One Effn winding road (180) to get to Zumwalt Meadow and it's not only winding ( if you get car…read moresick , this road might be tough ) the road is on the edge of the cliff most of the time. Why is it worth the drive ? Cuz it's simply beautiful and way less crowded than Yosemite. Depends on the time of the year we have this place all to ourselves. Even though 180 is winding, the views of the mountains and the Kings River from this part of the road is spectacular. Just a few more miles further from Zumwalt , you'll find the trailhead to the Mist Falls Trail ( not to be mistaken from Mist Trail in Yosemite).

There is a trail along the river all the way to Muir Road at the Road's End. It's an easy to medium…read morehike. We passed by bridges, giant rocks and a beautiful meadow. The meadow itself is magnificent with grass field and hills. Half of the trail was not shaded, so be prepared to get some radiation shields (SPF, hats and sunglasses)

As part of our quest to visit all 63 U.S. national parks, we set off on a six week road trip. I…read morehave a personal rule: I only count a national park as "visited" if I actually spend time there, hike or walk through it, and truly experience it. On this trip, we visited 14 national parks, and Sequoia National Park was one of the absolute highlights. The drive into the park is spectacular. Climbing from the valley into the Sierra Nevada, the scenery changes with every curve of the road until suddenly you find yourself surrounded by forests of giant sequoias. It is an unforgettable entrance and sets the stage for everything that follows. We stayed between Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and dedicated five full days to exploring both. It was the perfect amount of time because every day brought new trails, new views, and another reason to stop in amazement. Of course, we visited the famous groves, including General Sherman, the largest tree on Earth by volume. Even though these areas are popular, we purposely visited before schools were out for the summer and avoided weekends, so the crowds were very manageable. Even so, my favorite hikes were the quieter ones, where there were fewer people and it felt like I had the forest almost to myself. There is something deeply humbling about standing among these giants. Some of these trees have been alive for more than 2,000 years. They were already ancient long before our country even existed. I found myself slowing down, placing my hand on their massive trunks, sitting quietly, and simply absorbing the peace of the forest. Whether or not trees have energy is up to each person to decide, but I certainly left feeling calmer, smaller, and full of wonder. Beyond the giant sequoias, the park offers spectacular granite cliffs, rushing rivers, alpine meadows, waterfalls, and an incredible variety of wildlife. Every trail seemed to reveal something different, making each hike feel like its own adventure. Sequoia National Park is more than just a place to check off a list. It is a place to slow down, look up, breathe deeply, and remember just how extraordinary nature can be. If you have the time, don't rush through it. Spend several days exploring both Sequoia and neighboring Kings Canyon. The giant trees may be the stars of the park, but the entire landscape is magnificent. This is one of those parks that stays with you long after you leave.

A day of driving down Highway 180. Found scenic turnouts, a beautiful river, Boyden Cavern, lovely…read moreplants, scenic views and of course giant sequoia trees! Boyden Cavern has a super steep walkway entrance. So for those of you with any physical issues it could be a huge problem. (We didn't go inside this trip) The view of the river from this area is lovely. They also have a gift shop with various treasures and bathroom stalls near the parking lot. This part of the road is only open part of the year. From late April to mid November depending on the snow fall level. Definitely bring your own water, snacks and a bag lunch. Can't beat the view!

Marble Falls , Sequoia National Park…read more First time I did this 5 years ago it was breathtaking gorgeous. Misty , foggy , a bit dark in lush green rainforest like tropical jungle. Second time was like that also. Third time today (04.10.22) not so rainforests - like due to burns. Really sad. Almost the entire place was affected by the fires. Looked completely different from last two times I did this hike. Nevertheless the water was raging at the falls. Some sketchy areas on the trail due to washouts. Sad to see graffiti on some boulders ( they weren't there 4,5 years ago). Tons of native species like Mariposa Lilies , Ithuriel's Spears, Pink Fairy Lanterns, a few blooming Yuccas , birds eyes gills, popcorn flowers, fiddlenecks, Madia , Chinese Houses , Tritelea, California Goldfields, Brodiaea, baby blue eyes etc. First time I did this 5 years ago and second time 4 years ago , my hiking buddies and I did not see a single other hiker but today tons , too many to count. It's too crowded now. Because of the burns and the crowd , 4 stars otherwise if this was 5 years ago definitely 10 stars.

