 1,800 acres, this ancient forest features towering sequoias that can reach heights of over 250 feet and live for thousands of years, creating an awe-inspiring canopy. There is also one of the parks gift shops located here.
The General Sherman Tree, located in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park, is a natural wonder and holds the record for the largest tree on Earth by volume. Standing at a towering height of 275 feet and with a base circumference of over 102 feet, this giant sequoia is estimated to be around 2,200 years old, making it both an ancient and monumental. Despite its immense size, the General Sherman Tree continues to grow each year, adding more wood than smaller trees do in their lifetime. There is a paved trail that leads up to this iconic tree, making it accessible for all.
We made the mistake of entering the park with only half a tank of gas and whilst there are no gas stations in the park itself, there is one located in between Sequoia and Kings Canyon Parks at Stoney Creek, not the cheapest gas we have ever purchased but it did save us from having to drive an hour out of the park again.
Overall i’d say Sequoia is one of my favourite national parks that I have visited so far!
