Sequoia National Park - 2 Day Itinerary

Sequoia National Park is home to giant Sequoia trees, vast canyons, huge mountains, and unforgettable waterfalls. Below is the ultimate itinerary for anyone looking to spend a couple of days exploring this beautiful park.

Sequoia National Park is located in the southern Sierra Nevada, east of Visalia, California. Connected with Kings Canyon National Park to the north, the park is known for its giant sequoia trees and stunning mountain views. Sequoia trees can only grow in elevation above 4,000 feet so be aware that the trees are not found in every part of the park.

Sequoia National Park Itinerary: Day 1

Note: All of the stops for the first day will all be off of Crescent Meadow Road so you might want to consider packing a lunch and snacks so you don’t have to head back out for food. If you decide not to pack a lunch, the Lodgepole Deli Market and Snack Bar is only 15 minutes away and the Wukasachi Lodge is only 20 minutes away.

Climb Moro Rock - Located off Crescent Meadow Road, this hike is one of the most popular hikes in the park. The trail starts at over 6400 feet above sea level and continues a half a mile climb up 400 granite steps to the summit of the dome. The 360-degree panoramic views are amazing and provide excellent viewpoints of the High Sierras to the east. If you want a bird’s eye view of the entire park, this is the best hike to accomplish this.

Tunnel Log - this fallen Tunnel Log came into being after an unnamed giant sequoia fell across Crescent Meadow Road in 1937. The following summer, the tree was converted into the now famous visitor attraction.

Parker Group Sequoias - The Parker Group is a group of giant sequoia trees located just off Crescent Meadow Road. You can conveniently see this group of either while out hiking or as you drive through the forest. They are spaced out just enough where you can stand in the middle and get some good photos.

Hike Crescent Meadow & 2 miles out into High Sierra Trail - The High Sierra Trail is one of the most incredibly built trails. The trail winds 70 miles through the Sierra Nevada. Hike the first ¾ mile of the trail around beautiful Crescent Meadow on the southeast edge of the Giant Forest. The first quarter-mile of the trail is paved and travels through shady, well-watered terrain covered with dense forests of red and white fir, sugar pines, and occasional giant sequoias. From here on, the trail is unpaved but mostly smooth and well graded. It emerges onto a warm, south-facing slope near Eagle View. From here, hikers can see back to Moro Rock to the west, down to the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River, and ahead to the glaciated peaks of the Great Western Divide.

Sequoia National Park Itinerary: Day 2

Hike The Congress Trail & General Sherman’s Tree - The trailhead for General Sherman’s tree is located off Wolverton Road and is an easy quarter mile paved trail. Known as the largest tree in the world, this beauty stands at an impressive 275 feet tall and 36 feet wide. From Sherman’s Tree follow signs as you continue to Congress Trail. This easy 3 mile loop brings you deep into the Giant Forest past McKinley Tree and General Lee Tree. The loop will end back at General Sherman’s Tree.

Grab lunch at the Lodgepole Deli Market and Snack Bar - Only 5 minutes from The Congress Trail & General Sherman’s Tree, this is a great spot to grab lunch before heading out to hike Tokopah Falls.

Hike to Tokopah Falls - The trailhead is located near the Lodgepole Campground. Tokopah Falls is the tallest waterfall in the park, measuring 1,200-foot long. You can access this beautiful cascading waterfall by hiking out for 2 miles. This out and back trail follows the river through the alpine meadows before heading into the granite canyon. The trail continues through an area full of rocks and boulders before ending at the beautiful waterfall.