10-Things to do in Sequoia National Park
If you are in Sequoia National Park in California, thereβs no way you could pass through or return from the park without seeing the famous redwood giants of the Giant Forest on the southern Sierra Nevada mountains. General Sherman, Sentinel Tree, President Tree, Three Graces and the Parker Group are just some of the trees you must see here.
1. Visit the famous still-standing redwoods of Sequoia
Read: First, the famous Redwoods of Sequoia National Park to see what we did on our first day in this National Park in California.
Other things to do in Sequoia National Park
On day 2, we stopped at a few points on the way: a couple of viewpoints to take in the views from the slopes of the Sierras, some intriguing rocks, some fallen trees that are attractions and I even climbed to the very top of Moro Rock.
2. Enjoy the scenic driveΒ up (or down)
We drove into the park from the south β ie from Three Rivers California. So we entered the park through California State Route 198. CASR 198 takes you eastward and then you turn into the very unforgettable Generalβs Highway that runs beside the Kaweah River for a bit then just twists up the mountains of the Sierra Nevada.Β
With every hairpin bend, the air gets rarer and the view gets better. Stop at the vista points on the way to see how far youβve come. And let your eyes follow the tight curves that Generalβs Highway makes along the way.Β
If itβs fall, the picture only gets prettier.Β
3. Make a photo-stop at Rock Tunnel
This tunnel here must have been part of the road that runs to the top and back. Today it is closed to vehicles. But you can stop and take pictures of the tunnel and the odd massive rock that plays the roof of this tunnel.Β
Make sure to catch sight of this place on your drive up. It is easy to miss on the downhill drive.Β
When we made a stop there, I looked down the ravine on the other side and saw Kawaeh flow down her rocky path.Β
4. Look out for Moro Rock
Take note of Moro Rock protruding out of the mountains and watch it get closer and larger as you drive uphill.Β
5. Check in at Hospital Rock
If one were to make a home in between huge pieces of rocks, this is what it would look like. The information Board near the rock says native American tribes lived and died here. Take note of the pictographs here on one of the rock faces. And donβt miss the grinding area just across the Hospital Rock, where they ground acorns.Β
Thereβs a picnic area near here. And restrooms too. When you go toward Hospital Rock (from the parking area) make sure you cross the road carefully. You will be crossing the main road that leads up to the park. And itβs a pretty busy road.Β
Before you leave there, take a better look at Moro Rock.Β
6. Apply brakes near the Auto Log
Wonder what that is? The Auto log is not a drive-through tree. When you turn off at this point you might wonder what you stopped to see. Thereβs a board on the far end of this fallen tree. And it will tell you that this tree fell in 1917 and that many types of vehicles have been photographed on it.Β
I had to walk along the fallen tree to the part where it is flat to see what it really was. I saw that a part of it was flattened and it was wide enough for a car to actually drive on that part of the trunk for a photo-opp.Β
Why you might want to see it:Β to see how wide the Giant Sequoia can be.Β
7. Drive through Tunnel Log
Hereβs another fallen tree. And you can drive through it. Another large piece of proof of how wide the trunks of these redwoods can be.
When we were there, there was some confusion among the visitors as to which way to drive through and how to photograph their cars.Β
What seemed ideal to me was to keep right and drive through the tree and have somebody on the other side of the log to photograph you driving through the tree tunnel.Β
And then you might want to keep right again and drive towards Cresent Meadow if you’d like to see the meadow and the attractions near it. If not, you can loop back and be on your way back.
8. Walk to Cresent MeadowΒ
Crescent Meadow is around a .02 mile hike from the parking lot. It is a small meadow. Walk along the trail to the part where a wooden marker stands. This is where you will get a good view of the meadow.Β
It was in mid-fall that we were there. And it was a dry meadow that day. From there we walked a little over a half mile through a paved trail that snaked through some straight, lichen-coated trees to get to Tharpβs Log.
9. Get a sense of what it is like to live in the hollow of a humungous tree at ‘Tharpβs Log.’Β
Somebody once turned a fallen tree into a shelter. Today it is another reminder of huge and mighty the Sequoiadendron Giganteum can grow to be.Β
It was an easy hike through mostly-flat land. It was a quiet one. There were very few people out on that trail that day. We got to catch some woodpecker action on the way back.Β
10. Test your stamina and your fear of heights at Moro Rock
Moro Rock is a granite dome at 6,700 odd ft. Take the around 400-step path to the top, for views of the mountain tops and the valley way down below.Β
I also enjoyed seeing the main road of the park work its way up to the mountains. As I climbed higher, I got to see more of the till-then hidden stretches of Generalβs Highway.Β
This was undoubtedly the highlight of my day 2 at Sequoia NP. So I’d call it an important point in a list of things to do in Sequoia National Park.
