The old zoo in Griffith Park is one of the strangest ruins in Los Angeles (putting it in the running for strangest ruins worldwide). When the Los Angeles Zoo opened at its current location in the 1960s, the former zoo, a few miles away was not torn down or destroyed. Instead, the zoo was abandoned and converted into a picnic area. Explore one of LA’s best off-the-beaten-path attractions on a half mile hike through the picnic area past old animal cages and exhibits. This is definitely the most unique place for a picnic in LA.

The picnic area is located in a canyon just north of the merry-go-round on the east side of Griffith Park, about five miles south of the current LA Zoo. There are dozens of shaded picnic tables and BBQ grills to facilitate a great picnic, as well as a large grassy field to run around in. Beyond the outdoor dining necessitates, there is a collection of empty animal cages on display. From the bottom of the picnic area, turn left up the paved trail curving up the side of the canyon to the open field above the trees. The road soon passes a line of stone exhibits. Ron Burgundy fans may recognize this as the movie backdrop for the bear scenes at the San Diego Zoo in ANCHORMAN. In reality you can step right inside the old holding pens. The first exhibit you reach has tables arranged inside. What a place for a picnic!

Picnic tables inside an old zoo exhibit

On the backside of the stone enclosures, the road continues past two more old buildings that are worth checking out. Turn around when you reach a short building on the right with prison bars on the front. Otherwise you will be hiking through the woods toward the merry-go-round.

Further up the canyon above the stone pens there is a row of small metal cages. The Old Griffith Park Zoo opened in 1912 and was shut down 1965. At the time, the animal cages were criticized for being too small for the animals. You can’t knock the quality of the craftsmanship, as the cages have survived since the 1930s in great condition. Walk past the cramped enclosures and measure how the treatment of zoo animals has changed over the ages.

Old cages along the trail

Beyond the upper cages, the road rounds Spring Canyon and returns to the lower end of the picnic area. The grounds offer an enticing view of Bee Rock, a hive-shaped point atop the ridge to the west. To look down on the old zoo and get some extra exercise, consider the short hike up Bee Rock.

Old Zoo Picnic Area is tucked away in a corner of Griffith Park that is off the tourists radar. It is the coolest picnic area around – very strange, and very easy to get to. From the zoo that is downtown LA, it is a five minute drive to the old zoo in Griffith Park. Dogs are welcome. Check it out!

To get to the picnic area: Take the 5 Freeway to the Los Feliz Boulevard exit. Drive west on Los Feliz Boulevard to the first light and turn north on Crystal Springs Road. After 1.5 miles, turn left on Griffith Park Drive. Continue a quarter mile and turn left into a parking area just before the road bends to the right. There is a row of parking spaces by the turnoff and more parking as you drive into the picnic area. If all spaces are full, you may park at the larger lot by the merry-go-round and walk a little further to the picnic area.

Use the map below to create your own directions:

Photos

 

                             

These photos were taken in November of 2011. Click to enlarge.

 

Nearby Trails

 

	Bee Rock This hive-shaped point on the east side of Griffith Park is reached via a 1.7 to 4-mile round trip hike.
	Beacon Hill This 2.75 to 3.9-mile hike in Griffith Park climbs 500 feet to the easternmost summit in the Santa Monica Mountains.
	Bronson Cave This short easy hike visits a man-made cave recognizable as the Batcave from the 1960s Batman TV series and hundreds of other locations on TV and film.
	Mount Lee and the Hollywood Sign This 6.4-mile hike crosses Griffith Park from Canyon Drive to the top of Mount Lee directly behind the landmark Hollywood Sign.
	Cahuenga Peak from Wonder View Trail This 3-mile hike ascends 925 feet to Cahuenga Peak and the adjacent Mount Lee, home of the Hollywood Sign.
	More trails in the Santa Monica Mountains Explore other destinations in the range.

 

Similar Trails

 

	Echo Mountain via Sam Merrill Trail This 5.8-mile hike visits a historic railway and ruins from a century old resort overlooking Pasadena.
	Murphy Ranch This 3.85-mile loop descending from Sullivan Ridge Fire Road into Rustic Canyon, where hikers can visit abandoned buildings once occupied by Nazi Sympathizers.
	Solstice Canyon This two-mile out and back is easy and level, and visits the ruins of a burned down ranch and a small waterfall.
	Knapp’s Castle This easy 0.8-mile hike visits the scenic ruins of an estate home built atop the mountains behind Santa Barbara.

