Easy Hikes in Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is one of those places that feels unreal. The drive to the park looks completely normal and then BOOM, you are met with these massive Sequoia trees that are bigger than anything you’ve ever seen. It truly is hard to wrap your brain around the size of these trees. We spontaneously planned this trip the night before we went. We packed up our 6 month old and were on our way. These are the three hikes In Sequoia National Park that we would recommend fitting into your day trip.
Top 3 Hikes:
Big Trees Trail
Starting it off with an easy hike, we have Big Trees Trail. This trail is 1.2 miles and is basically a nature walk. It is perfect for all skill levels and is one of the first trails you will see after entering the park. It is also one of the most popular hikes in Sequoia National Park. There is plenty of parking with a nice parking lot and restrooms provided. Standing under the enormous Sequoia’s is truly jaw dropping. Not only are there these incredible trees, but also such beautiful meadows and wildlife. We didn’t see a bear while visiting but saw that there were some spotted a couple days before going, so be sure to keep an eye out for them.
All Trails Link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/the-big-trees-trail
Tokopah Falls Trail
Tokopah Falls Trail was our main hike of the day and is definitely something we would do again. Our 6 month old absolutely loved this hike and the sound of the river running adjacent to it. This trail is 4 miles long with 616 feet of elevation gain which is not too bad at all! All Trails has this one listed as moderate in difficulty but I truly think anyone could do this while taking breaks. With the granite walls of the Sierras and the raging Kaweah River, this is something you don’t want to miss.
All Trails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/tokopah-falls
General Sherman Tree Trail
Last but certainly not least is the General Sherman Tree Trail. This is a must do hike in Sequoia National Park. I’m sure you have heard that the park has some of the biggest trees in the world. This is THE biggest tree in the world. We did this hike as the sun was starting to set, and there still were many people on trail. It might be smart to do this hike first thing and try to beat the crowds. The trail is 1.1 miles long and has 190 feet of elevation gain. It is completely paved the entire way and also has a wheelchair accessible option that is only .3 miles with a different parking area. This hike is great for all skill levels and is honestly a great short workout. Just remember while walking down to the tree that you have to go back up the same way. This tree will absolutely blow your mind. There is a little placard that you will see before getting to the tree that tells you a few facts about it and the circumference is 102 feet, *mind blown*.
All Trails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/general-sherman-tree-trail
Would we go back?
We will most definitely be back to Sequoia National Park. There is so much to do in the park that we haven’t done and we would love to stay at a campground, backpack, and find different climbing routes to try out. The best thing about visiting this park is that there are hikes for every skill level. If you’ve been to Yosemite National Park you know how steep almost every hike is. The hikes are worth it, but totally exhausting. The hikes that I mentioned in this blog are easy to moderate and are enough to feel like you had a workout but not to make you feel completely gassed and we love that. We would love to hear if you were inspired to do any of these hikes so please reach out on our social media if you do them! Safe Travels everyone.
Check out our latest blog in Sedona, Arizona:
https://joyfultraveling.org/?p=633