PS. Noticed the haze in the air? That’s the smoke from the Camp Fire, California’s most destructive fire. It raged for over two weeks.
Have you been to this national park in CA? Is there anything you would add to your top things to do in Sequoia National Park?
Linking to Our World Tuesday
You might also like:
Redwood Destinations on Tipsy from the TRIP
National Parks featured on Tipsy from the TRIPο»Ώ
For pictures from the road, Like/Follow Tipsy From The TRIP on Facebook.
Come, Trip with us.
FABULOUS! Just gorgeous.
The area is blessed with natural beauty.
Thank you Lady FI for visiting, and for hosting the meme. π
Wow..
Incredible photos & commentary on each step of the tour!
Nice to see you here, Hootin Anni.
Thank you so much. π
Gorgeous photos of Sequoia ~ what an adventure ~ ^_^
Happy Tuesday,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
These trees are a class apart. And such beauties too, aren’t they?
That climb to the top of Moro Rock was quite an adventure. It actually deserves a whole post. π
Thank you, Carol. Have a great week. π
It looks like an amazing place – lovely photos.
You should put it on your wishlist, Al.
You’ll love it.
Thank you so much. π
Gosh! The trees and that log tunnel… AWESOME! Truly an amazing place! I specifically loved those huge Read trees!
Who is this?! Long time!! <3
The more you learn about these red trees the more fascinated you will be. Someday I should do a post on the wonder that they are. π
Thank you for stopping by, dear Kokila. π
The Sequoia National Park is so beautiful. We were here a year ago when it was full of snow. Itβs so so beautiful and you are right, the drive up and down is gorgeous…
It is. Sequoia NP was beyond what I expected to see. In the snow — I’m sure it looked totally different. That drive is one to remember, I swear. π
such a beautiful place, i heard about it but never went there.
Gorgeous pictures π
Thank you, Ravin. π
Amazing place. Awesome pics.
It is. Thank you, Rupam. π
wow, lovely pictures especially the ‘still standing redwoods’ and ‘drive through the log pic’. Crisp information is very good. thanks
Redwood trees are such good looking trees. Their trunks must be among the most beautiful ones, really.
Thank you so much, Bikram. π
This looks lovely. The views reminded me of Thamarassery churam.
Nature has done such grand work here. So has man, as you can see with that road there. Parts of that highway actually did look like ‘nammude Thamarassery churam,’ Then I went up to the top of that Moro Rock and the views told me that this was like a few Thamarassery Churams put together. π You’d love the drive! (Actually YOU would want to ride there. π
Your images are getting more and more captivating. I love those mountains in fading perspectiveβit lends amazing depths to the landscape shots. You are keeping the spark for travelling alive in my troubled heart. May your trips be as mighty as the giant sequoias!
Thank you so much. It’s great hearing that from you. Those mountain sides were views from the top of Morro Rock. We’d have gotten better views if not for the haze. The fire that was raging around that time was so, so bad that I was surprised that we even got to see this much.
It is nice to know that this blog’s been keeping that spark alive. We look forward to all the pictures and the travel-stories- in- true-USP-style.
Thank you so much. That’s the best wish, ever. π
Wonderful pics. They are really majestic.
Tunnel log is so interesting.
Thank you, Anita.
Oh yes, really majestic trees.
The tunnel log shows you just how large those trunks can be. Thank you so much for coming this way. π
A lovely treat to see places with such abundance of natural beauty, Divya!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this virtual trip, Mr. Bhatia. π
The pictures are very beautiful. You have described the place very well. Great job.
Thank you Abhisek. π
And welcome back. π
Beautiful π
π
Thank you for stopping by, JD. π
Dee, you surround yourself with such amazing places π That tunnel rock and log, they are super cool! The second photo is so dreamy!!!
These are places I seem to get attracted to. These and those places that are known for their amazing rock formations. The second pic does look dreamy, does it not? Let me not tell what that actually was. π
Thank you, Deepa. π
[…] Day 2 — Beyond the Giant Sequoias: Other famous redwoods and Other sights from Sequoia National Park. […]
[…] forget to visit:First, The Famous Redwoods of Sequoia National ParkTop 10 Things to do in Sequoia National ParkYou might also want to visit:Yosemite in (late) FallMore: Fall Color on Tipsy from the […]
[…] If youβd like a virtual trip to Sequoia National Park, visit — First, Some Famous Redwoods Of Sequoiaβ National ParkGiant Sequoia and Beyond […]