Sequoia National Park - General Sherman Tree

on July 01, 2024

Introduction:

What? :

Over the years I’ve visited Sequoia National Park several times and I always get humbling experience when I’m walking and looking up onto a Giant Sequoia tree.

In the case of General Sherman Tree, it is the largest tree in the world by volume, you will be impressed.

It’s a must-see destination for anyone visiting Sequoia National Parks.

The walk to the tree from the parking lot is about 0.6 mile down the hill and you need to walk back up to the parking or use the shuttle on your way back to the car, plan to be here for about one hour.

Where? :

Sequoia National Park is in the heart of California central Sierra mountains, adjusted South of Kings Canyon National Park.

It is about six hours to drive from Los Angeles and six hours to drive from San Francisco.

The General Sherman Tree located in Sequoia National Park, about 10 minutes south of the Lodgepole Campground and Visitor Center. Unless you can park in the handicapped area, you’ll park in the General Sherman Parking Lot. Another option is to use the local free shuttlebus that can bring you to this location.

Parking for the Main Trail is off the Wolverton Road (between the Sherman Tree and Lodgepole); just follow signs. This is the upper parking and from here a half mile trail lead down to General Sherman Tree. You can park in the upper parking lot, hike down to the tree and take back the shuttle to the upper parking.

Those with disability parking placards can park in a small lot along the edge of the Generals Highway.

Google Map Link

When? :

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National parks are open year-round although not all roads are clear of snow during winter (see below). The best time to visit here is during the summer months, from May to September.

Summer month can introduce hot days even in high elevation. At mid-late summer you can have forest fires and smoke that cover the view during that season.

During the summer month you may start your day with clear blue skies, but weather conditions can change quickly and by midday, you may find yourself in a strong summer storm with wind, rain and thunderstorm.

Lightning activity in the Sierra during summer months is common (can cause forest fire). Thunder clouds buildup seen far off in the distance can be an indicator of incoming lightning activity, you should evaluate your location and if you are in high and expose area you need to seek shelter or lower ground.

Winter months are very cold and stormy, and the area and trails are covered by snow. Tire chains may be required on park roads any time it snows, usually late fall, winter, and through spring.

The recommended and safe enter to the park during winter, when the roads are covered with snow and ice is via highway 180 coming up from Fresno.

Winter roads closer:

· General Highway coming from the south (coming from Visalia, CA) in it steep and narrow switchbacks section can be close.

· Highway 180 road in heading down into Kings Canyon is closed during winter month when deep snow covers the road, usually between Jan to March.

· Crescent Meadow Rd leading to Moro Rock is close during the winter months.

Due note 1:

This is in a national park, so it requires an America the Beautiful yearly pass or paying the $35 entrance fee, which is valid for up to seven days.

Due note 2:

This is the most visited location in the park, at weekend and holidays mid-day the parking lot can be full and a line of cars that are waiting for parking spot. On the trails you will see hundreds of people and packed crowed in front of General Sherman Tree, waiting in line to get their picture.

I highly recommend coming here as early as you can in the morning, right after sunrise or late at the afternoon.

Links to my Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Blogs:

The lower parking down on the main park road is very small and dedicated for disability parking placards and wheelchair accessible parking.

To overcome the lack of available parking spots in the upper parking lot during the busiest times of the year there is a local Fare-Free Shuttle Service that is connecting the large parking lot Wolverton to both upper and lower trails. Another shuttle is available from Giant Forest Museum and Lodgepole Visitor center and campground.

During Summer 2024, daily shuttle service begins May 23 and runs through September 2, 2024. Shuttles run from 8:30 am until 6 pm.

Due note 3:

Pets are prohibited on all trails in the park. This includes paved trails, such as the General Sherman Tree Trail, Big Trees Trail, Grant Tree Trail, and others. Service dogs are permitted anywhere their companion goes.

I did saw many small dogs on the trails near General Sherman Tree so not sure if park rangers enforce the “no pets” rule.

