Sequoia NP Checklist

Sequoia NP Checklist of photogenic sites on the Sequoia (Hwy 198) & Kings (Hwy 180) N.P.

1. Sawtooth Peak off of Mineral King Road derived from HWY 198  – Explore the mountain lakes

2. Listed in sequential order while driving on 198 from South

• Crystal Cave
• Moro Rock (The best viewing point)
• Sequoia National Park’s Tunnel Log
• Crescent Meadow
• Beetle Rock trail
• Sequoia Tunnel
• General Sherman
• The Congress Trail
• Lodge pole visitor center
• Tokopah Falls
• Little Baldy Dome Trail

3. Listed in sequential order while driving on 180 from West

• The Big Stump
• Grant Grove (Including General Grant)
• Kings Canyon Panoramic Point
• Hume Lake
• Grizzly Falls
• Cedar Grove Overlook (Very steep hike but with amazing views)
• Zumwalt Meadows Trailhead
• Mist falls Trail (very picturesque views!)
• Roads End – Swimming in the copper Creek (Rock Diving)

Welcome to the land of Giants – Sequoia NP

We’ve all heard about the giant trees in the Sequoia National Park, probably seen the images of General Grant and General Sherman -world’s largest living thing.

Would you believe me if I said “That it’s all false?” 

In reality the trees are much grander than you can imagine, than camera conveys – it is simply unfathomable. Undoubtedly they will make you feel like a child again.

Planning for the trip of your life

First off – once you start planning your getaway trip to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. Stop! Realize this is the trip of your life – would you really spend 2-3 days on it? You need at least a week to barely scratch the surface of all the places you’re going to visit in this National Park.

Plan for at least a 1 week long journey. Plan thoroughly. Have a good strategy of locations to visit at the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. Out Sequoia NP Checklist is a helpful aid with a geographic approach to locations.

We’ve boon to the these magnificent national parks several times and every time it felt like the first. One of the best experiences camping was organized by Alyx Schwarz , who started an awesome hiking and camping club for everyone called Shoestring adventures. Alyx led dozens of hikes and engaging excursions around Southern and Northern California and we can’t wait for her to organize more trips. We had a great time! Thank you Alyx!

Feel like a kid at the Sequoia N.P

The giant Sequoias will dwarf you to a size of “Lilliput” person from “Gulliver travels” by Johnathan Swift. You’ll get to walk among giants, partake in a fairy tale and go back in time when you were little. Certainly you’ll be awed and humbled by these gentle giants.

I’d highly recommend taking your time just to meditate amongst this wonder of nature. Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Park is beyond verbal description – you literally have to make your way there to believe it – yes it’s that magical! I guarantee that you will be amazed by the plant and animal variety far past your expectations. Picturesque scenery of landscapes will change like pages of a book, forever imprinting in your mind.

Should you bring kids on the trip to Sequoia N.P? 

We would highly recommend bringing your kids past age of 6 – once they can make and retain memories, simply because it’s not your every other weekend getaway location and you would really like them to have some amazing memories about this National Park.

Additionally traveling with an infant or a toddler can place significant constrains given the potential road closures and generally tough environment of wilderness. Is it possible, absolutely; you’d simply have to have a bit of traveling experience beforehand and prepare twice as thoroughly.

Arm yourself with a concrete plan of things to see at this national park. Use the checklist for Sequoia and Kings Canyon N.P. recommended at the beginning of the post as your guideline. Most of the locations mentioned on the list are easily accessible and do not require vigorous training; some can easily be experience with little kids. Recommendation: Look at the duration and elevation gain for each hike to estimate your ability.

Do a lot of research before going to Kings Canyon NP

I’m certain that you will enjoy this amazing ancient forest, mountains and the lakes. There’s a high chance that you will see  peacefully grazing deer along the creeks and glades ; there’s also a good chance that you’ll spot some brown bears with cubs, which  are a common sites in Sequoia National Forest.

Pristine clean lakes reflecting snow-capped mountains will remind who’s the real giant in these parts.  Here, you will find tons of hiking trails, and paths some of which haven’t been walked upon for hundreds of years.
I highly recommend doing a lot of research, which you may start off by visiting the official web page. 

Be on a lookout for road closures & wild fires. Review the wildfire map beforehand

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Ilya Khramtsov