Sequoia National Park is located in the California Sierra Nevada, east of Fresno.  It became California’s first national park in 1890 and was the nation’s second national park.  Famous for its majestic Giant Sequoias, its other treasures include Mt. Whitney, Kern Canyon, Crystal Cave, Moro Rock,  and hundreds of miles of trails—including a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail.  By car, Sequoia National Park can only be reached from the west.

For an excellent webcam view from the edge of the Giant Forest looking Southwest, as well as landmarks, weather archives, air quality and more, visit: http://www2.nature.nps.gov/air/WebCams/parks/sekicam/sekicam.cfm

Coordinates:  N 36° 34.933 W 118° 45.145

Google Earth - Get a bird’s eye view of Sequoia National Park. If you have Google Earth installed, you can double-click on the linked Placemark file and it will fly you to Sequoia National Park. If not, you will need to install Google Earth first (available at http://earth.google.com).

Trail Conditions

Special Conditions

PCT Trail Conditions

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SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK

http://www.nps.gov/seki/pphtml/maps.html

http://www.nps.gov/seki/main_map.htm

http://www.virtualparks.org/parks/sequoia-np-qtvr-map.html

http://www.nps.gov/seki/05summer/Page12.pdf

PACIFIC CREST TRAIL

http://www.pcta.org/maps.asp

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The Sequoia Redwoods are the oldest and largest living things on earth. Tragically, many of the iant Sequoias were cut down before John Muir led the effort to preserve the parks resources. It eventually gained permanent protection as a National Park in 1980.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks contain the largest cave system in California.  Crystal cave, which is open to the public, was formed of limestone, which was metamorphosed, under high temperatures and pressure, into marble. There are nearly 100 more of these marble caves in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, but Crystal Cave is the most impressive. To visit, tickets must be purchased in advance at Lodgepole or Foothills visitor centers. 

John Muir Day, a celebration of his birthday, is April 22, 2006. Check the PCTA calendar for activities relating to this event.

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LODGING AND RESUPPLY

VERMILLION VALLEY RESORT provides a Hiker's Shuttle Service to take you to your resupply location while hiking the PCT/JMT.  They also have a restaurant, grocery and backpacking supplies, lodging, hot showers and more for day-hikers, overnight and long-term backpackers, and through-hikers.

WUKSACHI LODGE is located near Sequoia's most popular visitor attractions and offers an ideal setting for exploring a wide variety of seasonal outdoor activities.  Open year-round. To reserve, call 888.252.5757 or book online.  

PEAR LAKE SKI HUT: Elevation 9,200’. Located 3/8 of a mile north of Pear Lake and is reached by ascending a steep, advanced level ski/snowshoe trail in the Sierra Nevada wilderness. The hut sleeps ten and is heated by a wood pellet stove. Fee is $22 per night, per person   Reservations can be made by lottery in November or by taking available openings not taken by the lottery. Open mid-December – April.

BEAR PAW MEADOW HIGH SIERRA CAMP: Elevation 7,840’. Offers simple tent accommodations with panoramic mountain views. home-style meals, hot showers and limited supplies from mid-June through Labor Day. Accessible only by foot on an 11.3-mile trail.  Reservations required. Small area is also available for campers not staying in the tent hotel.

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GENERAL INFORMATION

LODGEPOLE AREA

• LODGEPOLE CAMPGROUND: Elevation 6,700’ (open year-round). First-come, first-serve or through, advance reservations.  Lodgepole is the largest, most popular campground in area and features a market, laundry, showers, Visitor Center and summer ranger programs.  It is the closest campground to the Giant Forest where there are more than 40 miles of various walks and trails, one of which is the Tokopah Falls Trail described below.

• DORST: 6,720’Located near Dorst Creek, 10 miles from Giant Forest in open stands of pine trees. Open late May through Labor Day First-come, first-serve or through advance reservations.  $20/night, picnic tables, fire rings, flush toilets, summer ranger programs. Trail access to Muir Grove, a Sequoia stand accessible only on foot.    One bear-proof food-storage box provided at each campsite

FOOTHILLS AREA

• POTWISHA: Elevation 2,080’. Located on the Marble fork of the Kaweah River, off the Generals Highway. Open year-round.  First-come, first serve. Piped water, fire grills, picnic tables, flush toilets, evening ranger programs.

• BUCKEYE FLAT: Elevation 2,800’. Located along the Middle fork of the Kaweah River, off the Generals Highway, 4 miles from Sequoia Park entrance & 12 miles from Giant Forestin an open stand of oaks. First-come, first serve. Piped water, fire grills, picnic tables, flush toilets. Open Late spring to early September. $18/night. Two bear-proof food-storage boxes provided at each campsite.

