Introduction:

What? :

Round Meadow is one of the best short hikes in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks that provide the closeup view of many large sequoia trees.

The scenic green open meadow surrounded by towering old sequoias trees, accessible by an easy flat boardwalk trail.

The trail is located within a walking distance from the Giant Forest Museum on the south side of the park.

The small Giant Forest Museum provide exhibition and explanation about the sequoia trees and the park and being used as a main hub for shuttles and parking at the south side of the park.

You can combine the visit here with a short hike to Sunset Rock and back or you can also start hiking into the Big Tree Trail into forest.

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 Round Meadow parking lot is reserved for handicapped parking only.

There are few roadside parking available uphill, but I do recommend to safely park your car at the nearby large parking lots near the Giant Forest Museum.

When you are approaching from General Sherman the parking lot entrance will be on your right, when coming into the park from the south it is on your left. There is one large parking lot and a continuation road leading to a lower large parking lot.

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:

The parking lot near the museum is large with overflow parking, from there it is just a short walk to Round Meadow trail.

There is a Fare-Free Shuttle Service that is connecting from Giant Forest Museum to other main park attractions.

Due note 3:

There are restroom facilities and drinking water near the Giant Forest Museum and Round Meadow trail.

Due note 4:

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.

Due note 5:

The trail is family, kids and handicap friendly.

Due note 6:

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 7:

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 are available in the parking lot.

Due note 8:

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 9:

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). looking for wildlife as bears are often seen in the early morning and late afternoon.

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

I saw many complains about mosquitoes in this area, I came early summer, and it was clean.

Due note 10:

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 11:

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 came here mid-day, and the parking lots near the museum were full but even on such busy day the trail itself was not as packed as the trails near General Sherman area and the hike feels less “touristy”.

The trees near the meadows are impressive and I do recommend coming and visit this nice meadow.

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.

Links to my Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Blogs:

The visit:

The Giant Forest Museum area including it large parking lots are so crowded with people at mid-day, there are continuous stream of people walking into the small museum, near the shuttle area and in the nearby trail.

From the large parking lots cross the road and visit the small museum.

The Giant Forest Museum provide exhibition and explanation about the sequoia trees, their life cycle and about the park and wildfires.

The visit here will probably be short.

From here, I recommend walking down to Round Meadow.

The hiking into Round Meadow Trail starts at the area for the Giant Forest Museum.

From the museum side of the road or from the parking across the road there are trails parallel to the main road leading down to the Round Meadow Trailhead and handicap only parking lot.

Once you reach the trailhead the boardwalk surrounding the large open meadow is flat, in very good condition, handicap accessible, and very easy.

The forest around the meadow has a high concentration of large and impressive sequoia trees on the edge of the meadow.

The meadows opening provide a good perspective to really see how tall and large they are. You can see the small people on the other side of the open grassland dwarfed by the mighty sequoia trees.

Along the trail you will find several interpretive signs explaining how this area deep soil and high-water level create a unique sequoia habitat. At the far end the wetland meadow extends on both sides of the boardwalk. At this area the sequoias need to handle the moist unstable soil, so they have much wider lower stump section.

In the past, starting from early 1900 Sequoia National Park’s main lodging facility, the Giant Forest Lodge and cabins, was here right under the old growth sequoias on the southeast edge of Round Meadow (near the road).

In 1997–1998 the entire complex was demolished as part of an effort to restore the Giant Forest to a more natural state. Today Wuksachi Lodge that was built in 1999 is used as the park main lodge.

It is nice to see how the restoration work remove most of the evidence for the lodge and you can enjoy the nature.

Additional Pictures:

Sequoia National Park - Giant Forest Museum and Round Meadow trail

What? :

Round Meadow is one of the best short hikes in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks that provide the closeup view of many large sequoia trees.

The scenic green open meadow surrounded by towering old sequoias trees, accessible by an easy flat boardwalk trail.

The trail is located within a walking distance from the Giant Forest Museum on the south side of the park.

The small Giant Forest Museum provide exhibition and explanation about the sequoia trees and the park and being used as a main hub for shuttles and parking at the south side of the park.

You can combine the visit here with a short hike to Sunset Rock and back or you can also start hiking into the Big Tree Trail into forest.

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 Round Meadow parking lot is reserved for handicapped parking only.

There are few roadside parking available uphill, but I do recommend to safely park your car at the nearby large parking lots near the Giant Forest Museum.

When you are approaching from General Sherman the parking lot entrance will be on your right, when coming into the park from the south it is on your left. There is one large parking lot and a continuation road leading to a lower large parking lot.

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.

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:

The parking lot near the museum is large with overflow parking, from there it is just a short walk to Round Meadow trail.

There is a Fare-Free Shuttle Service that is connecting from Giant Forest Museum to other main park attractions.

Due note 3:

There are restroom facilities and drinking water near the Giant Forest Museum and Round Meadow trail.

Due note 4:

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.

Due note 5:

The trail is family, kids and handicap friendly.

Due note 6:

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 7:

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 are available in the parking lot.

Due note 8:

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 9:

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

I saw many complains about mosquitoes in this area, I came early summer, and it was clean.

Due note 10:

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 11:

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 came here mid-day, and the parking lots near the museum were full but even on such busy day the trail itself was not as packed as the trails near General Sherman area and the hike feels less “touristy”.

The trees near the meadows are impressive and I do recommend coming and visit this nice meadow.

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.

The visit:

The Giant Forest Museum area including it large parking lots are so crowded with people at mid-day, there are continuous stream of people walking into the small museum, near the shuttle area and in the nearby trail.

From the large parking lots cross the road and visit the small museum.

The Giant Forest Museum provide exhibition and explanation about the sequoia trees, their life cycle and about the park and wildfires.

The visit here will probably be short.

From here, I recommend walking down to Round Meadow.

The hiking into Round Meadow Trail starts at the area for the Giant Forest Museum.

From the museum side of the road or from the parking across the road there are trails parallel to the main road leading down to the Round Meadow Trailhead and handicap only parking lot.

Once you reach the trailhead the boardwalk surrounding the large open meadow is flat, in very good condition, handicap accessible, and very easy.

The forest around the meadow has a high concentration of large and impressive sequoia trees on the edge of the meadow.

The meadows opening provide a good perspective to really see how tall and large they are. You can see the small people on the other side of the open grassland dwarfed by the mighty sequoia trees.

In the past, starting from early 1900 Sequoia National Park’s main lodging facility, the Giant Forest Lodge and cabins, was here right under the old growth sequoias on the southeast edge of Round Meadow (near the road).

In 1997–1998 the entire complex was demolished as part of an effort to restore the Giant Forest to a more natural state. Today Wuksachi Lodge that was built in 1999 is used as the park main lodge.

It is nice to see how the restoration work remove most of the evidence for the lodge and you can enjoy the nature.

Additional Pictures:

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