Sequoia National Park – Giant Forest Hike

on July 01, 2024

Introduction:

What? :

If you visit General Sherman and walked the paved Congress Trail and you want to do another longer real hike, I do recommend hiking in the Giant Forest. The Giant Forest is a large sequoia grove is the heart and center of Sequoia National Park and contains more large sequoias than any other forest in the world.

There are many possible hiking trails options to choose from depending on where your starting point is and the length you want to hike.

I hiked from General Sherman and Congress Trail all the way to Crescent Meadow area and from there I went back, doing a large loop hike.

Overall, this was almost 9-mile-long hike with total elevation gain of 1500 ft. you can hike other trails and make this hiking experience longer or shorter.

I saw many large Sequoia trees and different location along the hike, and I spend more than half an hour with bears.

At this hike I saw mama bear and her cab playing in the woods and eating grass in the Crescent meadows.

More pictures below....

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.

You can hike into Giant Forest Hike in Sequoia National Park from many trail head and explore the forest.

I started my hike at General Sherman and from there follow Congress Trail and into the Giant Forest. You can also start from the Giant Forest Museum or from the High Sierra Trailhead at the end of Crescent Meadows Rd.

You can find car parking in all trail heads.

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:

As you will hike into the forest you will see less people that tend to stay near the main park “attractions”. I highly recommend coming here as early as you can in the morning, right after sunrise or late at the afternoon.

There is a Fare-Free Shuttle Service that is connecting the Wolverton parking lot to General Sherman parking and 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.

Links to my Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Blogs:

My thoughts:

I visit this park several times but mainly visit the large tree grove near the road and General Sherman Tree area, this time I decided to hike into the forest and cross the larger area where the large sequoia trees grows.

To avoid the crowed I start my visit right after sunrise, starting from General Sherman Tree and from there I hiked south crossing the forest all the way to Crescent Meadow, here I saw a mama bear and a cab, so I stay with them for long time. After the bear viewing, I walk to Eagle Viewpoint on the High Sierra Trail and from there I took a loop trail back to my starting point near general Sherman.

It was a fun hike where you can see the local forest, large sequoia trees, meadows and have fun on the trail.

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.

Unlike their massive tree size, they start their long journey from tiny pinecones average about 2 inches. These cones require fire to open-up and spread the seeds around.

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

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 Hike:

Giant Forest is a large sequoia grove is the heart and center of Sequoia National Park. The relatively leveled area is located between the Marble and Middle Forks of the Kaweah River. On its south side you will drive Crescent Meadow Road and Mono Rock area and on it north side you will drive on Wolverton road that lead to General Sherman parking and Wolverton Picnic Area.

This large forest area contains more large sequoias than any other forest in the world. You can find here many sequoia trees among them, the largest living sequoia on earth, the General Sherman Tree.

Giant Forest has an extensive network of hiking trails that range from 1-2 hours hikes to half-day or longer explorations of this grove.

I start my hike by passing General Sherman walking on the Congress Trail, at McKinley Tree I took the Circle Meadow Trail. Soon after leaving the paved trail and entering the forest I reach to the old Cattle Cabin.

This old cabin was used prior to the establishment of Sequoia National Park by cattlemen who had acquired much of the Giant Forest land for grazing purposes. After the park’s establishment, the land was leased to men who supplied meat and milk to visitors and to the soldiers who guarded the park from 1891 through 1913.

From the small cabin the trail heading to the nearby long and narrow meadow that had tall vegetation and running water.

After a 0.5 mile you will cross the meadow on a small wood crossing to the other side.

Here the trail fork, I chose to walk to the right and immediately left on Washington Tree Trail.

I connected to Tharp's Log Trail, pass near Chimney Tree and hike to Tharp's Log.

This small wooden home that is built inside a large falling log is located right next to a large open meadow, Crescent Meadow. This is a good location to rest, seat and enjoy the open view.

From Tharp's Log the trail to Log Meadows Loop was close for maintenance and recovery, so I went and hiked along the large meadow all the way to High Sierra Trailhead.

After short rest I start to hike to Eagle View on the High Sierra Trail.

On my way, right near the first meadow I saw a mama bear and a small cab playing in the woods.

I stayed here for more than half an hour looking at the bears.

At first, they played in the forest and later they went down in the direction of the meadow and walk into the tall grass.

I went back on the trail and took the trail near the meadows looking for the bears.

They were staying near the edge of the tall grass not so far from the trail.

I was not the only one here but because it was relatively early in the morning there were only 5 other people with me. We were all looking at the bears while they are looking for food in the grassland. The bear saw us all the time and practically ignore us.

After long time the bears progress into Crescent Meadow and disappear in the tall grass.

From the meadows I walked to the High Sierra Trail and went to Eagle View, this is about 05 mile into the trail from the meadows.

This viewing point right on the trail has a panoramic view of the park south section, Middle Fork Kaweah Canyon is below you, far on you left you can see the high Sierra Mountains, and Moro Rock is on your right side.

From here you can really capture how tall is Moro Rock cliff compared to the canyon below, if you look carefully, you can see the small people walking on the top of the rock platform.

After a short rest I walked back into the direction of Crescent Meadow and at the first trail junction I turn right into Trail of The Sequoias. This trail cross the hillside lash and green forest.

The trail is keeping the same level and after about 0.7 mile you will cross the first creek, after additional 0.7 mile you will cross the second creek.

From this point the trail climb relatively sharply to a crossing point over the ridge.

At this section of the forest and on your way down on the other side of the ridge you can see how the forest survive after wiled fire that cover this area. Most of the lower trees and bushes are completely burned but the large trees and especially the giant Sequoias are managed to overcome the fire.

The intense fire clear the forest and here there was no shade to protect me from the hot mid-day sun.

As I hiked down the trail, I can see how I’m getting into an area that was saved from the fire and did not burn.

After 1 mile from the top of the ridge the trail reconnect to the paved Congress Trail, not so far from McKinley Tree. From here I walk to General Sherman area that was full of people.

This was a completely different experience from earlier that day at sunrise where I was the only one here.

I walked back up to the main parking lot and reach my car, it was mid-day, and the parking lot was full, and cars were waiting in line to find an vacant parking spot.

Many other visitors waited in link for the shuttle service.

Overall, this was almost 9-mile-long hike with total elevation gain of 1500 ft. If you want, you can hike other trails and make this hiking experience longer or shorter.

Through the hike I saw many large Sequoia trees in different locations along the hike, and I spend half an hour with bears.

Additional Pictures:

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