 

More Info

 

Old Zoo Picnic Area on curbed.com

Old Zoo Picnic Area on goexplorenature.com

Old Zoo Picnic Area on hiddenlosangeles.com

Abandoned zoos on weburbanist.com

City of Los Angeles website for Griffith Park

The official website for Griffith Park

 

The road to Glacier Point closes in the winter and spring because of snow, but it should be closed year round because the views are too great to just be driven up to. It’s too easy. Imagine how someone would feel after hiking 16 miles to get to the top of Half Dome, only to find out that there is an even better view over Yosemite Valley that requires zero hiking. It’s not fair! Glacier Point must be cheating and should be closed year round. The views are just too good.

Until the park shuts down down Glacier Point, you should definitely check it out. The views are awesome! A summer trip to Yosemite National Park is not complete without a stop at Glacier Point. The 7,214 foot perch offers incredible views over Yosemite Valley. The panorama includes Yosemite Falls to the north, the longest waterfall in North America, which Glacier Point actually looks down on. Curry Village can be seen on the floor of Yosemite Valley over 3,000 feet below. To the east, rising 1,600 feet higher than Glacier Point is the iconic Half Dome. Behind the dome, the Merced River pours down Nevada Fall and Vernal Fall. It is a breathtaking sight.

Yosemite Fall from Glacier Point

For those who actually do want to hike, there are a few trails leaving from Glacier Point. Four Mile Trail drops 4.8 miles down into Yosemite Valley near Sentinel Falls. Panorama Trail takes an 8.5-mile course past Illilouette Fall to join John Muir Trail and descend to Happy Isles on the valley floor. Utilize the park shuttle to hike one direction on these trails. If you prefer to go up instead of down, you can climb 900 feet to the top of Sentinel Dome.

Like Tunnel View, Glacier Point is a drive-up viewpoint that should not be missed. The road to the point is usually closed prior to Memorial Day, so check road conditions before you visit. When the road is open, the exceptional views are worth the drive. There are bathrooms and other amenities at the overlook. A park entrance fee is required to access Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park.

Vernal and Nevada Falls from Glacier Point

To get to the trailhead: There is one road to Glacier Point and it’s called Glacier Point Road. From Highway 41, ten miles south of Yosemite Valley and seventeen miles from the south entrance, turn east onto Glacier Point Road. Drive fifteen miles to the parking area at the end of the road. You will pass the trailhead for Taft Point two miles from the end of the road.

Use the map below to create your own directions:

Photos

 

     
     
These photos were taken in July of 2006. Click to enlarge.

 

Nearby Trails

 

	Taft Point Trail This 4-mile round trip hike visits an overlook on the south wall of Yosemite Valley with fascinating rock fissures carved into the exposed granite.
	Bridalveil Fall Trail This easy paved half-mile trail visits the base of a 620-foot single-drop waterfall on the south side of Yosemite Valley.
	Lower Yosemite Fall Trail This 1.2-mile hike delivers visitors to the base of the tallest waterfall in North America. The experience is not to be missed.
	Chilnualna Falls Trail This 8-mile round trip hike ascends 2,200 feet past a raucous string of cascades to the top of a waterfall alongside Wawona Dome.
	Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias This 1.6-mile hike (or longer) visits the biggest trees in Yosemite.
	The Mist Trail to Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall This 1.8 to 5.5-mile hike takes an exciting course past two of Yosemite’s prize waterfalls.
	Half Dome This epic 16-mile hike climbs 4,800 feet on one of Yosemite’s most popular and most challenging trails.
	More trails in the Sierra Nevada Mountains Explore other destinations in Yosemite National Park and the rest of the range.

 

Camping

 

Yosemite National Park Campgrounds There are 13 campgrounds with over 1,600 total sites spread throughout the parks to facilitate your visit.

 

More Info

 

The official webpage for Glacier Point on nps.gov

Glacier Point on wikipedia.org

The official website of Yosemite National Park

 

On the drive north to Yosemite Valley on Highway 41, as anticipation builds for the beauty ahead, you will pass through a dark tunnel. Suddenly the tunnel end, and an epic view appears, a breathtaking valley with magical waterfalls spilling off dramatic granite wall. Pull over the car and take in the full magnificence of Tunnel View.

