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Created in 1890, Sequoia National Park is home to the largest trees on earth and the tallest peak in the contiguous United States. At 404,063 acres and over 90% of designated wilderness, Sequoia offers over 800 miles of hiking trails.
Hiking Trails
Foothills
Marble Falls - strenuous 7.8-mile round trip climb to a nice cascade.
Lady Bug - 6-mile round trip hike along the Kaweah river, anding at a sequoia grove
Garfield Grove - strenuous 10-mile round trip climb from South Fork Campground to garfield sequoia grove
Giant Forest and Lodgepole
General Sherman Tree - easy 1-mile round trip hike to the General Sherman Tree.
The Big Trees Trail - easy 0.7-mile loop around Round Meadow with panels explaining the ecology of sequoia trees.
Moro Rock - strenuous 0.5-mile round trip staircase to the summit offering great views of the Great Western Divide.
Tokopah Falls - easy 3.4-mile hike from Lodgepole Campground to impressive granite cliffs and waterfall.
Mineral King
Monarch Lakes - an easy 8.4-mile round trip hike through meadows, forests, and offers great views of the canyon and Great Western Divide.
Crystal Lake - moderate 10-mile round trip hike past the old Chihuahua Mine with panoramic views.
Timber Gap - 4-mile round trip past an old mining route with views across to Alta Peak.
Franklin Lakes - moderate 10.8-mile round trip with views of rainbow-colored rocks. Many choose to stay the night at the lake before returning.
White Chief Trail - steep 6-mile round trip scenic hike to the White Chief Bowl.
Eagle and Mosquito Lakes - 7-mile round trip to Mosquito lake, with an optional trail to more lakes.
Foothills
Marble Falls - strenuous 7.8-mile round trip climb to a nice cascade.
Lady Bug - 6-mile round trip hike along the Kaweah river, anding at a sequoia grove
Garfield Grove - strenuous 10-mile round trip climb from South Fork Campground to garfield sequoia grove
Giant Forest and Lodgepole
General Sherman Tree - easy 1-mile round trip hike to the General Sherman Tree.
The Big Trees Trail - easy 0.7-mile loop around Round Meadow with panels explaining the ecology of sequoia trees.
Moro Rock - strenuous 0.5-mile round trip staircase to the summit offering great views of the Great Western Divide.
Tokopah Falls - easy 3.4-mile hike from Lodgepole Campground to impressive granite cliffs and waterfall.
Mineral King
Monarch Lakes - an easy 8.4-mile round trip hike through meadows, forests, and offers great views of the canyon and Great Western Divide.
Crystal Lake - moderate 10-mile round trip hike past the old Chihuahua Mine with panoramic views.
Timber Gap - 4-mile round trip past an old mining route with views across to Alta Peak.
Franklin Lakes - moderate 10.8-mile round trip with views of rainbow-colored rocks. Many choose to stay the night at the lake before returning.
White Chief Trail - steep 6-mile round trip scenic hike to the White Chief Bowl.
Eagle and Mosquito Lakes - 7-mile round trip to Mosquito lake, with an optional trail to more lakes.
Trails
Summary
Difficulty
Distance
Big Trees Trail - Sequoia National Park
A paved, accessible trail across from the Giant Forest Museum.
A paved, accessible trail across from the Giant Forest Museum.
Easy
1.2 mi
1.9 km
1.9 km
Congress Trail - Sequoia National Park
A popular loop trail that begins at the General Sherman Tree.
A popular loop trail that begins at the General Sherman Tree.
Easy
2.2 mi
3.5 km
3.5 km
Little Baldy Trail - Sequoia National Park
The summit of this hike offers an amazing view of the Silliman Crest and the Great Western Divide.
The summit of this hike offers an amazing view of the Silliman Crest and the Great Western Divide.
Easy
3.4 mi
5.5 km
5.5 km
Tokopah Falls - Sequoia National Park
An easy stroll out of the Lodgepole Campground.
An easy stroll out of the Lodgepole Campground.
Easy
3.8 mi
6.1 km
6.1 km
Movie Road/Alabama Hills
Very easy route through one of the most unique and beautiful places in California
Very easy route through one of the most unique and beautiful places in California
Easy
25.0 mi
40.2 km
40.2 km
Marble Falls Trail - Sequoia National Park
A great spring time hike through a deep canyon in the Foothills.
A great spring time hike through a deep canyon in the Foothills.
Moderate
6.6 mi
10.6 km
10.6 km
Mineral King to Eagle Lake
A day hike from Mineral King Valley to Eagle lake and back.
A day hike from Mineral King Valley to Eagle lake and back.
Moderate
6.9 mi
11.1 km
11.1 km
Mineral King to Monarch Lakes
A day hike from Mineral King Valley to Monarch Lakes and back.
A day hike from Mineral King Valley to Monarch Lakes and back.