Not a difficult hike, and pretty close to the main entrance of Sequoia National Park. You have to…read morego through the Potwisha campgrounds and park your car at a small parking lot. You start by following an aqueduct and then at a sign, you turn right and start going up. It is a moderate distance, 3.5 miles to get there. The views are breathtaking and you have a waterfall reward at the end. Which actually may vary if in the dry season. Alternative: If you don't want to hike that long and still want to see a nice amount of water, instead of going left on Powisha Campgrounds, go right and park at this little construction site. Follow a small trail, that will lead you to a bridge. Before you reach the bridge, will see to your left ancient paintings and if you keep an eye on the grounds around the bridge, you will see holes in the granite (mortars) that were made by local tribes to grind nuts. We were advised not to go too far past the bridge because it "gets snaky". We didn't see any rattlesnakes, but kept close to the bridge, which was gorgeous with a swimming hole and a little private beach.

If you do one thing in Sequoia & Kings Canyon make it a tour with Krista at Sequoia Guides!…read more We experienced a snow shoeing tour and had a party of 5 ranging in age from 9 to 53. Krista was fantastic at making us feel confident in our abilities. She showed interest in each of us and answered every question we had. This was my 3rd time visiting Sequoia & Kings Canyon and I learned things I never knew! She is exceptionally knowledgeable about Sequoia & Kings Canyon. This was the highlight of our trip! We will be back for a spring/summer tour before too long!

I was born in ND and lived near Redding, CA for 30 years. Now I live in Springville, CA and it's a…read moreshort 45 minute drive to the sequoia's. Beautiful drive...wonderful scenic area and my family will visit again and again!!

Visited the Tunnel Log in Sequoia National Park and it's definitely one of those unique, must-see…read morespots when you're in the area. The idea of driving through a fallen giant sequoia tree is pretty surreal and makes for a great photo opportunity. The area is easy to access, and the drive-through experience itself is quick but memorable. It's fascinating to see how massive these trees are up close--you really don't grasp their size until you're right there. That said, it can get crowded, especially during peak hours, so expect a bit of waiting if you want to drive through or take photos. Also, while it's cool, it's more of a short stop rather than something you spend a lot of time at. Overall, it's a fun and iconic attraction that's worth checking out at least once if you're visiting Sequoia. Just plan for a quick visit and bring your camera.

There are cars waiting along the street to drive through the tree log. you can make a loop follow…read morethe bypass sign. There were people climbing on top of the log which was a bummer for those who wanted to take picture. overall, this is a fun experience

We had an amazing time with Kaweah Whitewater Rafting! The entire experience was well organized,…read moreexciting, and a lot of fun. A special thank you to our guide, Gera, who was absolutely fantastic. He kept things fun and entertaining while making sure everyone felt safe and comfortable on the river. His energy, humor, and expertise made the trip even better. The rapids were a blast, and the scenery was beautiful. I highly recommend Kaweah Whitewater Rafting, and if you get Gera as your guide, you're in for a great time!

If you have never been rafting before, all I can say is please find a way to talk yourself into…read moresigning up for an afternoon with Kaweah Whitewater Adventures! We had a party of four first timers, My mom, myself, and my two boys (14 & 10) and we did the afternoon adventure. EVERYONE had an absolute blast. It was the highlight of our trip and one of the most fun things we have done in years. This really is an adventure. You will be bouncing all over the raft and working in sync as a team to line yourself up for the best past through wild waters. The guides are amazing at keeping everyone locked in and also sharing the beauty of the river. I cannot recommend this excursion enough! Some details on the family option: You drive in to their supervised lot, park your vehicle, and after 30 min of putting on gear and going through instructions you jump in the rafts and go down river for about 4 miles to the lake where you are picked up by a bus and brought back to the lot. The whole trip took about 2.5 hours but I would expect some variance. There were two spots in the run where you can jump in the water and swim around for a bit. One parting thought is that if you are in the area and you see the river you may think you have an idea of what it looks like, but I was truly taken aback by the beauty of the scenery from the perspective of the winding path of the river. You really do get to see a view that is just as unique and special as any park trail.

