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!

First time for us four at Sequoia NP and we loved our experience in Crystal Cave. The staff overall…read moreloved what they do and you can tell. Right from the get go the staff welcomes your group and is telling you instructions to take care of yourself, your group and the caves/park. They greet you with enthusiasm and you learn so much. Please arrive on time! For parking there's quite a bit of spaces. There's restroom nearby so you can go before heading out. You can bring your backpack onto the trail but can't bring it inside the cave. So you can either bring it and leave it on the floor outside the cave or in your car. The trail can be a little challenging for some but very doable. Can be a little challenging for some children and some older adults. This also includes for the caves.The staff are there to watch for your safety but they do warn you about your surroundings. The cave is very cool to explore but there will be some tight spaces you will navigate through. So I don't recommend bringing a stroller and make sure your kids are able to walk and stay near. They will definitely enjoy the cool nature stuff inside! There's a gift shop stand near the entrance of the trail. You can buy nice souvenirs, snacks, and support! Overall we loved our tour and we would comeback again for this. Thank you to all the staff of Crystal Cave for all that you do and taking care of this natural beauty.

We made reservations to see the crystal cave and arrived early. They were able to move up our time…read morewhich was really nice since there's not much to do around there. Once it was time to hike down they made some general announcements and we met the guide at entrance of the cave. It was nice to have someone tell us the history of the cave and guide us through. The 20 minute hike down and up wasn't too bad and was completely doable for my 6 year old son. Overall, it was a unique experience and I'm glad we made the stop during our Sequoia trip!

The trail is relatively easy even for beginners, though be prepared for a consistent incline as you…read morehead towards the falls. There is plenty of shade along the way to stop for breaks, which is great because while the majority of the trail is well-shaded, you will encounter some strong, direct sunlight once you get closer to the destination. A few tips for your visit: Timing: If you're hiking in the spring or summer, do yourself a favor and arrive early. You'll get much easier parking closer to the trailhead near the bridge, plus you get to enjoy the cooler morning weather before it heats up. What to expect: It's a beautiful, rugged environment with a well maintained trail, with Yellow-Bellied Marmots out loafing in the sun. Even if you visit in late spring or early summer, don't be surprised to see patches of snow lingering in the shaded sections. Family note: The trail is definitely kid-friendly, though you'll want to keep a close eye on the little ones toward the end of the trail, as there are some ledges to navigate. The whole experience gives off major Skyrim vibes. It feels like you're walking toward Riverwood, just with a bit more uphill climbing. It's an absolute gem of a trail and well worth the effort.

Tokopah Falls Trail was pretty easy, about 2 hours roundtrip. A huge majority of the walk is along…read morethe water, and the views are amazing every step of the way. I had to keep stopping to take photos and enjoy the view. There's an area with a bunch of rocks that might be difficult for some. The waterfall was beautiful and there is plenty of photo opportunities. It's a great place to just sit on a rock and relax after you finish your hike, enjoying the breeze from the waterfall. You walk back the same way you came. On our way back, we came across a marmot, which is basically a giant squirrel. It was my first time seeing one. So adorable.

My family has been camping at Buckeye Flats Campground for over 50 years, starting with my grandma…read moreand her best friend Sylvia. The scenery is beautiful, the river is peaceful, and the campground has a charm that keeps us coming back year after year. It's a special place full of memories for our family.

Best camping place ever it's a wonderful place to take the entire family of just the wife..read more

An absolute must! I…read morecan't stop talking about how much I enjoyed this scenic viewpoint! The hike requires you to hike up 350 steps which is approximately 0.25 miles and 350 steps down which is approximately 0.25 miles down which is 0.50 miles! I saw children and senior citizens hiking up the trail. Hiking sticks were not necessary! You can definitely go at your own pace. There are parts of the stairs where you would need to let people go first. Otherwise, wonderful trail!! Parking can be challenging. Many cars parked along the side of the road. There are many more trails to choose from if this particular trail was too short. Definitely add it to your hiking list if you are visiting sequoia national park.

Parking is hard at the trailhead. there are lot of cars parking along the road. there is shuttle…read morebus available but I'm not sure about the frequency. Moro Rock Trail is not a difficult trail with 350 steps up a huge granite dome, some part of the steps are very narrow. There are several tiny spots for people to stop and rest. The view is stunning along the hike.

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!!

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!

Rio Sierra River Resort is my favorite place to stay, period. Everything about it is amazing, from…read morethe river to the rooms, perfect. It has become a destination to me, not just an overnight pass-through. The staff are so attentive, just let them know if you need anything. I just recently stayed and can't wait to return. If you do have concerns, such as the cancelation policy, you should contact them in advance to clarify that.

Had a fabulous time staying in three rivers and visiting the Sequoia and Kings Canyon national…read moreparks. The Rio, Sierra River House is a great place to stay. We stayed in the deluxe queen studio. The room was spacious and beautifully decorated. . It has a full kitchen and a full wall of windows overlooking the river! There was a great little deck with a table and chairs for eating breakfast and enjoying the view. The property had a great beach area with several nice spaces with canopies and chairs for guest to relax in. And plenty of space for all of the guests to enjoy . The River was clear and deep enough to swim in.. it was not very cold but was refreshing in the summer heat after a day spent up at the national parks. The room was wonderful . The kitchen was fully stocked with pots pans utensils , dishes, etc. the beds were comfortable there were plenty of blankets and towels etc. The host was very welcoming and responsive when we reached out with questions and there were instructions, request, and a lot of good suggestions for enjoying our stay provided in a paper that was left in the room.. I would definitely recommend the spot, I plan to come back to visit the Area again and couldn't imagine staying anywhere else