Top Things to do in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
10 Points of Interest & Landmarks in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park That You Shouldn't Miss
This park's main draw, the forest of Giant Sequoias, is home to the largest living things on Earth.
1. General Sherman Tree
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,162 reviews
An 249.9 foot ancient tree believed to be between 2,300 and 2,700 years old.
Reviewed By ELKW
you can drive to go there or take shuttle bus (in summer time), if you drive, you need to park in a more remote parking lot, and need to walk a long way to the Sherman tree, but we take the bus, can get off at the bus stop where is wheelchiar-accessible trail head, so with a short walk, you can go to the Sherman tree. It's the biggest tree (by volume) in the world, so worth to take a look. by the way, there is a fallen tree truck with a hole, so you can walk through the tunnel, it's quite interesting, and both adults and kids love to go through it. It's a point of interest besides the Sherman tree, so if you go to this National park, it's a MUST to walk this trail and to take a look to the Sherman tree, also there are several giant red wood trees can be seen in this trail
2. Grant Grove
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 358 reviews
Inside Kings Canyon National Park is this grove of giant Sequoias.
Reviewed By roadtrip_ken_2017 - Oakland, United States
Grant Grove, featuring the General Grant Tree among other notable trees, is a short distance from Hwy. 180 not far from the main park visitor center. The trails around the grove are fairly short and easy, suitable for nearly everyone. The General Grant Tree itself is impressive, and the the Fallen Monarch tree that you can walk through was interesting and will be fun for kids. This is the type of place where you could spend a half-hour or a couple of hours. Of course there is the Giant Forest area in Sequoia National Park a bit farther south, but the Grant Grove is well worth a visit whether you're also going to the Giant Forest or not.
3. The Parker Group
4. The Fallen Monarch
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By archlav - Glenmoore, United States
This tree gives you great perspective of how large the sequoia actually is. You can actually walk right through it. Its such a sturdy tree. We really enjoyed the experience.
5. The Tough Twins
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By LiketoeatCincinnati - Cincinnati, United States
These trees are near the General Sherman trail and represent how trees grow after a fire. They are massive and very beautiful.
6. Cedar Grove Village
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 34 reviews
Village in Kings Canyon National Park where you will find basic lodging, dining and a store.
7. Buttress tree
8. Hospital Rock
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 54 reviews
Reviewed By DrHickenlocher - Irvine, United States
Normally one has to hike at least a mile from some trailhead to get to see petroglyphs or pictographs. Hospital Rock is literally *across the road* from the parking lot. And there's a neatly carved staircase into the a nearby rock to get you an excellent vantage point. Seriously, you can spare 3 minutes to park and check this out on your way into our out of Sequoia NP.
9. Tunnel Log
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 253 reviews
Reviewed By DrHickenlocher - Irvine, United States
If you can, drive the bypass road and loop around so that the nose of your car is pointing to the camera. Plus, if you get out of your car and walk down a bit, taller people can climb onto the top of the log where it's a little closer to the ground. Really neat photo op on the way to Crescent Meadow! Go early so there's no line. We went immediately after an early hike of Moro Rock.
10. Tunnel Rock
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 77 reviews
Reviewed By DrHickenlocher - Irvine, United States
There are two parking areas, one on the way into the park, and one on the way out of the park. If you're on your way out of the park, like us, there isn't great signage letting you know that you're there. We had the NPS Sequoia & Kings Canyon app up on the map and could see that our car was getting closer and closer and closer. I pulled one hairpin curve to the left and suddenly we had arrived, even though there weren't any signs. We pulled over, parked, and approached the tunnel from the "back" side. There was a small trail to my right that allowed me to hike up the hill and get to the top of the rock while my wife and kids walked forward and through the tunnel itself. I had read that there might be poison oak around, but this late in the summer, the hillside was all dry brush the color of straw. There had been one car pulled over when we arrived, but they left while we were still parking. On this Thursday afternoon on our way home, there was nobody else around so we had plenty of time to take photos without feeling like people were waiting for us to finish. The top of the rock itself is relatively flat at the very top, but it slopes downward at a pretty sketchy angle, so I wouldn't recommend bringing young kids up there. All in all, it's a really cool photo-op and requires almost no effort to get there. Unless you're in an absolutely crazy hurry to get somewhere, stop and check it this iconic location!
