Sequoia National Park
Grandeur
About the Park The Giant Forest: The heart of Sequoia National Park
- here are found the largest trees on Earth, including General Sherman, which holds the world record for the most massive living thing. An area of just 3 square miles contains dozens of magnificent groves of sequoias, most of them easily accessible next to the main road. An extensive network of trails provide access to many peaceful places amongst the trees, and to other scenic features like meadows, streams, fallen logs, granite domes and mountain viewpoints.
Giant Forest Village: The giant sequoia trees are first
encountered on the approach from the south at Giant Forest Village - a small cluster of buildings that is dwarfed by the surrounding trees.The sequoia forest extends mainly east of the village, and is accessed by a 3 mile side road plus many interconnecting foot trails. These range from 1 to 5 miles in length, leading to various named individual trees and clusters of particular importance.
Moro Rock: One popular path is the Soldiers Loop
Trail - as well as sequoia trees, this leads to Moro Rock, a rocky outcrop high above the canyon of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River that has stunning views over many miles of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Half of the trail runs close to a side road; most people prefer to drive, so the walk is pleasingly empty. The path starts at Giant Forest Village and follows the top of a ridge that has great views westwards, over Sequoia Creek and the entrance road. It passes various large trees, and a side-track to Hanging Rock - from this exposed cliff there are more extensive views of the canyon below. After 1.5 miles, path meets road at a parking area close to Moro Rock, from where begins a short but steep ascent, using many steps carved into the surface. The rock is a large exposed granite dome, a feature quite common in the Sierras - most famous is Half Dome in Yosemite Park. At the top, the whole length of Middle Fork canyon can be seen, from low, hazy foothills at the western end to the snow-capped
peaks of the Great Western Divide at the head of the valley to the east. On the far side of the Generals Highway, the similar dome of Sunset Rock offers comparable views over the western Sierra foothills.
Tunnel Log: The road continues to Crescent Meadow, a
large field ringed by sequoias and filled with wildflowers and grass, that once provided grazing for cattle brought to the area by early settlers. En route is the Tunnel Log, a fallen tree that has been hollowed for cars to drive through (westbound) - the only such tree in the park. Other trails (Moro Rock and Bear Hill) return to the village through a little-visited section of forest; as well as many large groups of trees there are several fallen specimens and some that have been killed by fire or lightning but are still standing. Although Sequoia National Park is open year round, the road to Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow is closed during winter, and may soon be out of bounds for all private vehicles, as visitors will instead be required to travel by NPS shuttlebus.
General Sherman: Towards the north boundary of
the Giant Forest sequoia belt in the Congress Grove stands the General Sherman Tree, the largest living thing on Earth. The tree weighs over 2,000 tons, has bark up to 3 feet thick and is 272 feet high, although this is not a record - some Giant Redwood trees along the north California coast are taller. The General is fenced off to deter vandalism, but many other impressive and more approachable trees can be found nearby, and the most popular footpath in the park (The Congress Trail) meets some of them. Several clusters and large single trees have received governmental names such as the President Tree and the Senate Group. The trail also passes several huge fallen logs and a pleasant stream, trickling down across boulders and tree roots towards the Kaweah River.
From
giant Sequoia forests to lush prairies, from mountainous peaks to vast canyons, Sequoia National Park is one of the most beautiful and diverse natural expanses in this great nation. It is home to the tallest mountain in the contiguous 48 states, Mt. Whitney, which stands 14,491 feet tall. Plunging far below the ground, over 200 marble caverns are home to exquisite cave fauna. This collage of habitats sustain a wide variety of life, providing the perfect place to get lost in the beauty of nature
Wilderness
Wildlife Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks support a wide diversity of animal species, reflecting the range in elevation, climate, and habitat variety here. Over 260 native vertebrate species are in the parks; numerous additional species may be present but have not been confirmed. Many of the parks’ caves contain invertebrates, some of which occur only in one cave and are known nowhere else in the world. Plant life in the foothills, where summers are hot and dry and winters are mild, is largely chaparral on the lower slopes with blue oak and California buckeye in the valleys and on higher slopes. A number of animals live in this area year-round; some breed here, while others winter here. Local species include the gray fox, bobcat, striped and spotted skunks, black bear, woodrat, pocket gopher, white-footed mouse, California quail, scrub jay, lesser goldfinch, wrentit, acorn woodpecker, gopher snake, California kingsnake, striped racer, western whiptail lizard, and the California newt. In the low to mid-montane elevations grow mixed forests of ponderosa pine, incense-cedar, white fir, sugar pine, and
scattered groves of giant sequoia. Further upslope, Jeffrey pine are scattered on dry granitic slopes, and pure stands of magnificent red fir and lodgepole pine forest the upper montane zone. Quaking aspen rim the moist meadows and grow on the cool slopes. Meadows are lush with many kinds of flowers in the summer. Winters in this region bring snow, sometimes to depths of 6 to 15 feet. Year-round and seasonal residents include the chickaree, gray squirrel, golden-mantled ground squirrel, mule deer, black bear, mountain lion, and migratory and a variety of resident birds (western tanager, violet-green swallow, white-throated swift, Wilson’s warbler, olive-sided flycatcher, hermit thrush, western bluebird, and pileated woodpecker). Reptiles are not common, but the mountain kingsnake, rubber boa, western fence lizard, and alligator lizard are occasionally seen. The high country is a land of lakes, meadows, some open forest, and miles of granite. Mammals are less common here, and food is scarce. It is only here that you will find the elusive Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. Other mammals include the marmot, pika, and white-tailed jack rabbit. Birds include the
Clark’s nutcracker, mountain bluebird, and gray-crowned rosy finch. In this region, you may also be lucky enough to find a mountain yellow-legged frog, a declining species for which recovery efforts are now underway. The parks’ mammal list includes common species such as the ornate shrew, big brown bat, coyote, black bear, ringtail, mule deer, and pika; and several rare species, such as the wolverine, badger, bighorn sheep (federally endangered), and many rare bats ‚Äì half of which are state or federally listed. It also includes several exotics, including the Virginia opossum, beaver, and muskrat. Black bears (Ursus americanus) are an integral part of the Sierra ecosystem and one of the many wildlife species the National Park Service is mandated to protect. Black bears range throughout both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - where they forage for natural foods - digging up roots in meadows, ripping apart logs, and peering into tree cavities for food.
