Hikes in Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park was established in 1890 and only Yellowstone has been a national park longer. Today, Sequoia National Park covers 630 square miles. Most of that area is a roadless haven for backpackers. In fact, no roads lead into the park from the north, south, or east, making this the second largest area not penetrated by roads in the contiguous United States. Limited access preserves the beauty of Sequoia National Park and the treasures it contains.

Highlights of Sequoia National Park

  • This 0.6-mile hike (with a lot of stairs) sports panoramic views and should be considered a mandatory hike for first time visitors to Sequoia National Park.
  • This paved 1-mile hike visits the world's biggest tree, a landmark within the Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park.
  • This easy, educational, and beautiful 1.4-mile loop explores the giant sequoias around Round Meadow in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park.
  • This 2-mile hike visits a large granite dome in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park with great views to the west.
  • This gradual 4.2-mile hike visits the tallest waterfall in Sequoia National Park.
  • 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).
  • This 8-mile hike takes a flower-lined path up a mountain canyon to a powerful waterfall in the foothills of Sequoia National Park.
  • This 6-mile hike follows the Middle Fork of Kaweah River in the foothills of Sequoia National Park to reach a 100 foot waterfall on Panther Creek.
  • This half-mile stroll leaves Buckeye Flat Campground to visit the perfect swimming hole for a hot summer day in Sequoia National Park.
  • This 9.4-mile hike visits a spectacular pair of lakes high above Mineral King Valley in Sequoia National Park.

Sequoia National Park

One could easily spend weeks, months, or years exploring Sequoia National Park. If you are only in the park for a day, be sure to hit the highlights. The short hikes to General Sherman Tree (largest in the world) and Moro Rock (panoramic viewpoint on a monolith) should not be missed. If time permits, consider hiking to Tokopah Falls or Tharp’s Log.

With so much to see at Sequoia National Park, consider staying overnight. Several campgrounds in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks provide good camping options.

Kings Canyon National Park borders the north side of Sequoia National Park and the National Park Service manages the two parks as one massive 1,350 square mile entity. It is possible to visit both national parks in one trip.

Mount Whitney, the highest point in California and the lower 48, rises high over the east side of Sequoia National Park.

Sequoia National Park Hiking

This collection of trails in Sequoia National Park lists hikes from north to south. The table may also be sorted alphabetically or by distance to help you select your next trek. Each trail links to its own report complete with photos, GPS maps, elevation profiles, directions, and all the other information needed to locate and enjoy these trails. Below the table is an interactive map showing the location of each hike.