Moderate
8.4 mi
13.5 km
13.5 km
The High Sierra Trail: Segment 1 of 7
Crescent Meadow/Wolverton to 9-Mile Creek
Crescent Meadow/Wolverton to 9-Mile Creek
Moderate
8.4 mi
13.5 km
13.5 km
Middle Fork Trail - Sequoia National Park
A great backpacking alternative when the high country is blanketed in snow.
A great backpacking alternative when the high country is blanketed in snow.
Moderate
11.0 mi
17.7 km
17.7 km
Mt. Whitney from Whitney Portal
Hike California's Amazing State Highpoint, also the highest point in the lower 48 States
Hike California's Amazing State Highpoint, also the highest point in the lower 48 States
Moderate
22.0 mi
35.4 km
35.4 km
Mineral King to Sawtooth Pass
Sawtooth Pass has a brilliant perspective of Mineral King Valley, Lost Canyon, Monarch Lakes, and Columbine Lake.
Sawtooth Pass has a brilliant perspective of Mineral King Valley, Lost Canyon, Monarch Lakes, and Columbine Lake.
Difficult
11.5 mi
18.5 km
18.5 km
The High Sierra Trail: Segment 7 of 7
Guitar Lake to Mount Whitney Summit and the descent to Whitney Portal
Guitar Lake to Mount Whitney Summit and the descent to Whitney Portal
Difficult
14.3 mi
23.0 km
23.0 km
Guides
Crossing the Sierra Nevada in 70 Miles
Crescent Meadow/Wolverton to 9-Mile Creek
9-Mile Creek to Precipice Lake
Guitar Lake to Mount Whitney Summit and the descent to Whitney Portal
Sawtooth Pass has a brilliant perspective of Mineral King Valley, Lost Canyon, Monarch Lakes, and Columbine Lake.
A great spring time hike through a deep canyon in the Foothills.
A day hike from Mineral King Valley to Monarch Lakes and back.
Moraine Lake to Kern Hot Spring
Kern Hot Spring to Upper Kern Canyon
Upper Kern Canyon to Guitar Lake
Precipice Lake to Moraine Lake
A day hike from Mineral King Valley to Eagle lake and back.
Community Trips
Almost every trail from Mineral King is a work out, and this one doesn't disappoint. The Monarch Lakes trail starts at, you guessed it, the Monarch Lakes trailhead parking lot. The trail heads up pretty steeply through a series of long switches until it reaches Monarch Creek in a pretty little grove. The views of Mineral King valley along this stretch are spectacular. The switches after the stream crossing are graded better (in fact...
Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain in the lower 48 states, at 14450 feet high, is a big challenge for most people. I got the chance to take this challenge, and finished this total trail in 12 hours. This is also my first high mountain hike in my life. The view from the top of Mt. Whitney and on the trail is amazing, plus the fact that you are on top of everything...
drove up to Sequoia National Park. To find the trail head, look for Wolverton Skie and Recreation Area. The trail starts right there from the parking lot.There many trails that branch off, but there are signs at every fork, so don't worry about finding your way. The first 4 miles are mid-difficulty, very nice views, mostly between trees.The last 2 miles are the most difficult part, 29% grade, you go up 2000...
After finishing Mt. Whitney hike in 12 hours, I challenge this one after only one day rest. This hike, on the way up, is more difficult than Mr. Whitney. Towards the summit, there is no visible hiking trail. It's Class 2 difficult climing, using hands sometime. But you do not need any equipment. On the summit, I can see the Mt. Whitney that I were there two days ago, a very proud...
An overnight trip into Cottonwood Basin.This area has tons of lakes, great scenery, and fishing for goldens. It's a popular area but it is easy to find solitude if you are willing to go off-trail and explore. Mt Langley, one of California's short list of fourteeners, towers above the basin. This trip took us to Muir Lake where we set up our camp, then we wandered throughout the basin, eventually making our way...
This is a classic backpacking loop out of Mineral King. Although it is under 30 miles long, this loop is typically done in four days or so since the elevation gain is so extreme (nearly 10k of vertical up and down). No matter which way you do this loop you will have a lot of climbing, but I strongly recommend going counter-clockwise as we did. Otherwise, you'll be climbing Sawtooth Pass on Day...
On Oct 4th, 2009, my friend Manish and I turned around a mile short of the summit of Mt Whitney on a very cold day.11 months later, I got the opportunity to try again when a cancellation made a permit available for a day hike on Sept 5th.This time, thanks to excellent weather and a very early start (12:30
am), I was able to summit Mt Whitney at 10:15 am. I felt...
This 5 day trip started in the car accessible alpine valley of Mineral King. The beginning and end of the trip were on good trails, but the majority of the time was spent off-trail, some of which was pretty rugged, especially with a full pack. Like all hikes out of Mineral King it began with a several thousand foot vertical climb to get out of the valley. Immediately after that the route...
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