The eastward vantage into spectacular Yosemite Valley serves up a timeless view. To the left, on the north side of the valley is the sheer 3,000-foot face of El Capitan. To the right is Bridalveil Fall, spilling from an enchanting hanging canyon into the pine-carpeted valley. In the center, hanging in the background at the far end of Yosemite Valley, is another park icon, Half Dome.

Tunnel View is wonderful.

From early black and white photos to present day post cards, the imagery from this location is nothing short of incredible. Even as roads have been constructed and buildings have been erected, Tunnel View has not changed. With great care, unnatural developments have been hidden from this special viewpoint. From Tunnel View you can imagine that nothing has changed and that nothing will change in this perfect valley.

Early in the day, Yosemite Valley is back-lit, throwing impressive details into shadow. Sunlight in the late afternoon creates the most striking perspective. if you can plan your day to arrive just before sunset, the transfer of light to shadow that plays out across the valley is a enchanting display. If Tunnel View is your first stop in Yosemite National Park, the classic imagination-inspiring viewpoint will make you fall in love. You won’t want to leave.

For another exceptional drive-up view, check out Glacier Point.

Tunnel View

Tunnel View

Tunnel View

Bridalveil Falls from Tunnel View

Bridalveil Falls from Tunnel View

To get to Tunnel View: From the junction of Highway 41 and Highway 140 in Yosemite Valley, head south on Highway 41 toward Wawona. Climb up from the valley floor for 1.6 miles and pull into the parking area on the side of the road just before the tunnel. From the south entrance of the park, near the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, drive 24.5 miles north on Highway 41. Once you pass through the road’s only tunnel, you will know you’ve arrived.

Use the map below to create your own directions:

Nearby Trails

 

	Bridalveil Fall Trail This easy paved half-mile trail visits the base of a 620-foot single-drop waterfall on the south side of Yosemite Valley.
	Lower Yosemite Fall Trail This 1.2-mile hike delivers visitors to the base of the tallest waterfall in North America. The experience is not to be missed.
	Taft Point Trail This 4-mile round trip hike visits an overlook on the south wall of Yosemite Valley with fascinating rock fissures carved into the exposed granite.
	Chilnualna Falls Trail This 8-mile round trip hike ascends 2,200 feet past a raucous string of cascades to the top of a waterfall alongside Wawona Dome.
	Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias This 1.6-mile hike (or longer) visits the biggest trees in Yosemite.
	More trails in the Sierra Nevada Mountains Explore other destinations in Yosemite National Park and the rest of the range.

 

Camping

 

Yosemite National Park Campgrounds There are 13 campgrounds with over 1,600 total sites spread throughout the parks to facilitate your visit.

 

Rim Rock Drive is a 23-mile stretch of road crossing the rugged terrain of Colorado National Monument. The drive delivers dizzying cliff’s edge views and is a memorable part of any visit to the park. The winding roadway plots an improbable course along the rim of Monument Canyon. There are nineteen overlooks and fourteen trails along the drive, and it is the main artery through the park. Rim Rock Drive was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps as a Public Works Project, and has since been designated a historic district. Rim Rock Drive is impressively engineered, melded with the landscape in a very unobtrusive way while providing visitors with unforgettable views right from their bike or car.

Artists Point

Starting from the west entrance, at the north end of the park near Fruita, the road passes Balanced Rock and ascends through two tunnels on a winding course to the top of the bluffs. Afterward, Rim Rock Drive is fairly level, but there is nearly 2,000 feet of elevation between the top and bottom of the road.

Independence Monument from Grand View Overlook

Rim Rock Drive passes the park visitor center and progresses south along the rim of Monument Canyon, passing several viewpoints and trailheads. A mile south of Saddlehorn Visitor Center is Otto’s Trail, an easy 0.75-mile hike to a scenic overlook. Further up the road, you don’t even need to put forth that much effort to see great views. Those can be found from any of the following pullouts along Rim Rock Drive: Independence Monument View, Grand View, Artists Point, Highland View, Coke Ovens Overlook, Upper Ute Canyon Overlook, Ute Canyon View, Red Canyon Overlook, and Cold Shivers Point.

Red Canyon Overlook

After miles of more level road that is appetizing to casual cyclists, Canyon Rim Drive makes a hairpin descent past Devils Kitchen to the east entrance of the park near Grand Junction. Avid hikers may find it frustrating that some of the best views of Monument Canyon are available right from the road, but the beauty of Colorado National Monument is accessible to all (as long as you have transportation and aren’t frightened by tight winding roads). Dedicate a few hours of your visit to touring this drive and exploring the viewpoints.