Trail
Description
Distance
Location
Tokopah Falls300Tokopah Falls
This gradual out and back hike visits the tallest waterfall in Sequoia National Park.
4.2 miles
630 feet
36.6048,
-118.7249
General Sherman310General Sherman Tree
This paved out at back hike visits the world's biggest tree.
1 mile
200 feet
36.5848,
-118.74984
Congress Loop320Congress Loop
This easy paved loop visits the fourth and fifth tallest Sequoias in the world (among others).
2 miles
230 feet
36.5848,
-118.74984
Sunset Rock330Sunset Rock
This out and back hike visits a large granite dome with great views to the west.
2 miles
50 feet
36.5657,
-118.7724
Big Trees Trail sequoia333Big Trees Trail
This easy, educational, and beautiful loop explores the giant sequoias around Round Meadow.
1.4 miles
50 feet
36.564866,
-118.773736
Beetle Rock340Beetle Rock
This short walk from the Giant Forest Museum to Beetle Rock visits a granite dome with great views and stunning sunsets.
0.25 miles
50 feet
36.5647, -118.77425
Crescent Meadow350Crescent Meadow
This level loop visits a Sequoia you can stand inside (Chimney Tree) and another that someone used to live in (Tharp's Log).
1.6 miles
150 feet
36.5548,
-118.7490
Sugar Pine Trail and Bobcat Point Loop sequoia353Sugar Pine and Bobcat Point Trails Loop
This short but diverse loop peaks at Bobcat Point, which presents a fierce perspective of Moro Rock and a massive canyon.
1.5 miles
250 feet
36.5548,
-118.7490
Hanging Rock trail Sequoia National Park358Hanging Rock Trail
This short out and back hike passes views of Moro Rock en route to a balancing boulder on a canyon rim at the edge of the Giant Forest.
0.35 miles
100 feet
36.549128,
-118.768186
Moro Rock360Moro Rock
This short out and back hike (with a lot of stairs) sports panoramic views and should be considered a mandatory hike for first time visitors to Sequoia National Park.
0.6 miles
300 feet
36.5469,
-118.7656
Marble Falls370Marble Falls
This out and back hike takes a flower-lined path up a mountain canyon to a powerful waterfall.
8 miles
2,150 feet
36.51785,
-118.80115
Paradise Creek380Paradise Creek
This short stroll leaves Buckeye Flat Campground to visit the perfect swimming hole for a hot summer day in the Sierra.
0.5 to 6 miles
75 feet
36.52185,
-118.76352
Panther Creek390Panther Creek
This out and back hike follows the Middle Fork Trail to a 100 foot waterfall into the Middle Fork of Kaweah River.
6 miles (or farther)
600 feet
36.52755,
-118.7513
Hockett Trail420Hockett Trail
This out and back hike descends through sequoias to East Fork Kaweah River and farther into the backcountry of Mineral King.
3 to 5 miles (or farther)
600 feet
36.46424,
-118.6690
Monarch Lakes440Monarch Lakes Trail
This out and back hike visits a spectacular pair of lakes high above Mineral King Valley.
9.4 miles
2,500 feet
36.45305,
-118.59665
Eagle Lake430Eagle Lake Trail
The out and back hike climbs the west side of Mineral King Valley to a high-elevation lake.
7.2 miles
2,200 feet
36.4488,
-118.5954
Mount Pickering550Mount Pickering
This 13,485-foot summit rises above Sky Blue Lake to offer sweeping views of the sierra.
30 miles
3,500 feet
36.527133,
-118.290875
Sky Blue Lake560Sky Blue Lake
This hike extends beyond Lower Soldier Lake up Miter Basin to a deep blue lake surrounded by 14,000-foot peaks.
26 miles
2,300 feet
36.532788,
-118.273494
Primrose Lake570Primrose Lake
This trek visits a lake off the side of Miter Basin near Sky Blue Lake and below Mount Pickering.
28 miles
2,300 feet
36.521144,
-118.276173
Mount Langley580Mount Langley
This trek enters Sequoia from the east through Inyo National Forest to reach a 14,042-foot summit with towering views of the Sierra.
22 miles
4,000 feet
36.524419,
-118.238826
Lower Soldier Lake590Lower Soldier Lake
This 19.2-mile loop crosses Cottonwood Pass and New Army Pass to visit a beautiful lake that is an ideal camping spot for backpackers heading higher and deeper into the Sierra.
17.6 to 20.8 miles
1,500 to 2,300 feet
36.503604,
-118.269331
View Sierra Nevada trails and campgrounds in a larger map
Or explore hikes around Sequoia National Park on the Hike Finder Map
hikespeak
Fallen Leaf Lake Moraine Trail Lake Tahoe Basin South Lake Tahoe Hike
What's better than hiking by a lovely creek - maybe hiking by a lovely lake. You can do both on Moraine Trail, visiting Fallen Leaf Lake and Taylor Creek in the Lake Tahoe Basin National Forest Lands near South Lake Tahoe. This easy and level loop is 1.1 miles long, including a short side trail to Fallen Leaf Lake Dam. The mountain-cradled Fallen Leaf Lake is located just south of Lake... Read more.
OK! Add to trails I’ve hiked
OK! Add to trails I want to hike
Tagged with · Free Trails · Lake Tahoe Basin National Forest Lands · Lakes · South Lake Tahoe
Distance: 1.1 miles · Elevation change: 35 feet
By: Published: Last updated: July 26, 2023
Way of the Mono Trail Sierra National Forest Bass Lake View Hike Oakhurst California
Interpretive trails are usually good places to appreciate the finer features of a forest, but they tend to lack grand vistas. This is not the case with Way of the Mono Trail, which rises to a splendid view over Bass Lake, a beauty in the Sierra Nevada Mountains south of Yosemite National Park. Way of the Mono Trail is a 0.6-mile loop with 140 feet of elevation change. Panels along this... Read more.
OK! Add to trails I’ve hiked
OK! Add to trails I want to hike
Tagged with · Bass Lake · Free Trails · Lakes · Morteros · Native American Heritage · Nature Trails · Oakhurst
Distance: 0.6 miles · Elevation change: 140 feet
By: Published: Last updated: June 30, 2021
Chimney Beach Trail Lake Tahoe Nevada Chimney Beach Hike Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Before your visit to Lake Tahoe goes up in smoke, take a hike to Chimney Beach - where a standing-on-its-own fireplace and chimney serve as an unsual landmark for a lovely little cove. The brick chimney is all that's left of an old cabin built in the sand between boulder-strewn points on the east shore of Lake Tahoe. If curiosity about the chimney draws you to Chimney Beach, the beautiful... Read more.
OK! Add to trails I’ve hiked
OK! Add to trails I want to hike
Tagged with · Beaches · Carson City · Free Trails · Ruins · South Lake Tahoe
Distance: 1.1 miles · Elevation change: 215 feet
By: Published: Last updated: July 26, 2023
Cave Rock Trail Lake Tahoe Nevada Overlook Hike
Gaze out from Route 50 as it travels along the southeast side of Lake Tahoe and you'll find nice views of the lakeshore and its surrounding mountains. Seven miles up from the state border in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada Route 50 slips through a tunnel in a tall pointed ridge of volcanic rock. The road itself is scenic, but the sight of Cave Rock should have you speculating how superb things must... Read more.
OK! Add to trails I’ve hiked
OK! Add to trails I want to hike
Tagged with · Free Trails · Glenbrook · South Lake Tahoe · Summits
Distance: 0.9 miles · Elevation change: 165 feet
By: Published: Last updated: July 26, 2023
Columbia Rock Yosemite National Park Columbia Rock Viewpoint Yosemite Falls Trail Hike Yosemite Valley California
Yosemite Valley looks great from the bottom up, the top down, and even the middle out. For this neither-up-nor-down view over Yosemite Valley, visit Columbia Rock, a viewpoint on Yosemite Falls Trail perched about thousand feet up the north wall of Yosemite Valley. The hike from Camp 4 up to Columbia Rock is 2.2 miles round trip with 985 feet of elevation change. Of course, continuing up... Read more.
OK! Add to trails I’ve hiked
OK! Add to trails I want to hike
Tagged with · National Parks · Yosemite Valley
Distance: 2.2 miles · Elevation change: 985 feet
By: Published: Last updated: January 31, 2018