Due note 4:

There are no gas stations within the national parks. Be sure to fill your tanks before you enter the park or ensure that you have enough gas to reach one of the two gas stations in the neighboring national forest:

· You can find gas stations on highway 180 before entering the park

· Hume Lake (open year-round)

· On the road leading to Sequoia National Park at Stony Creek Resort & Gas Station (open summer only).

· In Three Rivers not so far from Visalia.

There are no charging stations for electric vehicles.

Due note 5:

You may encounter high temperatures during the summer and early fall months. Please carry and drink plenty of water. Bring hats and use sunscreen. Restrooms and drinking water are available in upper and lower trails.

Due note 6:

Even during the summer months be prepared for sudden changes in weather conditions. Pack an extra layer of clothing that reflects the most extreme conditions you could encounter.

Salty and easy to digest snacks work well for outdoor activities.

Due note 7:

Black bears, though not always black, are found throughout Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Never touch or feed ANY wild animals. View animals at safe distances (the length of two city buses from more dangerous animals like bears).

Rattlesnakes are common in the Sequoia foothills and in the Kings Canyon at low elevation.

Due note 8:

There are few restaurant options nearby, near Lodgepole Visitor Center you can find Lodgepole Market & Grill, the Wuksachi Lodge offers pizza and sandwiches with outdoor seating

Due note 9:

Lodgepole Campground is located not so far but as in many other campgrounds in the National Parks reservations can be hard to come by.

There are other camping options in the park: Dorst Creek and Sunset Campground. Another option is Azalea Campground in the nearby Grant Grove in Kings Canyon NP.

My thoughts:

I was here several times and always impressed by the huge size of the sequoias tree.

I highly recommend coming to this location as early as you can, right after sunrise if you can. The cooler temperature and with only few other people on the trail you can enjoy the quite time near the trees. Later, mid-day, especially during weekends and holidays there are so many other visitors here and your experience will not be the same.

Giant Sequoia Trees:

Giant sequoias grow only on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada in California, between 4,000 and 8,000 feet (1219 and 2438 m) in elevation.

General Sherman is the largest known living single-stem tree on earth by volume of wood.

Giant Sequoias can live up to 3,000 years and part of their survivor strategy is to grow thick bark and accumulate protective tannic acids. The combination of this with the fact that tree branch grow high far above the lower grass fire reach help make the trees to battle against beetle, fire and fungus.

General Sherman is not the tallest (Coast redwood), widest (largest cypress and largest baobab), or oldest tree on earth (Great Basin Bristlecone Pine) but in 1931 General Sherman was identified as the largest tree in the world. One result of this process was that wood volume became widely accepted as the standard for establishing and comparing the size of different trees.

General Sherman has a height of 83.8 meters (275 ft), a diameter of 7.7 m (25 ft), an estimated volume of 1,487 m3 (52,513 cu ft), and an estimated age of 2,300–2,700 years.

On September 16, 2021, the tree was threatened by the KNP Complex Fire in Sequoia National Park. Park and firefighting personnel wrapped the tree's base in a protective foil but in the end the tree and the local nearby grove was left unharmed.

The walk to General Sherman Tree:

Park at the Main Trail upper parking lot and follow the signage to the trail leading down to the tree grove.

This is a half-mile paved trail, the walk to the tree is downhill, and the return trip is uphill (you can take a shuttle back to the upper parking).

As you walk down the path you will start to see the large Sequoia trees, once at the bottom, the path will turn into pack dirt trail, and you’ll follow the signs for the General Sherman Tree.

There are few very short loop trails here and you can also see other large Sequoia trees and explanation panels.

The tree is huge, and it will be challenging to take it all in one picture, you will need to back off and take it from longer distance but then you will have many other people in your picture.

The area near the tree base is protected by a small fence, sequoia trees has relatively shallow root system and the park want to protect this area from over stepping.

After seeing the tree and getting your picture, you will walk around but overall, you not be here for a lot of time.

You can walk back up to your car on the same trail you walked down, or you can go and hike the Congress Trail Hike that start from here. This trail will take you to see few other nearby Sequoia groves.

www:

https://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/sherman.htm

https://www.nps.gov/places/000/general-sherman-tree.htm

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