Use the map below to view the lookouts on Rim Rock Drive:

Photos

 

Artists Point
         

Coke Ovens Overlook
         

Cold Shivers Point
     

Fallen Rock Overlook
     

Grand View Overlook
         

Independence Monument View
   

Upper Ute Canyon View
   

These photos were taken in June of 2010. Click to enlarge.

 

Nearby Trails

 

Trail	Description	Distance	Latitude, Longitude
	Window Rock Trail This out and back hike ends at a distinct point on the wall of Monument Canyon where a natural window appears just below the top of the cliff.	0.35 miles 60 feet	39.105298, -108.72659
	Canyon Rim Trail This out and back hike begins at Saddlehorn Visitor Center and travels along the cliffs edge overlooking Monument Canyon.	1 mile 100 feet	39.100602, -108.734229
	Alcove Nature Trail This out and back hike is less scenic than others in the park but offers information about the plants, animals, and geology of the park.	1 mile 175 feet	39.101055, -108.735169
	Otto’s Trail This 0.75-mile round trip hike visits an overlook near the Pipe Organs with an excellent view of Independence Monument and Monument Canyon.	1 mile 85 feet	39.095956, -108.732736
	Monument Canyon Trail This 7-mile hike travels down into Monument Canyon to visit the tallest freestanding rock formation in the park.	7 - 12 miles 850	39.095232, -108.72458
	Coke Ovens Trail This out and back hike visits a line of sandstone domes decorating the rim of Monument Canyon.	1 mile 180 feet	39.075427, -108.723505
	Devils Kitchen Trail This out and back hike crosses the bottom of No Thoroughfare canyon to a rock grotto surrounded by tall boulders.	1.2 miles 225 feet	39.025521, -108.631355

 

Camping

 

Saddlehorn Campground This 80-site campground is the only designated camping area in Colorado National Park, conveniently located near Saddlehorn Visitor Center.

 

More Info

 

Rim Rock Drive in SCENIC DRIVING COLORADO by Stewart Green

Rim Rock Drive on wikipedia.org

Bicycling Rim Rock Drive on trimbleoutdoors.com

Bicycling Rim Rock Drive on coloradobicyclerides.com

Colorado National Monument on summitpost.org

The official website for Colorado National Monument

 

Balanced Rock is a natural attractions in Colorado National Monument, similar to Balanced Rock in Arches National Park. The defiant sandstone statue stands at the edge of a bluff and is easy to see from a pullout along Rim Rock Drive. Those entering the park through the west entrance near the city of Fruita, should make Balanced Rock View their first stop. The formation is also visible from above at Saddlehorn Campground. At sunrise, when light first meets Balanced Rock, the top of the bluffs at the west end of the campground provide an excellent view.

Balanced Rock at sunrise

Balanced Rock and Rim Rock Drive

To get to Balanced Rock: From the west entrance of Colorado National Monument, drive 1.6 south to Balanced Rock View (or 2.7 miles north from Saddlehorn Visitor Center).

Use the map below to create your own directions:

Photos

 

             

These photos were taken in June of 2010. Click to enlarge.

 

Nearby Trails

 

Trail	Description	Distance	Latitude, Longitude
	Window Rock Trail This out and back hike ends at a distinct point on the wall of Monument Canyon where a natural window appears just below the top of the cliff.	0.35 miles 60 feet	39.105298, -108.72659
	Canyon Rim Trail This out and back hike begins at Saddlehorn Visitor Center and travels along the cliffs edge overlooking Monument Canyon.	1 mile 100 feet	39.100602, -108.734229
	Alcove Nature Trail This out and back hike is less scenic than others in the park but offers information about the plants, animals, and geology of the park.	1 mile 175 feet	39.101055, -108.735169
	Otto’s Trail This 0.75-mile round trip hike visits an overlook near the Pipe Organs with an excellent view of Independence Monument and Monument Canyon.	1 mile 85 feet	39.095956, -108.732736
	Monument Canyon Trail This 7-mile hike travels down into Monument Canyon to visit the tallest freestanding rock formation in the park.	7 - 12 miles 850	39.095232, -108.72458
	Coke Ovens Trail This out and back hike visits a line of sandstone domes decorating the rim of Monument Canyon.	1 mile 180 feet	39.075427, -108.723505
	Devils Kitchen Trail This out and back hike crosses the bottom of No Thoroughfare canyon to a rock grotto surrounded by tall boulders.	1.2 miles 225 feet	39.025521, -108.631355

 

Similar Trails

 

Balanced Rock This quarter mile loop circles a perilous block of sandstone balancing near the center of Arches National Park.

