I don't know how to even describe this park, maybe, magical... The sequoias are majestic with sugar…read morepines sprinkled all around. I was here with the Sisters Corp. to do some volunteer work. I did not want to miss the opportunity to give my time for this beautiful place. This is my first time to visit this National Park and I know now it will not be my last. My first day at the volunteer camp group site as we gathered at the table to meet each other and go over the agenda for the weekend we had the opportunity to see a black bear casually roam through our campground near the tents (one of them was mine). We were all informed prior to arriving not to leave any scented items in the tents. No one wonder the bear kept moving along, but with the help of our camp host shooing it away from the campground. This is something we learned from the rangers, is to shoo them away so they don't get in the habit of coming around. The park offers many hiking trails, I had the chance to do one of many, which was the Long Meadow Trail. Very beautiful, plenty of foliage and evidence of a bear in the area. Another part of the park I got to visit was General Sherman. There is a park ranger that will tell you the history of the General Sherman tree. You can wait in a long line to take a pic in front of the tree with a General Sherman sign. Or you can take a pic around the fenced majestic tree. I choose not to wait in line. I had the chance to shuttle to General Sherman tree from the Museum. The Shuttle is free and seems to come every 10-15 min. From General Sherman I also shuttled to the Lodgepole marketplace and visitor center. In this area are bathrooms with showers (coin operated, quarters). The Marketplace has an area to order some food and also a section where you can purchase some ice cream by the scoop. The store offers assorted ice cream bars. The visitor center offers gift items as well as the marketplace. At the front of the visitor center they had a ranger available at a booth if you had any questions. This place is quite busy! Parking lot is a madhouse. Nearby is a campground you may want to check out or ask the ranger for some info. If you can, arrive early, find parking at the Museum and shuttle to everything if you can. Warning, when I was doing volunteer work in the parking lot across from the museum we witnessed a black bear enjoying some berries in the bushes. I'm not sure if they will venture into the parking lot with a lot human activity going on but be careful what you leave in your car, anything and everything with a scent. The park has so much to see. I look forward to returning to volunteer and to take advantage of what the park has to offer.

Best national park I've ever been to and that's saying a lot…read more It's magical, and I highly recommend getting to the Sherman trailhead prior to 9:30am if you want a parking spot. Takes about an hour to get in there, up there and parked so plan accordingly. The congress trail was amazing and for a 3.5 mile hike it took about 2.5 hours with frequent stops for pictures. Highly recommend a stop at lodge pole for refreshments and merch. Incredible experience from start to finish.

It is like a heaven, if you spend the night there is even better. You should see the moonrise when…read moreit comes out behind the mountain you feel like it is very close to you. Good for fishing, hiking, camping, horse riding, hunting more and more. Good place to spend the weekend.

Sometimes I forget that I grew up on an old cattle ranch. There are a set of twin lakes (more like…read moreponds) that are @ the end of my street. Growing up my bros and I would go biking, fishing, or exploring around these lakes. There is a cute tackle shop that is ran by the family that owns it & there are cute fishing huts that are good for fishing in or hide and ghost seek.

My husband & I hiked here on May 23rd, 2015. We've hiked this trail once before, back in the summer…read more(a few years ago), and it's always really nice & enjoyable hike. It can be a little challenging right toward the top of the summit but otherwise, it's a pretty easy hike. The weather during this time 5/23, happened to be much cooler (50's), foggy, cloudy & windy....especially at the summit compared to our hike a few years ago, mid-summer. It is much warmer during mid-late summer, along with much clearer skies for the view from the summit (we didn't get to enjoy our view since it was foggy/cloudy this time :( ). Bring layers of clothes, especially in the fall and spring. Also the view from the summit is truly amazing! The hike only takes a few hours and is a perfect, quick, little getaway from the city. There are places on top of the summit where you can sit and enjoy the view, relax, & eat snacks/lunch. Don't forget to bring plenty of water and stay hydrated! "The dry, shaded hike beneath the canopy of conifers along loose dirt and pine mulch accented by decorator boulders is easy on the paws, and the wide-angle perspective from the top, a visual treat. The hike kicks off with a stiff ascent before tapering off to a more gradual incline. A trail marker along the way indicates that you are hiking in the Giant Sequoia National Monument." Location: Kern County, about 9 miles west of Kernville, 185 miles from Los Angeles ROUTE 1 Distance: 3 1/2 miles round trip on trail Gain: 1000' Time: 2 hours round trip Rating: Class 1, moderate Navigation: Easy Leader Rating: "O", normal conditions

An awesome family tour of Sequoia National Park enriched with an excellent tour guide, Pani of…read moremountain trekking adventures! We all learned so much about the history and geology of this vast Park. Having a knowledgeable tour guide really eliminates any stress of searching for features you want to see! Our party of 10 agreed we had the best park trip ever with Pani guiding us through the exceptional features of Sequoia national park. We are spoiled now and highly recommend mountain trekking adventures for anyone going to the Sequoia national Park or Kings Canyon national parks.

What an incredible experience! It's truly a gift to have a guide who has spent their life living in…read moreand exploring these mountains. It's a rare and priceless opportunity to be shown this special area by someone so connected and committed to the place. Pani's guidance is truly from the heart, and when you add his lifetime of experience exploring here, you have a guided tour that cannot be matched elsewhere. His love of the place is infectious and he's fun, flexible and kind. So thankful to have had him as our guide!

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!!

My sister and I took the intermediate course with Mountain Descents River Rafting, and it…read morecompletely exceeded our expectations. It was definitely more intense than I originally thought, but in a way that made the whole experience even more thrilling. Our guide, DJ (I think!), had a sense of humor that made the whole ride even more fun. We both left feeling exhilarated and already talking about doing it again next time we're visiting Sequoia.

Everyone was very chill, and more than knowledgeable. Plenty of range for experience…read more Definitely a must try.

An excellent place to volunteer!…read more This is a review of Coexist with Wildlife Day, which was awesome: a bio blitz, some volunteer work and tacos from a food truck with a band. Also free Otter Pops!

I really enjoyed visiting the River Pky. We gathered for a meeting and for some attendees, it was…read moretheir first visit and the atmosphere was amazing for all. I have been back just to enjoy the grounds. So pretty!

Raptor walk trail along the south side of the King's River is amazing! You'll see egrets, herons,…read moreducks, turkeys and many more. Nice benches to sit on and relax at the riverside.

If you're visiting Sequoia, book the Big Trees Telescope Tour with Scott. It was one of the…read morehighlights of our trip. Scott is a former park ranger, and his knowledge is incredible. He shared fascinating stories and facts about the park (including black bears!), and you can tell he genuinely loves what he does. He's kind, patient, and made the whole experience feel personal and special. The telescope tour was amazing -- seeing the planets under Sequoia's dark skies was unforgettable. He explained everything in a way that was engaging and easy to understand. His company may be new, but it won't stay a hidden gem for long. Highly recommend.

Dont hesitate to take advantage of this tour experience with Scott. Worth evey dollar spent…read more.. You will be rewarded with great photo stops overlooked by most , fact and stories that will deepen your appreciation of Park and Tree highlights. Thank you Scott for bringing our attention to the lesser known contributors to this beautiful National Park... Al and Dee, Chicago