• SOUTH FORK: Elevation 3,620’. Located on the South Fork of the Kaweah River, 13 miles from Highway 198. Open all year. $12/night May-October then no fee NO drinking water, pit toilets one, bear-proof food-storage box provided at each campsite. Trail access to Garfield Grove.
 

MINERAL KING AREA

• ATWELL MILL: Elevation 6,650'. Open late May through October 31. Located along the East Fork of the Kaweah River in a logged sequoia grove, 19 miles from Highway 198 on Mineral King Road. $12/night, pit toilets, & payphone. One bear-proof food-storage box provided at each camp. Trail access to the Atwell-Hockett Trail, Redwood Meadow, and Bearpaw Meadow.

• COLDSPRINGS: Elevation 7,500'. Open late May through October 31. This beautiful campground is located 23 miles from Highway 198 in aspen trees & conifers. $12/night, pit toilets, pay phone, ranger programs in July & August. One metal, bear-proof food-storage box provided at each campsite. Excellent backpacking base camp to Franklin Lakes, Franklin Pass (11,680’), Sawthooth Pass (11,700’) and Monarch Lakes.

There are several ENTRANCE FEE OPTIONS for Sequoia National Park, including a 7-day pass, annual pass, National Parks Pass, and more.

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Sequoia National Park has hundreds of hiking trails ranging from easy day hikes to multi-week backpacking trips.  Please see below for some of our favorites.  If you have a few of your own, we’d like to hear from you! info@adventure16.com

Backcountry permits (also called wilderness permits) must be obtained from the ranger station closest to your trailhead. Approximately 75% of the daily trailhead quota (see trail descriptions) may be reserved.

Bear Box Locations

Road Conditions

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PEAR LAKE TRAIL

DESCRIPTION: Spectacular alpine scenery to a chain of beautiful glacial lakes at tree line.  The vistas along the trail are breathtaking and the day trips from the lake are plentiful.  Moose Lake and Alta Peak are within a day hike.

DISTANCE: 5.75 to Pear Lake; 11.5 miles round trip

TRAILHEAD:  Wolverton at 7.270’.  Backcountry permits must be obtained from the Lodgepole Visitors Center. Limit 25 people/day depending on campsite availability (no reservations).

MILESTONES & CAMPING & ALONG THE LAKES TRAIL:

• Trail Junction is 1.75 miles from the trailhead. Head left on the Lakes Trail.
• Pear Lake Loop is the beginning of the loop that leads to Pear Lake.  It is located about 2.25 miles from the trailhead. 
• Watch Tower trail is on the left side of the loop and has dramatic views of Tokopah Valley.
• Hump trail heads right. It is steeper, ¼-mile shorter and less harrowing. 
• Heather Lake (elevation 9,260’) is 3.75 miles from the trailhead. No camping is allowed.
• Emerald Lake (elevation 9,235’) is located 4.7 miles from the trailhead. Camping is allowed with permit.
• Junction with trail leading to ranger station is 5.2 miles from the trailhead.
• Pear Lake (elevation 9,550’) is located 6.7 miles from the trailhead. Camping is allowed with permit.

OTHER BACKPACKING TRAILS

The John Muir Trail runs for 212 miles from Yosemite Valley to Mt. Whitney summit in Sequoia National Park.  It is one of the high points of the Pacific Crest Trail-- a 2,650-mile trail that passes through mountain ranges from the Mexican border to the Canadian border, including Laguna, San Jacinto, San Bernardino, San Gabriel, Liebre, Tehachapi, and Sierra Nevada in California and the Cascade Range in Oregon and Washington.

Permits are required to hike the John Muir Trail and must be obtained from the ranger station closest to your trailhead.  Permit reservations are recommended.

EASY DAY HIKES

CRESCENT MEADOW TO THARP’S LOG & MORO ROCK

DESCRIPTION:  Flat, easy trail through beautiful Sequoia groves and Crescent Meadow. 

DISTANCE: 2.2 miles round trip.

TRAILHEAD:  Crescent Meadow at 6,720’.

POINTS OF INTEREST:

• Tharp’s Log is located 1 mile from the Crescent Meadow Trailhead (elevation 6,700’).  Built by Hale Tharp as a summer home in the 1880’s, the fallen, fire-hallowed log features a rock fireplace, as well as a rustic bed, table and chairs. Click here for a “virtual tour.”  (Quick Time required.) Tharp’s log is the oldest remaining man-made feature in the park.