 

Camping

 

Saddlehorn Campground This 80-site campground is the only designated camping area in Colorado National Park, conveniently located near Saddlehorn Visitor Center.

 

More Info

 

Colorado National Monument on summitpost.org

Colorado National Monument on wikipedia.org

The official website for Colorado National Monument

 

The Island in the Sky offers great views for visitors who aren’t in favor of exploring too far from their transportation. Even for hikers, every overlook in the Island in the Sky in worth checking out. The two that should not be missed are Grand View Overlook and Green River Overlook. These provide excellent views along with informative panels. Additionally, Buck Canyon Overlook offers a nice view to the east, and Shafer Road Overlook lets you look down on a 4X4 road that weaves down the side of the mesa to the White Rim, and is just plain impressive to look at.

Looking out from Green River Overlook

Shafer Canyon Overlook

Each of these overlooks is identified on the map below:

Photos

 

Green River Overlook
       
       
Buck Canyon Overlook
       
Shafer Canyon Overlook
       
 

These photos were taken in June of 2010. Click to enlarge.

 

Nearby Trails

 

Trail	Description	Distance	Latitude, Longitude
	Upheaval Dome This out and back hike visits two overlooks along the rim of a puzzling three-mile wide crater.	0.6 - 1.7 miles 200 feet	38.4264, -109.926113
	Whale Rock This out and back hike ascends a whale-shaped sandstone formation near Upheaval Dome.	1 mile 250 feet	38.426851, -109.914159
	Aztec Butte This lollipop-loop hike ascends a dome-shaped butte that boasts Puebloan granaries and a nice view of Taylor Canyon.	1.3 - 1.8 miles 250 feet	38.393685, -109.882171
	Mesa Arch This loop visits a picturesque arch spanning across the mesa’s edge.	0.5 miles 100 feet	38.387878, -109.863499
	Murphy Point This out and back hike visits a west-facing point on the Island in the Sky overlooking canyons carved by the Green River.	3.6 miles 150 feet	38.342484, -109.889731
	White Rim Overlook This out and back hike visits the end of a peninsula in the Island in the Sky with 300-degree views of the canyons below.	1.8 miles 170 feet	38.320116, -109.834875
	Grand View Point This out and back hike travels along the mesa’s edge from Grand View Overlook to the southernmost point on the Island in the Sky.	2 miles 80 feet	38.303222, -109.867656

 

More Info

 

Canyonlands National Park on wikipedia.org

The official website for Canyonlands National Park

 

The Ashford Mill ruins are visible to those driving up route 178 to Badwater Basin and Furnace Creek. The ruins rest on the valley floor at an elevation of 121 feet below sea level. They serve as a picturesque example of the rigors of life in this harsh desert.

In 1914, Ashford Mill was built to process gold from the Ashford Mine, located in the mountains to the east. Like many desert mines, Ashford went through several owners with long breaks in production. Today, the ruin of Ashford Mill can be explored in under ten minutes. The site also holds the distinction of being the southernmost bathroom in Death Valley, so it may be worth stopping for other reasons.

Ashford Mill Ruins

Those with high clearance vehicles may also explore Ashford Mine. A dirt road directly across from Ashford Mill heads east for three miles. From here it is a 1.5-mile hike to the old mine.

To get to Ashford Mill: The ruins are located just off Badwater Road 25 miles north of the southern park entrance and 27 miles south of Badwater Basin. From Furnace Creek, drive 44.5 miles south on Badwater Road and turn west at the sign into the parking area for Ashford Mill.

Use the map below to create your own directions:

Photos

 

                           

These photos were taken in May of 2010. Click to enlarge.