The Redwoods Here, sown by the Creator’s hand, In serried ranks, the Redwoods stand; No other clime is honored so, No other lands their glory know.
So shall they live, when ends our day, When our crude citadels decay; For brief the years allotted man, But inf inite perennials’ span.
The greatest of Earth’s living forms, Tall conquerors that laugh at storms; Their challenge still unanswered rings, Through f ifty centuries of kings.
This is their temple, vaulted high, And here we pause with reverent eye, With silent tongue and awe-struck soul; For here we sense life’s proper goal;
The nations that with them were young, To be like these, straight, true and f ine, Rich empires, with their forts far-flung, To make our world, like theirs, a shrine; Lie buried now - their splendor gone; Sink down, oh traveler, on your knees, But these proud monarchs still live on. God stands before you in these trees. ~Joseph B. Strauss
Travel Info Planning your Trip The parks are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, weather permitting. Highest visitation is in July & August. It can be difficult to find a campsite at popular campgrounds on summer Saturdays. Because of the extreme elevation range in the parks, conditions vary greatly from area to area and day to day.
Spring is a moveable feast here, beginning in late January or early February in the lower Foothills and lasting until July in the High Sierra. By May, the Foothills are rapidly moving into summer but stay out of the dangerous, cold and swift waters of the high running rivers. Deep snow makes trails in the High Sierra a challenge best left to the experienced. The road to Cedar Grove usually opens in mid-April and the Mineral King Road by Memorial Day‚ weather permitting.
Summer generally runs from late June to early
September. Activities and temperatures peak in this season. All park areas, roads, and facilities are usually open (subject to current conditions). Ranger-led nature programs and Crystal Cave tours are offered daily.
Fall here generally lasts from mid-September through
November. Autumn is a great, uncrowded time to visit the parks. The weather may bring sudden storms and deliver snow as low as the sequoia groves. A few facilities start to close but many remain open.
Winter here generally lasts from November until mid-
April. Sequoia groves are covered in snow and it is a great time to explore lower elevations in the parks. A few campgrounds are open. The roads to Cedar Grove and Mineral King are closed. The Generals Highway is open year-round, but may close after winter storms for plowing‚ occasionally for weeks.
Gigantic landscapes, long distances
Give yourself plenty of time. Allow a minimum of two hours for driving the Generals Highway loop alone‚Äîplus whatever time you plan to spend outside of the car. These parks are huge‚ 865,258 acres. Together they measure 66 miles from north to south and 36 miles across at their widest point. Even though roads access only a small portion of the parks, it is possible to drive for more than four hours and still be within the parks.
Extreme elevation range, variable weather
Be prepared at any time of year for a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions. The parks range in elevation from 1400’ (425 meters) at Ash Mountain in the Foothills to 14494’ (4418 meters) atop Mt. Whitney at the remote eastern edge of the parks. The rugged terrain makes for narrow, steep, and very curvy roads and highly variable weather. It can be hot in the Foothills while it is snowing at higher elevations. Drive slowly, use low gear, and watch for signs of engine and brake overheating on steep switchbacks.
Bears and wildlife
Help keep all park animals wild by storing your food promptly and properly, by not feeding wildlife, by keeping a safe distance, and by picking up all trash. Many visitors come to the parks particularly to see their abundant and varied wildlife. These parks are home to several hundred back bears (but no grizzly bears) as well as mountain lions and many other kinds of wildlife. For more information, call 1-559-565-3341.
Map
United States National Park Service For More Information, please visit our website at www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm For information about lodging, call 1-888-252-5757
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