If you haven't seen the largest tree(s) on earth, you are missing out, get your hiking boots on…read morecome witness some of the most beautiful trees and landscape to be found. Parking can be a beyotch, especially when the main lot is closed, but stay patient and people are coming and going constantly, but whatever you do... DO NOT PARK on the road itself. Don't do it. You can do small short hikes around the grove or during winter you can strap on some snow shoes, or crampons, based on conditions, and you can get further out into the grove or park itself. I just be prepared for whatever you're planning on doing that will guarantee you have a successful outing

Visited the General Sherman Tree at Sequoia National Park and overall it was a good experience, but…read morethere are definitely a few things to be aware of. The tree itself is truly impressive and worth seeing at least once--it's amazing to stand in front of something that massive and historic. That said, expect large crowds and long lines, especially during peak times. It can take a while just to get close enough for photos. Parking was also a challenge during our visit. Spots fill up quickly, so you may need to circle around or wait. We started from the top parking lot, and while going down is manageable, the hike back up is pretty exhausting, so be prepared for that. One downside was the restroom condition--they were quite dirty and looked like they hadn't been maintained well that day. Also, just a heads-up: not everyone we encountered was friendly, so patience helps in crowded areas. Despite these issues, it was still a memorable visit. Just plan ahead, bring water, and be ready for a bit of a workout.

This was a great spot to watch the sunset! I didn't think we were going to make it on time or if…read morethere was going to be a sunset with the overcast weather we had been having. Our hostess who organized the volunteer event suggested we go to Sunset Rock to watch the sunset. I was hesitant to go after a long day of pulling invasive weeds in the sun and having hip issues. I was told it was only a mile. So I thought it was the area we cleaned up the other day and thought it was an easy walk. Well it turned out it was not the viewing rock I thought it was. Although I was very tired and a little bit in pain and still adjusting to the elevation, the hike was worth it! The sunset that day was stunning with different patterns of sunset colors. I messaged the hostess the other night and she said she plans to do it on our next volunteer project next month in August. I told her I was looking forward to it. The hike to the rock is a beautiful walk, with plenty of native plants to admire. I would rate it an easy to medium. Bring a head lamp or some type of lighting if hiking for the sunset. There are areas with a slight incline looks easy enough but if you haven't adjusted to the elevation it can be difficult. Well worth the hike, and swinging at mosquitos. Bring bug spray. The boulder is huge, bring a picnic, and remember to pack your trash out. There is no fencing so watch your step and any little ones, this is a serious fall. The views are breath taking, and at the golden hour we turned around and the lighting on the mountains and trees were an extra treat! Don't forget to look all around you.

This was a perfect short and sweet hike, on a very well marked trail in the Winter…read more Most of the trails were completely snowed in so we had a tough time snow shoeing in the area. We stopped off to ask a Ranger at the museum in front of the Sentinel tree, for some options since we'd rented snow shoes and really wanted to find some trails instead of wander around following bear tracks in the snow (which is fun too, but I wanted to see some actual trails). This was one he suggested as it was literally right across the road. It was a very easy and enjoyable hike. We were completely alone, most of our time in the park while attempting to find trails which made the experience different than high trafficked trails in national parks during Spring, Summer and Fall. We had this place to ourselves and it was incredible and a tad bit odd at times. I wondered where everyone was. We were to Sunset Rock in no time. I'd like to say out and back in around an hour or less and that was trekking through tons of snow and stopping at the rock for a bit once there. Once to the rock, which had visible patches showing through we took in the views. This was a very serene and peaceful trail in February. It wasn't strenuous at all so I'd definitely recommend it for all athletic abilities and ages. Will be nice to see it again in the Summer, sans the snow.