• Moro Rock: Elevation  6,725’. Offers a spectacular view of the Great Western Divide and the peaks of the High Sierra. Click here for a “virtual tour.” (Quick Time required.) Be prepared to walk a steep ¼ mile stairway to the granite dome summit.

TOKOPAH FALLS TRAIL:

DESCRIPTION:  An easy walk along the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River through breathtaking views of the glacially carved Tokopah Valley, ending at the base of  majestic Tokopah falls.  (Tokopah is a Yokut Native American word for High Mountain Valley).  The 1200’ falls are easily the most impressive falls in Sequoia National Park. 

DISTANCE: 3.8 miles round trip.

TRAILHEAD:  The trail to Tokopah Falls starts just beyond the Log Bridge in Lodgepole Campground (elevation 6,780’).

POINTS OF INTEREST:

• Horse Creek (1.4 miles from trailhead)

• Wildlife:  Marmots, squirrels, deer, chipmunks, birds

• Awesome view of the magnificent Watchtower, a 2000’ sheer granite monolith: 0.9 miles from trailhead.

• Tokopah Falls Overlook (1.9 miles from trailhead) Moro Rock. Click here for a “virtual tour.” (Quick Time required.)

Campgrounds and trailheads in the area.

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“There is such a variety of thing to do and learn in the Giant Forest Region of the park. I find it nice to mix it up a bit.  This makes it fun for kids as well.  On my last trip, we stayed the first night in the Wasachi Lodge and made it easy by having dinner in the dinning room.  The next day was filled with a trip to the Museum and interpretive center, which is very well done, and then we were off on a series of short day hikes, including the Moro Rock hike.  From there on a clear day you can see from crest of the Sierra to the central valley.  Not a good place for anyone with a fear of heights.  In the afternoon, we took a drive, then a short hike down to tour the Crystal Cave.  Well worth the effort.  We spend the second night at Lodgepole Campground before hitting the trail to Pear Lake--one of the prettiest alpine lakes I’ve ever seen.  We spent a couple of days hiking to Moose Lake and Alta peak (Elev 11,204’) and lying on the small island rock in the middle of the lake.” 

~John D. Mead, President, Adventure 16

“I hiked a section of the PCT in April last year.  I liked it because it was a well-developed trail with some spectacular views.  I would definitely do it again.  Be sure to wear insect repellant, the black flies can be really bad.”    

~ Chris Koci, Assistant Manager, Adventure 16, San Diego Store

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http://www.nps.gov/seki/bc_basic/basic_data/page2.pdf

http://www.nps.gov/seki/bc_permt.htm

reserve a permit

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Call for the latest conditions: 559-565-3341

http://www.nps.gov/seki/weather.htm

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/hnx

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BOOKS

• American Park Network Guide on Sequoia. Available FREE at A16.

• Sequoia National Park A Complete Hiker’s Guide by Mike White, $19.95

• 50 Best Short Hikes in Yosemite & Sequoia/Kings Canyon by John Crist, $13.95

• Hiking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park by Laurel Scheidt, $16.95

• Sierra South 100 Backcountry Trips in California’s Sierra by Thomas Winnett, Jason Winnett, Kathy Morey and Lyn Haber, $17.95

• Day Hikes on the Pacific Crest Trail, $16.95

MAPS

• Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Tom Harrison Maps, $8.95

• Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, National Geographic, $11.95

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STAYING HEALTHY & SAFE

http://www.nps.gov/seki/snrm/wildlife/bear_encounters.htm

There are bears in this region so please follow all the rules about food storage and how to observe them.  The Park service makes it very easy by posting info and providing storage facilities in Campgrounds. Bear Box Locations

Conservation

 The Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA)  works to preserve, improve and promote the Pacific Crest Trail, a portion of which goes through Sequoia National Park. The Association encourages good trail ethics, leave-no-trace camping, and an awareness of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail as a valued national heritage.  For a free full-color Pacific Crest Trail Official Map & Guide, visit any Adventure 16 store location.

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Hiking, backpacking, and other wilderness activities, are potentially dangerous and unpredictable.  Adventure 16 assumes no liability for injuries associated with the use of information provided on this site. The trails, activities and areas described on this site are to be used for informational purposes only and should not be your sole source of guidance.  Always thoroughly research any outdoor area you plan to visit using various resources--including contacting local ranger stations--to obtain the most up to date information for your destination. Contact your physician if you are unsure about your health or physical abilities.