Sequoia

Overview

Sequoia National Park is home to the General Sherman Tree, the largest living organism on Earth by volume — 52,500 cubic feet of wood standing 275 feet tall with a base circumference of 102 feet. The tree is estimated to be over 2,200 years old and is still growing, adding enough wood each year to make a 60-foot-tall tree. The Giant Forest, where Sherman stands among thousands of other massive sequoias, creates a landscape of impossible scale where even large sugar pines and white firs are dwarfed. Beyond the big trees, Sequoia descends into the deep granite canyon of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River and climbs to the crest of the Sierra Nevada at 14,494-foot Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States. Moro Rock, a granite dome with a staircase carved into its face, provides a 360-degree panorama of the Great Western Divide from a perch 6,725 feet high. Crystal Cave, a marble cavern decorated with stalactites and polished formations, offers underground tours from late spring through fall. The park's winding Generals Highway connects Sequoia to Kings Canyon through groves of giant trees, past dramatic canyon overlooks, and along ridgelines with long views across the Sierra foothills. Oversized vehicles are restricted on some sections, but the drive rewards those who take it slowly.

Things to Do

• Stand beneath the General Sherman Tree, the largest tree on Earth
• Climb the Moro Rock staircase for panoramic Sierra views
• Tour Crystal Cave's marble formations
• Hike the Congress Trail loop among giant sequoias
• Drive the Generals Highway through groves and canyons
• Backpack the High Sierra Trail to Mount Whitney
• Visit the Giant Forest Museum

Wildlife

Keep an eye out for these animals during your visit:

Weather & Best Time to Visit

Giant Forest elevation (6,400 ft) means warm summers (70-80°F) and snowy winters. Higher elevations are cold year-round. The Generals Highway can close temporarily during winter storms.