 

Nearby Attractions

 

	Badwater Basin This is the lowest place in North America — a required stop for first time visitors to Death Valley.
	Dante’s View This towering overlook above Badwater Basin offers panoramic views of Death Valley.
	Artist’s Drive This 9-mile drive crosses a sloping mountainside composed of vibrant soil colored by rich metals.
	Harmony Borax The ¼ mile walk around the Harmony Borax plant offers a window into the mining past of Death Valley.
	Zabriskie Point This easy-to-reach overlook offers a stunning panorama of the badlands near Furnace Creek.
	Charcoal Kilns These conical constructions converted lumber to charcoal for area miners from 1879 to 1882.
	Death Valley Explore more destinations in Death Valley National Park

 

Camping

 

Death Valley CampgroundsThere are nine campgrounds spread throughout this large park to facilitate your visit.

 

More Info

 

Ashford Mine in HIKING CALIFORNIA’S DESERT PARKS by Bill and Polly Cunningham

The official website for Death Valley

 

The Charcoal Kilns are a well-preserved attraction in Death Valley National Park. These conical constructions converted lumber to charcoal from 1879 to 1882. During that period, workers burnt logs in these giant airtight ovens, pyrolyzing pine to charcoal, which was then hauled to the nearby Modock Mine smelter. The coal-making process took about two weeks.

The briefly used kilns were restored in the 1930s and again in the 1970s and are in great shape for modern visitors. Located 37 miles from Stove Pipe Wells, at an elevation of 6,800 feet, the kilns offer escape from both the heat and the crowds of the desert below.

The Charcoal Kilns

The kilns are arranged in a tight line along the road, and are easy to access. For those looking to stray further from the parking lot, there is an 8.4-mile round trip trail to Wildrose Peak, beginning from the kilns. If you are not interested in the long hike to the peak, it is still worth hiking up the trail for a quarter mile to a point where the trail crosses a rocky overlook with a beautiful view down Wildrose Canyon.

A view from the overlook of the road coming up to the kilns

To get to the Charcoal Kilns: From Stovepipe Wells, head west on Route 190 for 9 miles. Turn left (south) just past Emigrant Campground on to Emigrant Canyon Road. Drive 21 miles to Wildrose Campground, and continue another 7 miles to the Charcoal Kilns. The last 4.5 miles are unpaved graded gravel (which may close in winter).

Use the map below to create your own directions:

Photos

 

   
These photos were taken in May of 2010. Click to enlarge.

 

Nearby Attractions

 

	Badwater Basin This is the lowest place in North America — a required stop for first time visitors to Death Valley.
	Dante’s View This towering overlook above Badwater Basin offers panoramic views of Death Valley.
	Artist’s Drive This 9-mile drive crosses a sloping mountainside composed of vibrant soil colored by rich metals.
	Harmony Borax The ¼ mile walk around the Harmony Borax plant offers a window into the mining past of Death Valley.
	Zabriskie Point This easy-to-reach overlook offers a stunning panorama of the badlands near Furnace Creek.
	Death Valley Explore more destinations in Death Valley National Park

 

Camping

 

Death Valley Campgrounds There are nine campgrounds spread throughout this large park to facilitate your visit.

 

More Info

 

Charcoal Kilns on wikipedia.org

The official website for Death Valley

 

A visit to the front country of Sequoia National Park, should include a stop at the Giant Forest Museum. Here you can learn a little something about the Sequoiadendron Giganteum and ask the ranger stationed inside for advise on what to see during your visit to the park. The rustic building that houses the museum was built in 1928 on a design by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood. Through great visual displays, the museum provides a wealth of information on the world’s largest trees.

The Giant Forest is the most famous Giant Sequoia Groves in Sequoia National Park. it covers three square miles and is the second largest grove of Sequoias in the world. Of the 75 existing Sequoia groves, only the Redwood Mountain Grove along the border of Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon is larger. These special trees grow only in California on the west side of the Sierra Nevadas between 5,000 and 7,000 feet, making this a very special place. No matter how many times you see a Giant Sequoia, you cannot help but be impressed by their elegant enormity.

Sentinal Tree

Outside the museum, the Sentinel Tree provides an example of an “average” Sequoia. Amazingly, this seven hundred ton giant is about half the size of the General Sherman Tree. According to the National Park Service, there are forty miles of trail to choose from in the Giant Forest, so if you are looking for a pleasant stroll among the Sequoias, you are in luck.

Giant Forest Museum

Across from the Giant Forest Museum is a large parking lot and trails to Sunset Rock and Beetle Rock, two great granite overlooks. East of the Museum, a road leads to Moro Rock, which offers a stone carved climb to panoramic views of the Kaweah River Valley. Just past Moro Rock is Crescent Meadow where you can hike to Tharp’s Log, where Hale Tharp, the parks first inhabitant other than the Yokuts, built a cabin out of a fallen Sequoia.

