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Sequoia National Park is close to Yosemite National Park and King’s Canyon National Park and is often lumped into a trip with the other two. That is exactly what we did – two days in Yosemite, one day in King’s Canyon and then one day in Sequoia National Park. In this post, we will discuss a one day Sequoia National Park Itinerary. If you are lucky enough to have the time to visit all of the national parks in California in one trip, check out this post here.

Also planning to visit Yosemite while you are checking out Sequoia National Park? Check out this two day Yosemite Itinerary here.

Sequoia National Park Itinerary

While the onset of C-19 has increased the focus on social distancing, I have been trying to get national parks to myself since I first started visiting several years ago. I have some general tips for hiking and social distancing here. But one of my favorite things about visiting Sequoia National Park was that we didn’t encounter many people. A lot of this has to do with how we structured our Sequoia National Park Itinerary.

What to do in Sequoia National Park

Hike to Moro Rock

We started out our day around 8 AM on a Monday hiking to Moro Rock. While Moro Rock is not exactly what you were necessarily expecting from thinking about a park filled with trees, it’s absolutely a must-do when in the park. This trail is tight quarters with no shade and definitely recommend getting started early to avoid the sun exposure and people.

The actual hike details might surprise you. It’s a total of 0.4 miles round trip and 187 feet of elevation gain and it is rated as moderate. However this hike is not for anyone with a fear of heights as the trail is quite narrow. The views from the top of Moro Rock are incredible and totally worth the trek. When we were most of the way back down from Moro Rock, we did start to see people so starting early is definitely a must.

Expert Tip: This is also a good hike to do at sunset since the sunset views here are absolutely stunning. If you aren’t afraid of heights, you can also go past the railings. Head out onto the rocks and you’ll see stairs that take you to an additional seating area.

Drive through Tunnel Log

The next stop on our Sequoia National Park itinerary was driving through Tunnel Log. We actually passed the next item on our Sequoia National Park itinerary because we wanted to make sure we had minimal people so we could get a picture with the iconic tree. We spent about 20 minutes uninterrupted taking pictures and as soon as we pulled away a truck came up behind us – so our strategy worked.

According to the Sequoia National Park website: The fallen Tunnel Log of Sequoia National Park came into being after an unnamed giant sequoia fell across the Crescent Meadow Road in late 1937 as a result of “natural causes.” The following summer, a tunnel was cut through the fallen log as a visitor attraction. You can read more about Sequoia National Park’s Tunnel Log here.

Visit the Parker Group

Even if you are pressed for time, checking out The Parker Group is a convenient stop between Moro Rock and Tunnel Log. This named group of trees is one that you can get very close to (unlike some later that are fenced off).

Hike to General Sherman Tree

General Sherman Tree is probably the number one thing you have to include when planning a Sequoia National Park Itinerary. General Sherman is the world’s largest tree by volume. It stands 275 feet (83 m) tall, and is over 36 feet (11 m) in diameter at the base. 

The hike to General Sherman is rated as easy. It is 0.9 miles long and 164 feet of elevation gain. However, there is actually handicap parking in a separate area for more accessible viewing.

Hike the Congress Loop

If you aren’t tired of the big trees yet, instead of stopping with General Sherman, consider following the longer Congress Loop trail. This takes you by many named trees. There are many paths in the area so be mindful of the trail name and ensure you have a map.

The Congress Loop itself is 3 miles, rated as easy, and has 495 feet of elevation gain. The trees themselves are creatively named and it is definitely worth the 3 miles.

Other Things to do in Sequoia National Park

• Explore the Giant Forest – If you are short on time then just visit the General Sherman Tree. Otherwise, spend a few hours exploring the surrounding area. After all, there are literally tons of amazing trees all around you. We did the Congress Loop, but there are other trails through the area that are well worth your time. Just watch out for trail markers since the number of trails here makes it easy to get lost.

• Explore the Mountains – Sequoia National Park also contains lots of amazing mountains. Some amazing hikes through this part of the park include a hike to Marble Falls, Lakes Trail (this hike is hard and takes you to three unique alpine lakes), etc.

• Visit Some Meadows – The meadows of Sequoia National Park are a great place to see local wildlife (like bears) and enjoy some amazing wildflowers. So, stop by Crescent and Zumwault Meadow since both areas are home to some amazing hikes.

• Drive through King’s Canyon – As I mentioned in the intro, we visited King’s Canyon, Yosemite, and Sequoia National Park during the same trip. So, if you have the time try to drive through King’s Canyon. It’s actually connected to Sequoia National Park and is easy to drive up. Be sure to drive along the King’s Canyon Scenic Byway since it is beautiful.

Where to stay near Sequoia National Park

After we splurged on lodging inside of Yosemite National Park, we opted for a cheaper route for our visit to Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park. For the two nights surrounding our trip to Sequoia, we stayed in Visalia at the Fairfield Inn Visalia Sequoia. Visalia was an adorable town and we appreciated being a little closer to civilization with a patio dinner option.

Bonus tip: We stayed at the Fairfield Inn Visalia Sequoia, a Marriott property. You could stay there for free with the Marriott credit card. Visiting national parks out west is not cheap so using the card to buy your permits, flights, and gear will get you some points for your hotel. *Note: I never advocate credit card debt. Only take on what you can pay off in full each month.*

With longer time you may consider camping in or near Sequoia National Park. If you’re traveling from out of state (or country), it may be easier to rent camping gear rather than pack it. You can find more information about campgrounds in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks here.

Sequoia National Park Tips

Hopefully this one day Sequoia National Park guide will have you ready to explore these gorgeous trees. Some additional things to consider to ensure a smooth trip:

• Bring bug spray. There were constant mosquitoes and I personally wouldn’t even consider a visit if I forgot my bug spray.
• Start early. Although this was mentioned several times throughout the post, starting early will help with both crowds and heat.
• Pack snacks, water, and electrolytes. Although none of the suggested hikes are very long, amenities are limited in the park so you definitely want to be prepared. When hiking, I like to use a hiking pack with a water bladder like this one. Regardless of a water bladder or bottles, consider factors like the shade available on trails, how cloudy/sunny the weather is, and how hot it is outside. A trail with no shade on a sunny day would require about double the water than if it was a cloudy, cool day.
• Wear solid, sturdy hiking shoes. I use some similar to these, but find something that works for you. All of the hikes in this post could be done in tennis shoes. However, if you are doing more intense hikes or spending some time in Yosemite as well, you definitely will want more grip/traction than regular tennis shoes.
• Sunscreen is also really important when hiking is there is often not much shade – especially if completing Moro Rock.
• Layers of clothing help ensure that you stay both warm when it’s cool and cool when it’s warm – consider hiking in wool clothing

Sequoia National Park

Have you visited Sequoia National Park? What was your favorite spot? Let me know in the comments.

You may also enjoy these posts:

• Two Day Itinerary for Yosemite
• Video View of Moro Rock from the Top
• Best Things to do in Kings Canyon in One Day

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