To get to the Giant Forest Museum: From Los Angeles, the Giant Forest Museum is 240 miles away. Take the 5 North to the 99 North. After 96 miles, take the 198 East toward Visalia. The 198 leads right to the park, where it becomes the Generals Highway. An entrance fee is charged to access the park. Once inside, drive another 16.5 to get to the Giant Forest Museum.

Use the map below to create your own directions:

Hikes in the Giant Forest

	General Sherman Tree This one-mile hike visits the world’s biggest tree, a 275-foot tall Giant Sequoia that is 36.5 feet across at the base.
	Congress Loop This easy paved two mile loop visits the fourth and fifth tallest Sequoias in the world (among others).
	Sunset Rock This 2-mile hike visits a large granite dome with great views to the west, possibly the best place to end your day in the Giant Forest.
	Beetle Rock This short walk from the Giant Forest Museum to Beetle Rock visits a granite dome with great views and stunning sunsets.
	Crescent Meadow This level 1.6-mile loop visits a Sequoia you can stand inside (Chimney Tree) and another that someone used to live in (Tharp’s Log).
	Moro Rock This 0.6 mile hike sports panoramic views and should be considered a mandatory hike for first time visitors to Sequoia National Park.
	More trails in the Sierra Nevada Mountains Explore other destinations in Sequoia National Park and the rest of the range.

Beetle Rock looks down on the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas from Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park and delivers tremendous views with little effort. While it doesn’t really qualify as a hike, (although those determined to hike to this granite dome can do so) the rock is definitely worth checking out.

On the south side of the Giant Forest Museum parking lot, a short paved road leads up to the Beetle Rock Center, a facility for educational groups that are studying the park. If the road is open, it is possible to drive right up to Beetle Rock. If not, it is only a short walk up to this large granite slope with impressive views to the south and west.

Looking southwest from Beetle Rock

Much like nearby Sunset Rock, Beetle Rock is a great place to watch the sunset. Speaking of names, if you would like to impress people with your knowledge of park trivia, slip into conversation that Beetle Rock was named for the Trachykele Opulenta Beetle that was discovered here in 1905.

Those eager to hike may reach Beetle Rock as part of a half mile loop. Take the Sunset Rock Trail down to Little Deer Creek. Turn left and take the path that follows alongside the creek, before curving to the left and up to Beetle Rock.

Looking west from Beetle Rock at sunset

To get to Beetle Rock: From the Generals Highway, enter the parking lot across from the Giant Forest Museum and take the marked road south of the lot.

Use the map below to create your own directions:

Photos

 

     
     
     
These photos were taken in April of 2009. Click to enlarge.

 

Nearby Trails

 

	Sunset Rock This 2-mile hike visits a large granite dome with great views to the west, possibly the best place to end your day in the Giant Forest.
	General Sherman Tree This one-mile hike visits the world’s biggest tree, a 275-foot tall Giant Sequoia that is 36.5 feet across at the base.
	Congress Loop This easy paved two mile loop visits the fourth and fifth tallest Sequoias in the world (among others).
	Moro Rock This 0.6 mile hike sports panoramic views and should be considered a mandatory hike for first time visitors to Sequoia National Park.
	Crescent Meadow This level 1.6-mile loop visits a Sequoia you can stand inside (Chimney Tree) and another that someone used to live in (Tharp’s Log).
	Tokopah Falls This gradual 3.4-mile hike visits the base of the tallest waterfall in Sequoia National Park.
	Marble Falls This 8-mile hike takes a flower-lined path up a mountain canyon to a powerful waterfall.
	Paradise Creek This short stroll leaves Buckeye Flats Campground to visit the perfect swimming hole for a hot summer day in the Sierras.
	Panther Creek This 6-mile hike follows the Middle Fork Trail to a 100 foot waterfall that drops into the Middle Fork of Kaweah River.
	More trails in the Sierra Nevada Mountains Explore other destinations in Sequoia National Park and the rest of the range.

 

Camping

 

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Campgrounds There are 14 campgrounds with over 1,000 total sites spread throughout the parks to facilitate your visit.

 

More Info

 

Beetle Rock on summitpost.org

The official webpage for Beetle Rock Education Center

The official website for Sequoia National Park